Anthony Joshua v Andy Ruiz Jr: Briton wants chat with Deontay Wilder to clear path for fight

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Britain’s Anthony Joshua wants a “man-to-man” meeting with Deontay Wilder to set up an undisputed world heavyweight title fight – if he beats Andy Ruiz Jr.

 

WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua, 29, takes on Ruiz in New York on Saturday.

 

Hours later, WBC champion Wilder announced a rematch with Cuba’s Luis Ortiz, delaying any contest with Joshua for now.

 

“I am going to reach out to Wilder to see if I can have a sit-down in person,” Joshua told BBC Sport.

 

The Briton added: “What people say on camera is different to what people say eye to eye. So I have to sit down with him man-to-man and see where he’s at.”

 

Wilder has won 41 of his 42 fights, the other being a controversial draw with Britain’s Tyson Fury in December.

 

He beat Ortiz via a 10th-round knockout in their first fight in March 2018 and announced their rematch on Twitter.

 

Former champion Fury has said his rematch with Wilder is “likely to happen in March or April”.

 

Fury, Wilder and Joshua are signed to different US broadcasters which complicates potential meetings between the trio.