Deontay Wilder could be back in the ring before the end of the year.
Wilder returned to winning ways, following back-to-back losses with a seventh round stoppage of Tyrrell Herndon in Kansas in June.
The former heavyweight world champion still has ambitions of facing long-time rival Anthony Joshua and undisputed heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, according to his manager Shelly Finkel, who claims he could return in December.
“He’s going to be fighting again [at] the end of the year or early next,” Finkel told BoxNation.
“Our first choice would always be Joshua.
“But if we can’t get Joshua, if we could get Usyk we’d fight him.
“He’s capable of fighting anyone at any time.
“It’s no excuses his losses, he lost, but I think as he’s aged he’s matured and hopefully you’ll see the future best of him.”
View this post on Instagram
Joshua and Wilder have been linked with a showdown since 2018, when both men held heavyweight world titles and were on the verge of fighting last March, but plans collapsed when ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was beaten by Joseph Parker.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn teased that he could also return before the end of the year, having not fought since suffering a fifth round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois last September and Finkel believes a potential bout is still appealing.
“I believe it’s the biggest fight for him [Joshua] if everything is ok with him and Deontay physically and they want to fight,” the 81-year-old added.
“It was the last fight of the last decade, hopefully it’s this one.
“[It’s] not as big as it was, but [it’s still] enormous.
“It would sell out any of the smaller arenas and maybe with a good undercard it could sell out a Wembley [Stadium].”
Wilder, who claimed last month he would box for another 10 years, also said he remains open to facing the Londoner.
“We can still get it on,” he said on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I’m willing, ready and able whenever they are.
“Until then I’m not going to mention their names and hopefully they don’t mention my name until they are truly, truly ready to finally get this fight on.
“No matter what happens, let’s get this fight on once and for all.”
