Deontay Wilder: American heavyweight tells Anthony Joshua he is 'ready to fight' as talks continue

The only two defeats on Deontay Wilder's record both came against Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder says it would be a "major disaster" if he and Anthony Joshua never fight.

The American heavyweight is in talks to face Joshua in 2024 after a fight in Saudi Arabia this year fell through.

Wilder, 38, addressed Joshua on social media after the Briton suggested they could share a bill with Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

"I'm letting you know I'm ready to fight. Let's make this the best time of our lives," Wilder said.

"[It is] a fight everyone is looking forward to and hopefully it happens and I'm doing everything in my power to make it happen."

Unified champion Usyk (21-0) is set to fight WBC champion Fury (33-0-1) in a long-awaited undisputed fight, but that bout is expected to be announced for 23 December in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua (26-3) said he intends to fight in December, but it is unlikely to be against former WBC champion Wilder.

Promoter Eddie Hearn had suggested a fight between 34-year-old Joshua and Wilder was close in September before potential hosts in Saudi Arabia backed out of the deal.

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Wilder (43-2-1) and Joshua have started negotiations from scratch as a result and there has been talk of the bout happening in the United States early next year.

There are no plans to combine the Usyk-Fury fight night with Wilder-Joshua at the moment. Wilder has not fought in the 12 months since his first-round stoppage of Robert Helenius, who was also Joshua's last opponent.

Wilder has made clear he is keen to face Joshua, dismissing Hearn's doubts about the Alabama fighter's enthusiasm for the contest.

"Anthony, you're getting it from the horse's mouth himself: I'm here, I'm ready to go," Wilder said.

"I heard some things your promoter [Hearn] said that my last fight only lasted a short period of time and I haven't fought in a year and he doesn't know if I want to fight or not.

"This would be a major disaster if we were never able to get in the ring and put our stamp down in history."