27 Feb 2017

Deontay Wilder 'ready' for Joseph Parker

7:47 am on 27 February 2017

American boxer Deontay Wilder says he wants to unify the world heavyweight belts and that could mean a bout with New Zealand's Joseph Parker.

WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder

WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder Photo: Photosport

Wilder beat Gerald Washington with a fifth round knockout to retain his WBC title in Alabama yesterday.

Washington extended his unbeaten career to 38 with 37 knockouts.

Parker, who meets Hughie Fury in May, attended Wilder's fight.

Website fightnews.com says Wilder and Parker spoke after the fight, with the American saying he wants to unify the belts.

"I saw Joseph Parker after the fight and greeted him. I'm a gentleman outside the ring. I'm in love with boxing, but I don't want to do it long. I think I have 10 years or less. I want to unify the division, defend it a couple times, and I'm outta here."

He hopes to face WBO champion Parker later this year with the big prize potentially being the Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua winner.

"I want to unify the division next. With Parker and the WBO belt, and Joshua and Klitschko fighting for the IBF and WBA, at the end of the year we can combine them once and for all."

Meanwhile, multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao has agreed to fight Britain's Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan in April.

The Briton is likely to drop back to welterweight to fight Pacquiao, who holds the World Boxing Organisation title at the weight.

Pacquiao won the WBO welterweight title last November against American Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas with an unanimous decision.

- Reuters