by David P. Greisman

Wladimir Klitschko is the heavyweight champion and has three world titles, with the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization belts, and as the World Boxing Association’s “super” champion. The only other major titleholder is Deontay Wilder, an American who won the World Boxing Council belt in January with a decision over Bermane Stiverne.

Wilder has said he wants to fight Klitschko. The same can be said for Klitschko’s desires. He wants to unify all four belts, picking up a WBC title that was previously held by Wladimir’s older brother, Vitali, before Vitali retired.

“It’s not going to happen the next fight of mine, because I think Deontay needs to defend his title first time after he won it,” Klitschko said Saturday after topping Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden in New York City. “Probably such fight [between us] can happen sometime beginning next year. Hopefully it’s going to happen sometime beginning next year.”

Klitschko is due to make defenses against his mandatory challengers. He took out the challenger for his IBF belt, Kubrat Pulev, last November. The WBO has mandated that Klitschko next face its top-rated heavyweight, Tyson Fury.

That aligns with what Wilder said on April 24, the night before Klitschko-Jennings, when asked about the timing of a fight with Klitschko. Wilder pointed to 2016 as a likelier time, given the number of mandatories Klitschko has.

“We’ll see what happens. He wants the [WBC] belt. I want to fight for the rest of his belts to unify the division. It’s going to be good to bring the belts back to America. We haven’t had an undisputed heavyweight champion in years. It would be my pleasure to be able to do so,” Wilder said.

Klitschko has a deal with HBO. Wilder’s adviser, Al Haymon, doesn’t currently have a working relationship with that network, which is seemingly the sole major boxing broadcaster in the United States not airing Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions series. Still, Wilder thinks the fight can be made despite the politics and conflicting priorities of the boxing business.

“I don’t feel it’ll be a hindrance. I think all those guys will come together and we’ll go with what makes sense,” Wilder said. “It’ll be one of the biggest heavyweight bouts in years. Who would want to miss out on that? By that time, those guys will iron out their differences among each other and let the fight happen and give the people what they want to see. I don’t think it’ll be a problem.”

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