World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman is urging the promotional teams of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) and WBA, IBO, IBF champion Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) to knuckle down and make the bout which fight fans want to see come to fruition.
According to Sulaiman, the purse percentage negotiations/squabbles are up to the promoters to resolve. He says they do have a responsibility to facilitate a mega heavyweight bout of two exciting, undefeated power champion punchers.
The teams behind Wilder and Joshua has been in contact with each other regarding a potential fight in 2018, but it doesn't appear likely to be next.
Joshua's camp is in negotiations for a unification with WBO champion Joseph Parker in the first quarter of next year. The two sides are currently at a standstill - with Parker holding firm at a 65-35 split in favor of the champion. Joshua wants a bigger split at the moment.
If they are unable to reach a deal, then Parker and Joshua will fight other opponents - with Joshua potentially facing Dillian Whyte in a rematch of their 2015 encounter.
Regarding Wilder, he recently made it clear that he wants at least a 50-50 split or the fight will not happen. That would make it very hard to reach a deal, considering the fact that Joshua's last two fights brought in 90,000 and 78,000 fans respectively.
"If they don't fight next year, it's going to be a shame. And whoever gets in the middle of making this fight should be ashamed of himself, because boxing needs these fights. The WBC has done its part, the road is clear and everything is ready for the fight to be made and there's no reason not to make it," Sulaiman said.
"The heavyweight division has been the model of boxing and now every possibility is there, it would be a terrible mistake not to make this happen."