By Edward Chaykovsky
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36KOs) is is looking for the biggest fights possible in 2017.
Wilder is recovering following two surgeries after his eighth-round knockout of Chris Arreola last month. He broke his right hand and tore his bicep in the contest. Doctors have told him that it will take at least six months to make a full recovery.
It's been a mixed year for Wilder, who started off in January with a knockout of Artur Szpilka. Wilder was then scheduled to travel to Moscow to make a mandatory defense against Povetkin in May. The fight was postponed a week before the contest after Povetkin tested positive for a trace of Meldonium.
Jay Deas, Wilder's manager and trainer, says they are NOT looking to rush his comeback. Initially they were looking at a date in November. That is no longer the case. Wilder's return will take place in early 2017.
"Everyone said six months before he could even start training. I think he will be back in the ring then. But we want to do it right. We don't want to rush things. I still think, doing everything right, he'll be ahead of schedule," Deas told Alabama.com.
According to Deas, Wilder will be ready for Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua - if any of three are available. They are not looking for a warm-up bout - they want the biggest fight possible to come back with a bang.
"The way I feel and the way Deontay feels, we want the biggest fight possible, whether it's Fury, Klitschko or Joshua, the biggest fight that's out there," Deas said. "If those guys aren't available, we're not going to wait. We will fight as soon as we're ready and then take that fight. If one of those guys is available, we would be OK with that."
