By Carlos Boogs

In 2017, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) is focused on unifying as many titles as possible.

Wilder will make the fifth defense of his title on February 25 at the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama - and he will defend his title against WBC #12 ranked Andrzej Wawrzyk (33-1, 19 KOs) of Poland.

Wawrzyk has won his last six bouts - all by knockout - since getting drilled by Alexander Povetkin in three rounds back in May of 2013. Wawrzyk fought on the undercard of Wilder's stoppage win over Johann Duhaupas last September, also at the Legacy Arena. He stopped Mike Sheppard in three rounds.

Wilder's last defense came in July, when he suffered numerous injuries in his knock out victory over Chris Arreola. Wilder required surgery for a bicep and hand injury, which kept him out of the ring for the remainder of the year.

"My champion's instincts kicked in. Once I was controlling him with jab I was more comfortable," Wilder said.

After his upcoming defense over Wawrzyk, Wilder's goal is to land the winner of the upcoming heavyweight blockbuster between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. The IBF, WBA, IBO world titles will be at stake in that match. 

"If all goes well, I'm going to get the winner of Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko. The heavyweight division is coming alive again, and we want to keep it that way," Wilder said.

"It doesn't bother me who I fight. Let's bring it. In my country, in their country. Let's go! I don't want to be in this sport too long. I want to accomplish my goals and leave my legacy behind, and inspire the young fighters and the up and coming prospects."

Wilder's goal of landing the Joshua vs. Klitschko winner will have a lot of resistance. The winner of that fight will have two mandatory obligations at his feet - an IBF mandatory against Kubrat Pulev and a WBA mandatory against Luis Ortiz.