Promoter Lou DiBella, who works with WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), is very doubtful that a unification with IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will happen next.
DiBella believes it's more realistic to see that fight happen in 2019.
Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs) is back this coming Saturday night, when he faces WBO world champion Joseph Parker in a unification clash on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Wilder will be ringside in Cardiff and hopes to challenge the winner, which he feels will be Joshua, in the post-fight aftermath.
But DiBella does not see that happening, at least next - although he would really like to see that take place.
DiBella feels Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom, is more interested in matching his boxer against unbeaten Jarrell Miller.
"Would I agree that it's next [after Parker]? Absolute not," DiBella said to Will Kent.
"Would I agree that it might be logical to happen next? Of course. But this is boxing, there is no logic. How I view it realistically is in early 2019, but that's more based on what Eddie Hearn's [Joshua's promoter] saying.
"Eddie seems to be talking a lot more for Jarrell Miller for the future than he does about Wilder. Our dance card is not filled. Deontay Wilder stands ready and available. Just based on everything I'm hearing, I hope its next. I certainly think it will happen in 2019 and hopefully sooner rather than later."
As far as where the contest would end up, DiBella believes Las Vegas would be the best financial scenario for Wilder-Joshua - but also makes it clear that no location is being ruled out.
"It's a combination of generating huge money because it's the gambling centre and the hotels are looking to bring in high rollers. It's a great tourism element for fans in the UK, Joshua fans who would want to take a vacation. British fans will always enjoy the big fights in Vegas. You can get ticket prices in Vegas you would get nowhere else," DiBella said.