Shelly Finkel, the co-manager of WBC heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), has no problem sitting down to discuss a potential fight with WBO, IBO, WBA, IBF champion Anthony Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs).
But those discussions would have to take place after December 1 - when Wilder defense his world title against Tyson Fury.
Wilder vs. Fury will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, in the main event of a Showtime Pay-Per-View.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Joshua, has complained that Finkel and other members of Wilder's team have refused to negotiate the details of a unification.
"After the fight, of course," Finkel told Sky Sports. "There's nothing to talk about before that.
"After December 1, I would be glad to talk to him, or [his father] Barry [Hearn], or both."
Whe he was asked if Wilder and Joshua could agree to a fight for 2019, Finkel said: "That's up to them."
Joshua's next fight is scheduled to tale place at Wembley on April 13. Hearn wants to finalize a unification deal sooner than later.
"I want to be in a position where, by December 1, we are done or almost done," Hearn told Sky Sports. "We just have to watch the fight and sign the deal after. There's still a lot of work to do, but at least there's conversation and at least we are discussing the deal points.
"I think everyone wants the fight. The attitude of Shelly is 'we're not making that fight, they're not serious.' Why do they think we keep coming back to the table? It's not for a laugh or to look good. I wouldn't bother. We want to fight Wilder. That's why we are the ones continually and consistently making the effort. Progress is significant in the fact we are talking. In terms of actual progress, it's small. Once the communication lines are open, that's positive, that's all I can say."
