WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says he would prefer to fight WBC title holder Deontay Wilder next, rather than Alexander Povetkin.
The WBA has ordered the Briton to begin negotiations with Russia’s mandatory challenger Povetkin, 38.
But a bout between Joshua and Wilder, 32, would result in the first man to hold all four major heavyweight titles.
“I’d rather fight Wilder so if Povetkin can wait some time in 2019, that would be ideal,” said Joshua, 28.
Joshua claimed a unanimous points win over New Zealand’s Joseph Parker on 31 March to add the WBO belt to his WBA and IBF titles.
Povetkin knocked out Britain’s David Price on the undercard of the unification fight in Cardiff.
“This is the issue when you hold more than one belt,” Joshua added. “You have to abide by each of the governing bodies’ rules.
“Some people would prefer there be one belt and one heavyweight champion. That is what we are working towards, wanting to fight Wilder.
“But each belt comes with eliminators and who you have to fight next, and Povetkin is one of them.
“Hopefully he can be patient but, if not, I don’t think it would make sense giving up this belt so if I have to fight Povetkin then so be it.”
Wilder has repeated his desire to face Joshua and the American has accused Hearn and Joshua of not wanting to fight him.
“This is the biggest fight in world boxing,” he told Behind the Gloves.
“You mean to tell me that a mandatory is going to overshadow a unification world-title fight?”
