Deontay Wilder

Joshua makes his seventh world title defence and United States debut when he takes on Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden in New York on Saturday.

And coach Rob McCracken wants the IBF, WBA and WBO champion to make a blockbuster showdown with Wilder his next priority amid calls from promoter Eddie Hearn for "excuses" to be set aside.

The American gave a stunning exhibition of his power earlier this month, taking just 137 seconds to knock out Dominic Breazeale and defend his WBC heavyweight title.

"It will happen," McCracken told Sky Sports.

Wilder needed just 137 seconds to knock out Dominic Breazeale and retain his WBC heavyweight title on Saturday, improving his record to 41-0-1.

The American drew with Tyson Fury in December and there were calls for a rematch with the Brit or bout against WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Joshua.

Wilder – whose knockout of Breazeale was the 40th of his career – said a fight with Joshua would happen, but he remains unsure when.

Wilder recorded the 40th knockout of his career just two minutes, 17 seconds into the fight at Barclays Center in New York.

Wilder (41-0-1) started well and capitalised, landing the decisive blow quickly against his rival and fellow American.

After a war of words in the build-up, Wilder showed his class in his first fight since drawing with Tyson Fury in December, his performance set to again lead to calls for a rematch with the Brit or fight with fellow heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

IBF, WBA and WBO champion Joshua has repeatedly failed to secure a fight with the other two leading names in the division, with high-profile negotiations with Wilder, in particular, failing time and again.

The Briton will next face Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden on June 1, but he believes Wilder and Fury are taking a risk by delaying any clash with him.

Joshua claims he has been steadily improving since beating Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017 and expects his hard work to pay off against his next opponent.

Wilder will defend his WBC title against mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale next month, with Joshua then set to make his American debut at Madison Square Garden on June 1 against an unnamed replacement for Jarrell Miller, expected to be Andy Ruiz Jr.

The unification bout against WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua appears no closer to coming to fruition.

However, Wilder recently insisted it was inevitable and Finkel anticipates it will finally happen next year.

If the situation goes to a purse bid, any promoter can bid to host the fight, with Wilder getting 60 percent of the winning bid and Fury getting 40 percent as opposed to the usual 70-30 split.

Wilder retained his title after a split decision draw with Fury last month and the WBC quickly sanctioned a direct rematch, meaning mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale and fellow suitor Dillian Whyte will likely be forced to wait at least a fight longer before competing for the belt.

"Wilder and Fury gave boxing one of the best fights in the heavyweight division in a long time, which has created tremendous popular demand for the fans to see a rematch," the WBC said in a statement on Friday.

US boxer Wilder (40-0-1, 39 KOs) knocked Britain's Fury (27-0-1, 19 KOs) down twice, including a brutal right-left combination in the 12th that initially looked like it would end the fight.

WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua is back in training ahead of his return to the ring at Wembley on April 13, though his opponent for that date remains uncertain.

It was thought the winner of Wilder and Tyson Fury's fight would be the logical choice to meet Joshua next but that ended in a controversial split-decision draw in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, last week revealed he has made "significant" progress in discussions about the prospect of striking a deal for Wilder and the IBF, WBO and WBA champion to do battle.

Hearn has been in dialogue with Al Haymon, a member of Wilder's advisory team, after growing increasingly frustrated at failing to arrange a meeting with Finkel, the American's co-manager.

Finkel responded by stating that he is open to getting around the table with Joshua's team after Wilder has defended his strap against Fury in Los Angeles on December 1.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, last week revealed he has made "significant" progress in discussions about the prospect of striking a deal for Wilder and the IBF, WBO and WBA champion to do battle.

Hearn has been in dialogue with Al Haymon, a member of Wilder's advisory team, after growing increasingly frustrated at failing to arrange a meeting with Finkel, the American's co-manager.

Finkel responded by stating that he is open to getting around the table with Joshua's team after Wilder has defended his strap against Fury in Los Angeles on December 1.