It would appear the Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder unification is destined not to happen – this year at least.

Joshua of course has the WBO champion Joseph Parker to deal with next week on March 31st first up.

No small feat in itself.

But if he gets past that, his promoter Eddie Hearn has told Sky Sports that a rematch with his old rival Dillian Whyte is something Joshua craves.

Putting Wilder down the notch on a shot at Joshua another step, it would seem.

This despite the fact Wilder recorded an impressive win against much voided Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz recently.

It seems like the man from Alabama just can’t catch a break – in terms of landing the big fights that he so craves.

He’s not in the worst of positions though, on the whole.

He can always hove another fight himself in the meantime this year, or two even.

Perhaps looking at a Tyson Fury for the back-end of 2018 might start to become a more realistic option for him if the Joshua fight can’t be secured this year.

Joshua vs Wilder is starting to have a 2019 feel to it.

At the earliest.