Boxing rumors 2016: Deontay Wilder seeks to fight Alexander Povetkin as soon as possible

Deontay Wilder[photo: Twitter screen capture/@BronzeBomber]

World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is not slowing down anytime soon, but the first thing he seems to want to do is to face the mandatory challenger before exploring other options.

The mandatory challenger is Alexander Povetkin and, apparently, Wilder wants to get it done and over with.

Wilder was in Dallas recently for the Super Bowl and made it clear that the Russian challenger is at the top of the list.

The champ doesn't seem to have anyone else in mind (not even Tyson Fury), and is, in fact, demanding that the fight happens in April which will most likely be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The Barclay Center is seen as the perfect venue, considering the large Russian population and the fact that the venue is controlled by Russian tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov.

Assuming that the Wilder vs. Povetkin fight does materialize, it will be interesting to see whom he plans to face next.

There is word that he could be looking at Charles Martin, the Internatoinal Boxing Federation (IBF) champion, although it was mentioned on RingTV that he would need to vacate his belt for a shot at Martin's title.

Wilder finds it a bit strange to even consider dropping his WBC title. It somehow goes against his plan of unifying all the heavyweight title belts.

But is he confident to face Povetkin who sports only one loss that came at the hands of former champion Wladimir Klitschko?

"I'm super confident of that fight," Wilder said via Boxing News 24. "I've been waiting for Povetkin for a very long time. I'm looking forward to him too. I got a lot of voluntaries out of the way."

Wilder is coming off a stirring win over Artur Szpilka last month via ninth round knockout but it was the fracas involving him and Fury that stole the show.