Friday 20 October 2017 07:31, UK
Dillian Whyte is "irrelevant" to the future plans of Deontay Wilder, says the WBC champion's promoter Lou DiBella.
Whyte will battle Robert Helenius for the WBC 'silver' belt on the Anthony Joshua-Carlos Takam bill in Cardiff on October 28, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and promoter Eddie Hearn believes victory will put the Brixton man in "prime position" to challenge Wilder.
DiBella, who helps to guide the career of Wilder, says the 'The Bronze Bomber' is willing to fight any opponents on foreign soil, including Anthony Joshua, but dismissed the prospect of the American facing Whyte to set up a showdown with his rival champion.
"The concept that we would somehow feel obligated, or the necessity to fight Dillian Whyte for a chance to fight Anthony Joshua is a joke," DiBella told Sky Sports.
"In the past - this is a fact - we offered Hughie Fury on numerous occasions to fight Deontay. He turned us down.
"We would love to fight Joseph Parker at any point, any place. They can put it in a soccer stadium in New Zealand and Deontay will still knock him out.
"We're not running from that fight. We're not running from any fight."
Joshua will make his next title defence against replacement opponent Takam after Kubrat Pulev pulled out through injury and DiBella would have preferred to see the British title holder take on Whyte in a rematch.
"It's nothing against Dillian Whyte personally, but I have no need to discuss Dillian Whyte," said DiBella. "Dillian Whyte is irrelevant to the future of Deontay Wilder.
"If Dillian Whyte is such a force in the heavyweight division, why is AJ fighting Carlos Takam and not Dillian Whyte?
"Once Pulev was injured, I imagine AJ could have fought anyone he wanted, and Dillian Whyte was scheduled to fight, so why isn't AJ fighting Dillian Whyte?"
Joshua will fulfil his IBF mandatory title defence against Takam, while Wilder faces WBC mandatory challenger Bermane Stiverne on November 4, live on Sky Sports, clearing a path for a possible unification clash between the two champions and DiBella remains hopeful the fight will take place.
He said: "I think AJ is a great young fighter, but I think the greatest danger to AJ in the world is Deontay Wilder.
"I think the fight will eventually happen."