Deontay Wilder raised fresh hope that a huge reunification bout with Anthony Joshua could yet happen as he claimed he can’t wait for face the British fighter.
Wilder will take on his WBC mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale on May 18 before Joshua then puts his WBA, WBO and IBF belts up for grabs against Jarrell 'Big Baby' Miller on June 1.
Talks between Wilder and Tyson Fury collapsed and the fact the three top heavyweights in the world are all with separate broadcasting companies has muddied the waters in terms of them all facing each other.
However, Wilder continues to make the right noises about sealing a fight against Joshua, which would put every world heavyweight title on the line.
"We need to see one champion, one face, one name. It is a mighty task to getting that complete. It takes cooperation with a lot of people to make that happen," Wilder said about Joshua.
"Everybody wants to see the big fight but there are certain things we need to do. One fight, one step at a time.
"I bring the excitement, I hold all the keys, I am the man in the heavyweight division. Ain't no other fighter doing what I'm doing."
Wilder can't wait for AJ
When Wilder was told that Joshua was eager to fight him as soon as possible, the Bronze Bomber told Sky Sports: “I can't wait for him either.
"Four months of negotiations and they knew they didn't want the fight. Stop. What more do I have to do for people?
"I've tried to show people and I'll continue to still prove that I am the best. I'll continue to give people the fights that they want to see. But they got to be in cooperation with my team as well too.
"Because fighters, I understand, they have choices. They have a choice to make whether to get in there with the man, the myth and the legend.”
Breazeale just a stepping stone
Breazeale, also 33, travelled to London as Joshua's first world-title challenger in 2016 and was stopped in seven rounds.
His punch resistance is among the finest in the division and will be tested by its most explosive puncher.
"I'm very happy that I get a chance to get a mandatory out of the way, because I consider mandatories like flies buzzing around my head," Wilder said.
"They bother me. I'm busy. I have things that I want to do. I want to get him out of the way. I'm about to smash this fly. This is a personal fight for me."
Breazeale, who had been on course to fight Dillian Whyte before Fury's agreement with ESPN took him away from Wilder, responded:
"I'm excited for the event more so than just fighting Deontay Wilder. I want that WBC title. I know the big shot is coming as long as I set it up the right way."
It is also understood that Fury's next opponent will soon be confirmed for a June 15 bout at a venue in Las Vegas.
