[dropcap]N[/dropcap]egotiations over a world heavyweight title unification fight between Anthony Joshua and WBC Titleholder Deontay Wilder could start as early as this week.

Ahead of the negotiations, Anthony Joshua has stressed that he will not be paying Deontay Wilder a financial “bonus” should the two come together for a title fight.

The 28-year-old unified the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles with a controlled performance in a unanimous points win over Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday night.

Joshua hopes to visit America to see if Wilder’s team are “serious” about a fight but stated that he is in “the most powerful” negotiating position.

Meanwhile, Joshua’s promoter has confirmed AJ’s readiness to kickstart talks with the American boxer, ‘I think negotiations will start next week,” Hearn stated.

It is a fight Anthony Joshua really wants and I think he wants it this year,’ confirmed Barry Hearn, chairman and founder of Joshua’s promoters Matchroom.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme, Hearn added: ‘Anthony Joshua wants all the belts — that is the big card Deontay Wilder has got to play but commercially, Joshua is far bigger than Deontay Wilder.

‘I think Wilder would come over here because in the world we live in, in boxing, the couple of million dollars Wilder is getting for a fight is pretty small fry in comparison to the rewards that await him for a Joshua fight.

‘Travelling is not usually a problem if the money is right.