DEONTAY WILDER has been told to accept a massive pay cut to step into a ring with Anthony Joshua.

The unbeaten American holds the WBC belt and is keen to organise a title unifier with WBA, IBF and IBO champion Joshua.

3 Deontay Wilder has been told to lower his demands to fight Anthony Joshua Credit: Getty

But AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn makes it clear there can be no talks until Wilder accepts a reduced cut of the purse. Hearn said: "The deal in Wilder’s head is a 50-50 split but over my dead body is that ever happening.

"He hasn’t had a serious fight yet and he needs to fight someone real before he can start making demands.

"I want him to fight Dillian Whyte at the O2 on February 3.

"That would be an absolute tear-up. AJ would buy a ringside seat for that."

3 Anthony Joshua trains ahead of Carlos Takam showdown Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

3 Eddie Hearn will not allow Deontay Wilder to take 50 per cent of the purse against Anthony Joshua Credit: Rex Features

Wilder, 31, said: "Everyone knows who I want. 2018 is going to be a huge year.

"A lot of questions are going to be asked and a lot of prayers are going to be answered.

“I know one day things will happen and I think it will be next year. The public are going to force and the people want it, the people want it now.

“It’s big right now, we don’t need any more hype for this. We’re heavyweights. Everyone around the world is talking about this.”

Boxer Anthony Joshua trains hard ahead of the Carlos Takam fight