By Edward Chaykovsky

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (33-0, 32KOs) is still very much a work in progress, says his co-manager Shelly Finkel. After last Saturday's world title win over Bermane Stiverne, the hype began growing for a fight between Wilder and WBO/WBA/IBO/IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Finkel, who manages Wilder with Al Haymon and Jay Deas, also works closely with Klitschko.

He says there is no need to rush Wilder into big fights against the best of the division; that despite a world title he still needs time to grow and groom his skills.

“Look, (Wilder) is a baby winning the title. It was his first title fight, they'll be a time for unification, they'll be a time for all those things, he could go and Povetkin (the No. 2 contender) in Russia and make $10 million,” Finkel said to the Tuscaloosa News. “It's not the right thing yet. Give him a couple of fights, maybe bring something back to Alabama. Let him develop just like any other athlete. They don't take someone who is a great college prospect and throw him right in. And this kid is a great prospect.”

One fight that could happen this year is a match against unbeaten EBU/British champion Tyson Fury.