By Edward Chaykovsky

Deontay Wilder’s co-manager Jay Deas is confident that a deal to face WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs) could be finalized as early as this week. Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) and his team are waiting for information regarding the date and venue.

Deas, who manages Wilder's career with Al Haymon, hopes the fight is made sooner than later. The negotiations have been dragging out for a months and several scheduled purse bid dates have been postponed. Everything appears to be getting wrapped up and now Deas expects to receive the details.

The date itself stands a chance of being pushed back to a date in 2015, given the late point in the year and the booked up schedule of venues and lack of TV dates. Deas hopes the fight happens this year, in December.

“Deontay has actually been the one that’s been more patient, I’m probably the one that’s been more antsy,” Deas told the Tuscaloosa News. “I believe we’ll know all that this week.”

“If they told us it was in December, that would be great with us. The earlier, the better. And I think Stiverne’s people are saying the same thing. The reason we’re interested in finding out the date is that we don’t want Deontay in camp for 17 weeks before a fight. Once we know the date, we know whether to pick it up or slow it down and have him to where he’s just right on fight night.”