Deontay Wilder wants Anthony Joshua in Africa!

Deontay Wilder has expressed his burning desire to face Anthony Joshua in Africa, despite not yet getting past Saturday night’s opponent Robert Helenius.

Wilder (42-2-1) and Joshua have long had discussions about a super fight between two of the biggest modern heavyweight divisions. Now it looks like Wilder is committed to taking the fight to the future.

“Everywhere I go I hear people say me and Joshua, me and Joshua, and that’s the number one fight for them,” Wilder said during a pre-press media scrum. “If that’s the most important fight in the world for me, then that’s what I want.”

Wilder (42-2-1) and Joshua have long had on-and-off discussions about a super fight

Wilder is determined to do battle on the African continent, despite lucrative offers available to the couple in the UK and US.

‘Africa, and only Africa, you know, I mean? It hasn’t been a fight there in a long time [sic],’ he said.

“It would be a good fight, I mean just go back to the continent, you know, and be in the motherland, and put your feet on the ground there.”

Wilder spent most of the pre-fight press conference scrum fielding questions about his future rather than his present. Including the prospect of fighting current WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk — who will be ringside at the Barclays Center.

The Ukrainian has said he would be willing to fight Wilder if Tyson Fury is not an option.

“I didn’t talk to him,” Wilder said of Usyk. “You know, I’m looking on the outside… If he’s a man of his word, and certain people have confirmed yes, so I’m looking forward to him being a man of his word.”

American Wilder will be the first to take on Robert Helenius in Brooklyn, New York this Saturday night

Despite not winning any of the trilogy fights against Fury, Wilder looked rejuvenated on Thursday after setting foot in the arena he claims to be a “second home.” His record is four knockouts from four Brooklyn fights.

“We just went back to basics for the day, we went back to having fun and doing things and what brought me here,” Wilder said of his battle preparation.

‘Come on Saturday night, I don’t want people to think I’ve found a new style or anything like that. [I’m] just go back to the basics of things you know.’

The former heavyweight champion, who is approaching his 38th birthday, has no illusions that he is closer to the end than the beginning – entering what he calls the ‘second phase’ of his career. Although “the grass is green,” he is still striving to remain at the top of the heavyweight division.

“I’m not going to stop and pick up where I left off,” Wilder said. “I’ve only got three years to go guys and now those three years are going by super fast, so that said, I don’t want to waste my time, I don’t want to waste my time and the fans’ time.”

Oleksandr Usyk has said he’d be willing to fight Wilder if Tyson Fury isn’t an option

In a big difference from his previous fights, Wilder’s fight with Helenius (31-3) has a palpable mutual love and admiration as opposed to the animosity with Fury.

“We’re in a relationship,” Wilder said of his former sparring partner. “But once we’re in the ring, it starts to count.”

“This is the only time we’re in the ring where it really counts, because other than that it’s just been sparring, where the iron grinder [sic].

“We have a lot at stake, and I have a lot of respect for Robert, he has a warrior heart and I look forward to seeing him test his heart against my heart.”

Before the fight begins, it’s clear that the Finnish Swede does indeed have the heart and a desire to further his quarter-century dream of becoming a heavyweight champion.

A win over Wilder is probably all he needs. It could at least bring him into the picture, not that Helenius allows himself to romanticize the opportunity.

“I can’t be excited just yet because I haven’t achieved what I set out to be, so if I start cheering now it means I’m okay with this situation,” Helenius told exclusive dailymail.com. “Of course, it’s been 25 tough years for me, with ups and downs.”

Helenius has dealt with depression during his lean years, but it has placed him in Brooklyn, NY. just six miles from the city of dreams and 12 laps closer to his.

“If nothing goes your way in boxing, you can struggle mentally, really vigorously and feel depressed and want to do nothing but just train,” he added.

“I’ve been struggling towards the World Cup for a long time, 25 years to be exact. So this is my big chance to shine.’