WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder has said that he wants Tyson Fury to take his clash with Francesco Pianeta "very seriously".

Fury meets the Italian in Belfast on Saturday evening, and the unbeaten British fighter is expected to face Wilder in the United States should he overcome the former world title challenger.

Wilder has made the trip to Northern Ireland to watch Fury in action, and the American is excited ahead of a potential announcement regarding a showdown with the former unified title holder.

The 32-year-old is quoted by talkSPORT as saying: "I'm looking very forward to seeing Tyson fight, to see what he's going to do.

"He better take this guy very seriously, you know. I know there's a big fight coming up between him and I, but this is the first step. This is a very important step for him, he must execute and complete the task and get the job done.

"If not, then it all goes in vain. At the same time, we're here; we're going to enjoy ourselves."

Wilder would meet Fury in New York or Las Vegas in either November or December.