Photo by Lucas Noonan/Premier Boxing Champions

Deontay Wilder won’t be facing the Johann Duhaupas and Eric Molinas of the world when he returns to the ring.

Showtime boxing head Stephen Espinoza informed RingTV.com on Wednesday that Wilder will likely fight again in January, and he provided a short-list of RING-rated heavyweights that includes No. 1 ranked Alexander Povetkin as possible opponents.

The greatest likelihood is that Wilder faces No. 5-rated Bryant Jennings in a bout that would take place at Barclays Center on Showtime.

“From conversations with his team, my understanding is that Deontay would like to continue to stay as active as he has,” Espinoza said on Wednesday. “So we’re looking to have him back in January, very likely on Showtime in a step-up fight. It could be anywhere from Povetkin to (No. 7 Vyacheslav) Glazkov to Jennings to (No. 9) Tony Thompson. He wants to continue the momentum that he’s built from being active as he moves toward what he has said is his goal, which is eventually (Wladimir) Klitschko next year.”

Wilder has been criticized for taking on perceived pushovers as he readies himself for the eventual Klitschko fight.