AJ in Wilder waiting game
ANTHONY JOSHUA is now unlikely to face Deontay Wilder to unify the heavyweight title belts until next February.
Talks regarding a 2018 clash between the undefeated heavyweight champions are ongoing, but Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn admits he is not hopeful.
Instead Joshua looks set to face his mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin in September before turning his attention to Wilder early next year.
Hearn said: “At the moment, we are fighting Povetkin. We want to fight in September but September doesn’t work with Wilder because of (his broadcaster) Showtime.
“All I can say is that I think the Wilder fight will get signed eventually, but it’s whether we fight Povetkin first.
“If Povetkin is September then Wilder probably won’t happen until February.
“That would mean that we would probably go to Cardiff to fight Wilder.” IBF, WBO and WBA champ Joshua is set to fight in a stadium for the fourth time running if he takes on talented Russian Povetkin.
Hearn added: “Any fight against Povetkin will definitely take place over here.
“Wembley is a likely venue but so is the Olympic Stadium or it could be Twickenham.
“That could be on the 15th or the 22nd of September but then there is also the 29th, which is available at Old Trafford.”