AJ OK TO MISS OUT WILDER
ANTHONY JOSHUA is doing exactly the right thing in taking a fight with Alexander Povetkin.
Because only then will Deontay Wilder realise AJ just doesn’t need him. That’s according to Ricky Hatton, the former world middleweight champ who, it’s fair to say, knows a thing or two about negotiating big fights.
With talks between IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion and WBC king Wilder stalling, the WBA has ordered Joshua to fight his mandatory challenger Povetkin instead.
That bout is expected to take place in September with the Wilder fight, if it can be made, scheduled for April 13, 2019 at Wembley Stadium.
“When you have big fights where you’re negotiating, you never do the deal straight away,” said Hatton (below). “For me and Floyd Mayweather Junior, it took about six or seven months to finally agree on everything and that’s always the case in big fights and when you deal with our friends across the water.
“They want the edge, Eddie Hearn will want the edge, that’s the promoters’ job. But AJ is the draw, he’s the name – no disrespect to Wilder, he sells 10,000 and Anthony sells 100,000, 90,000, 80,000.
“He doesn’t need to wait for Wilder. If I was putting myself in Eddie’s shoes I’d be saying, ‘If you’re messing about, let’s revisit it in a couple of weeks, we’re going to fight him instead’.
“If Eddie digs his heels in, there’s a better chance that it does happen. Because once the Wilder team realises Anthony’s career doesn’t revolve around him, they might get it over the line.”
Hatton expects Joshua to beat Povetkin, 38, but added: “It could be similar to the Dillian Whyte fight.
“Anthony had his successes but Whyte came back at him. Because Anthony goes for the knockout he’s very exciting for a heavyweight, he really lays it on the line.
“He could come through some bumpy stages, some rocky stages, because Povetkin will probably take Anthony’s best and come back.
“He’s a tough old guy and it won’t be a walk in the park, but I don’t see Anthony losing it because he’s just a better all-rounder full stop.” CARL FRAMPTON is in advanced talks for a shot at Josh Warrington’s IBF world featherweight crown. Ricky Hatton was appearing on Paddy Power’s Facebook show Paddy’s Boat Party. Watch the next episode tonight at 6pm.