Joshua ordered to fight Povetkin before Wilder
Anthony Joshua’s next fight will be against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin, promoter Eddie Hearn has said.
Joshua was yesterday morning given a 24-hour deadline to agree to face the World Boxing Association challenger or face being stripped of one of his heavyweight belts.
Hearn has been negotiating for a unification bout with World Boxing Council holder Deontay Wilder, but the WBA has lost patience.
Gilberto Mendoza, the WBA president, said in a statement: “Today, the WBA requested an answer from Joshua’s team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Povetkin. The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and ongoing discussions with Wilder. It appears the Wilder team have not returned the contract for the fight and therefore we are requesting a date for the Joshua versus Povetkin fight with immediate effect.”
The demand did not appear to cause Joshua’s team too many issues given negotiations with the Wilder camp appear to be deadlocked and former champion Povetkin represents the next-best opportunity for a stadium-filling autumn bout.
Hearn had indicated he was close to agreeing a deal with Wilder, but the American’s team claim to want “clarifications”. Hearn told Sky Sports News yesterday afternoon: “We can’t do a lot more than we’re doing. Anthony wants that [Wilder] fight more than anything.
“We sent the contract nearly nine days ago now. [Team Wilder] emailed me on Sunday and said, ‘We’ll be back with our comments on Friday’. Why do you need another five or six days? They know we’re under pressure from the WBA and it all feels like a big game.
“This Wilder fight is one that has to get done and has to get signed. It’s a fight we desperately want. But at the same time we’re not going to lose a belt to the WBA for ordering the mandatory, and if Povetkin’s ready to go, then that will be next.”
Povetkin, who held the WBA’S “regular” title between 2011 and 2013, beat Briton David Price in his last fight in March on the undercard of Joshua’s win over Joseph Parker in Cardiff.
The Principality Stadium would be favourite to host the Joshua and Povetkin contest, confirmation of which would delay a clash with Wilder until next year.