Wilder on hold as Joshua lines up Povetkin fight
ANTHONY JOSHUA is almost certain to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin in September after being given 24 hours by the WBA to wrap up a deal, Sportsmail can reveal.
The Brit has been in lengthy talks over a major unification with Deontay Wilder but, with those discussions yet to be resolved, it is understood that Joshua will sign to fight Povetkin.
The situation was hastened by contact from the WBA on Monday night, giving Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn a final day to arrange a fight with Povetkin or risk losing the belt.
They had initially granted a 30-day negotiation period after ordering the fight in April and then subsequently issued a one-month extension with Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO champion, favouring a huge clash with WBC holder Wilder.
But a contract sent to Wilder earlier this month has not yet been signed.
It is now highly likely that the Wilder fight will take place next February or March, with Povetkin next up in September, probably in London. In a statement released to Sportsmail, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza said: ‘Today the WBA requested an answer from Anthony Joshua’s team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.
‘The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and also ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder.
‘ It appears the Wilder team have not returned the contract for the fight and we are requesting a date for the Joshua v Povetkin fight with immediate effect.’
An agreement with Povetkin was reached earlier this month, but with an understanding that a Wilder fight was Joshua’s priority.
That seemed close to fruition on June 11 when Wilder said he would fight Joshua in Britain. Hearn sent Wilder’s team a contract, but it has not been returned.