Joshua ordered by WBA to ditch Wilder, fight Povetkin
Anthony Joshua was given a 24-hour deadline yesterday to sign a deal to fight Alexander Povetkin or face being stripped of the WBA portion of his world heavyweight boxing titles.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, indicated he was close to agreeing on a unification bout with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, but the American’s team claim to be holding out for “clarifications”. The WBA has lost patience and wants him to fight its mandatory challenger from Russia. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza said in a statement: “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 therefore we are requesting a date for the Joshua versus Povetkin fight with immediate effect.” There seems no choice for Joshua (21-0, 20 KO), who holds three of the big four heavyweight titles and can’t afford to relinquish one in his bid to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000. Joshua’s fight with Povetkin (34-1, 24 KO) this year would push Wilder to next year.
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