Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, WBA, IBO, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), says the negotiations are still ongoing with Alexander Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) of Russia.
Povetkin is the mandatory challenger under the WBA and the sanctioning body has already ordered Joshua to face him.
Back in March, Povetkin scored a brutal fifth round knockout of Olympic bronze medal winner David Price at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The contest took place as part of the event which featured Joshua's unification with Joseph Parker in the main event.
While all of this is going on, Hearn is still trying to reach a unification deal between Joshua and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
But, the Joshua vs. Wilder encounter has a serious issue - and it has nothing to do with money - as the two sides are unable to agree on the site location.
Joshua wants the contest to take place in the UK, while Wilder - who offered a guarantee of $50 million - wants the United States.
Hearn is hoping to finalize Joshua's next fight before the end of June.
"Povetkin is the WBA mandatory challenger and we are talking to them at the moment and we've got a great relationship with his team," Hearn told Nick Parkinson.
"They understand the position, AJ wants to fight Wilder next, but Povetkin will get his chance at some point. I think it is likely AJ's next fight will be in September and we probably get it done in the next two to three weeks."
Povetkin's promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, is also offering up a lot of money - hoping to bring the fight to Russia - but he's also doesn't rule out the idea of the contest coming to the UK.
"We’ve come up with a very good financial proposal for Eddie Hearn to bring the Povetkin vs. Joshua fight to Russia, as well as with our conditions to host the fight in the UK. If we don’t reach an agreement until the end of the month, we’ll have to get ready to go to purse bid," Ryabinsky said.
2023-10-21 02:58:07
