Anthony Joshua’s camp EXPOSED for avoiding Deontay Wilder by Frank Warren
ANTHONY JOSHUA will defend his world heavyweight titles against Alexander Povetkin later this year after failing to agree a deal to unify the division with an undisputed showdown against Deontay Wilder.
Negotiations between Joshua and Wilder’s representatives had been ongoing since AJ dethroned Joseph Parker to add the WBO strap to his IBF and WBA belts in March.
But last month, the WBA ran out of patience with the lack of progress being made in talks, ordering Joshua to face his mandatory challenger, 38-year-old Povetkin, or be stripped of the belt.
Former Olympic gold medallist Povetkin will present Joshua with a stern test, having been beaten only once in 35 fights, with defeat coming at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko in 2013.
Assessing the fight during an interview with iFL TV this week, Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren claimed 28-year-old AJ should be wary of his veteran rival.
“It’s a decent fight. Povetkin is an old campaigner,” Warren said.
“He’ll be dangerous for three or four rounds and then normally what happens in fights with him is he starts running out of gas.
“But it’s a decent fight. I would have preferred to see him in with [Deontay] Wilder but obviously, that wasn’t to be.”
Joshua recently signed a two-fight deal ensuring his next two contests will take place at London’s Wembley Stadium.
With the first of those two dates reserved for Povetkin in September, speculation has already begun to mount whether Wilder will be the man targeted for April in a fight that could be witnessed by almost 100,000 spectators.
However, Warren cast doubt on the idea Joshua will share the ring with Wilder any time soon.
“It doesn’t seem like they want it does it?” he continued.
“[It’s on Matchroom], 100%. They don’t want it. Robert McCracken [Joshua’s coach] doesn’t want it. Everybody knows that.”