WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s next fight won’t be against WBC champion Deontay Wilder after negotiations reached an impasse. Instead, Joshua will defend his titles next against Alexander Povetkin on Sept. 22 in front of what is expected to be a full house at Wembley Stadium in London.
For the past few months, Wilder and Joshua were seemingly engaged in talks to unify the titles. However, the negotiations became increasingly contentious and eventually fell apart. In the midst of the back and forth between the UK megastar and the American heavyweight, the WBA ordered Joshua to face Povetkin or else face immediate consequences.
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Once the fight between Wilder and Joshua was dead in the water, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, moved on to nail down a fight with former WBA champion Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs).
Joshua will return to the scene where he faced Wladimir Klitschko in a Fight of the Year candidate that took place back in April of 2017. Joshua claimed the WBA title in an all-action firefight that saw him stop the legendary Klitschko in the 11th round in front of a post-war record crowd of 90,000 at England’s national stadium.
Joshua’s will square off with a man who also faced Klitschko, but was on the wrong side of a unanimous decision loss back in 2013. It still stands as the only blemish on Povetkin’s record.
"I can’t wait to get back in the ring, the end of March feels a long time ago now,” said Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), who went to the distance for the first time in his professional career in his last fight against Joseph Parker. “Povetkin is a serious challenge that I will prepare meticulously for. He has serious pedigree and only a fool would underestimate what he brings to the table.”
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Povetkin, a gold medal winner in the 2004 Olympics, started his professional career with 26 straight wins before dropping a decision to Klitschko five years ago. Since then, the Russian has won eight in a row, but has also been embroiled in a bit controversy.
A fight between Povetkin and Wilder was scheduled for May 21, 2016. However, Povetkin failed a drug test just days before the fight was slated to take place and the bout was canceled. Later that year, just before a scheduled fight with former champion Bermane Stiverne, Povetkin failed another drug test. Stiverne pulled himself out of the fight and was replaced by Johann Duhaupas, who Povetkin knocked out in the sixth round.
Since then, Povetkin has secured unanimous decision victories against Andriy Rudenko and Christian Hammer to set the stage for the upcoming showdown with a fellow Olympic gold medalist.
“The battle for the World title has always been my goal,” said Povetkin. “I fought for the moment to face the strongest in the World, and on September 22 I get my opportunity. Anthony Joshua has four belts and I want them all. I'm glad that our fight will finally take place, the meeting of two Olympic champions in the ring is destined to be a breath-taking event.”
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Joshua has torn through the heavyweight division since turning pro back in 2013. He kicked his career off with 20 straight knockouts until Parker took him to the judges for the first time in March. Although a Wilder fight is still looming, Joshua has made it clear that he will not be overlooking Povetkin.
“I can’t wait to return to Wembley on September 22 for what I believe will be one of the biggest tests of AJ’s career,” said Hearn. “Last time he was there he produced one of the most dramatic fights and endings in the history of the sport, and I expect this fight to be full of energy and drama — Povetkin is a Top 3 Heavyweight and extremely dangerous, but in AJ I see the best Heavyweight in the world today, and I think we will see a major statement.”
Should Joshua get past Povetkin, there is an April 13, 2019 date reserved for Joshua to return to Wembley Stadium. Many expect Wilder to be the opponent should the two sides find equal ground on a deal. However, the 28-year-old is focused on what he has in front of him in September.
“Training hasn’t stopped for me, but the next 10 weeks ahead will be intense both mentally and physically,” Joshua said. “I will push myself to breaking point to make sure I am in peak condition for another huge night for British boxing at Wembley Stadium on September 22.”
