By Scott Gilfoid: Deontay Wilder says Anthony Joshua never wanted to fight him, and that’s he’s a “coward” for not facing him in a unification fight. Wilder says Joshua wasted three months by taking up a fight against him, but then failing to take it. After the negotiations with Wilder fell apart this week, Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs) will be defending against his WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin next in September.
By Scott Gilfoid: Much to the disappointment to many boxing fans, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua won’t be facing each other in 2018 in a big heavyweight unification fight. WBC champion Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) say it ultimately came down to two issues for why his team were unable to agree to the contract for the fight against the unbeaten IBF/WBA/WBO champion Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs). The reasons were the following:
By Scott Gilfoid: Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn thinks Deontay Wilder and his management are playing games by not returning the contract for the Anthony Joshua fight, so he now is ready to move on and match AJ against WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin for September.
By Scott Gilfoid: The World Boxing Association is ready to order champion Anthony Joshua to defend his WBA heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. The WBA will be ordering the fight within 24 hours, according to Sky Sports News.
By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Eddie Hearn says he has a deal that he already has a deal in position between IBF, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and his WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, but there’s still a possibility WBC champion Deontay Wilder could get the fight depending on his willingness to come to the UK for the match.
By Tim Royner: IBF/WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s promoter Barry Hearn plans on meeting with AJ on Tuesday to discuss his next fight. Hearn has three possible opponents for Joshua to pick from and they are as follows: WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller and WBA mandatory Alexander Povetkin.
By Tim Royner: Promoter Barry Hearn says Anthony Joshua will be making his decision whether to fight WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder next when he sits down to make his decision in 7 to 10 days.
By David Alexander: Eddie Hearn is heading to New York for talks with Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) as a long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs) moves ever closer. The Matchroom boss will meet with Al Haymon and Shelly Finkel, the two main advisors to WBC heavyweight title holder Wilder, on Thursday to discuss the possibility of a summer unification blockbuster with WBA, IBO and WBO champ Joshua.
By Scott Gilfoid: WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin’s Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy states that negotiations have started for a fight against WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua for a fight that could take place in UK, USA or Russia.
By Scott Gilfoid: The World Boxing Association has officially ordered the fight between WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin. The management for the two fighters has 30 days to negotiate the fight before a purse bid takes place.