Anthony Joshua ordered by WBA to sign for Alexander Povetkin fight within 24 hours
By Richard Damerell
Last Updated: 26/06/18 10:02am
Anthony Joshua has been ordered to sign for WBA title defence against Alexander Povetkin
Anthony Joshua could be made to wait for a Deontay Wilder fight after the WBA ordered him to sign for a mandatory title defence against Alexander Povetkin "within 24 hours".
WBC champion Wilder has yet to return a contract for a massive unification fight with Joshua for all the world heavyweight belts and the WBA have grown impatient with the drawn-out negotiations, ordering the British star to instead fulfil his title obligations to Povetkin.
WBA president Gilberto Mendoza had granted Joshua an extra month to continue talks for a fight with Wilder, but with a deal yet to be agreed, he has called on AJ to finalise a bout with mandatory challenger Povetkin.
Povetkin is the mandatory challenger for Joshua's WBA belt
Gilberto Mendoza said: "Today the WBA requested an answer from Anthony Joshua's team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.
"The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and also ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder.
Hearn woke up this morning thinking what took y'all so long
By Richard Damerell
Last Updated: 26/06/18 10:02am
Anthony Joshua has been ordered to sign for WBA title defence against Alexander Povetkin
Anthony Joshua could be made to wait for a Deontay Wilder fight after the WBA ordered him to sign for a mandatory title defence against Alexander Povetkin "within 24 hours".
WBC champion Wilder has yet to return a contract for a massive unification fight with Joshua for all the world heavyweight belts and the WBA have grown impatient with the drawn-out negotiations, ordering the British star to instead fulfil his title obligations to Povetkin.
WBA president Gilberto Mendoza had granted Joshua an extra month to continue talks for a fight with Wilder, but with a deal yet to be agreed, he has called on AJ to finalise a bout with mandatory challenger Povetkin.
Povetkin is the mandatory challenger for Joshua's WBA belt
Gilberto Mendoza said: "Today the WBA requested an answer from Anthony Joshua's team regarding his fight with the mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.
"The WBA have allowed over a month extension to negotiations with Povetkin and also ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder.
Hearn woke up this morning thinking what took y'all so long