By 
It had appeared to be all but a foregone conclusion that BF, WBA, and WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua would be facing WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in a title unification match later this year.However, it appears that reports of a deal being nearly completed between the two parties may have been a little premature, as it now looks like Joshua’s next opponent will be the mandatory challenger for the WBA heavyweight belt, Alexander Povetkin.
What happened?
The change came in order for Joshua, who has a record of 21-0 with 20 wins by way of knockout, to retain his WBA heavyweight belt as a failure to fight the mandatory challenger for that belt may have resulted in Joshua losing the belt.In a statement, Gilberto Mendoza, President of the WBA, explained:“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.“It appears the Wilder team have not returned the contract for the fight and therefore we are requesting a date for the Joshua-Povetkin fight with immediate effect.”
Delayed but still happening
If Joshua does fight Povetkin later this year, the fight against Wilder, who is unbeaten in 40 fights (with 39 wins by KO) will be moved to at least early 2019.Wilder and Joshua’s camps are both pointing the finger at the other, with Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, saying they had waited nine days for a response, while advisor and co-manager of Wilder, Shelly Finkel, has said it is clear that the Joshua camp never really wanted the fight to happen this year.It appears that it will take a while for this animosity to be resolved in the ring, something that should only lead to more anticipation for the eventual; battle between the two unbeaten champions.