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Alexander Povetkin is close to agreeing a fight with IBF, WBA and WBO world champion Anthony Joshua, according to the Russian’s promoter.
Povetkin knocked out David Price on the Joshua vs Parker undercard in March to retain his WBA Inter-Continental and WBO International heavyweight titles, and was named as mandatory challenger for his WBA (Super) belt the week after.
The WBA ordered Joshua and Povetkin to reach an agreement within 30 days or go to a purse bid. And Povetkin’s promoter, Vadim Kornilov, has said that a fight between the pair is close to being agreed.
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“Right now the negotiations have being initiated, and I think that within a week everything will be clear,” Kornilov commented on Tuesday.
“The chances for a fight to happen are very high. Alexander really wants this fight, we'll do everything to make it.
“And Joshua, I think, will not have options to avoid the fight.”
Kornilov added that he is confident Povetkin has what it takes to become the first man to defeat Joshua, who retains a flawless professional record after 21 fights.
Povetkin, 38, has lost just once in 34 contests, to Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision in 2013.
He has beaten the likes of Marco Huck, Carlos Takam and Christian Hammer, and held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title from 2011 to 2013.
“Right now Alexander is not even thing about fighting anyone else. Alexander is one of the most experienced fighters in this weight class,” he said.
“Alexander has faced a lot more experienced opponents than Joshua. Povetkin is a top-level fighter who does not need any more experience, he just needs one more opportunity to show what he can do.”
A fight between Joshua and Povetkin would naturally delay a unification showdown with WBC champion Deontay Wilder, although on the same day as Kornilov spoke, Eddie Hearn revealed that fighting the American remains Joshua’s priority.
Hearn has said that he will meet with Wilder’s team in New York this week, but conceded Povetkin will likely be Joshua’s next opponent should the protracted negotiations once again collapse.
“Anthony's made it clear - that's the fight he wants next, the Deontay Wilder fight,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
“With these mandatories coming up as well, Povetkin, and the possible IBF mandatory, I've said before there's not many opportunities to make an undisputed fight. Really the focus is for us to make the Deontay Wilder fight next.
“If not, it has to be the one after, and we'll have to deal with a mandatory in the meantime. It could be Alexander Povetkin.
“Generally from AJ's side, from our side, from the team's side, the Wilder fight is one we have no problems with at all. We've just got to find the right deal and we'll be trying to do that next week in New York.”
After defeating Parker on points at the end of March, Joshua outlined his ambitions for another two fights this year, meaning he could yet face Wilder in December providing he defends his belts against Povetkin in the summer.
“We made an offer [to Wilder] last week. We haven't heard from them yet,” Hearn added. “There's been a bit of talking behind the scenes.
“I'm going to look to meet up with them in New York, get face to face with them, look into the whites of their eyes, and just see if we can make a deal. We've made an offer that we feel is substantial, if not we're happy to talk about the numbers and look at their ideas as well.”
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