Povetkin, despite looking a bit on the decline, is the number one challenger in both WBA and WBO rankings. He came over last night to the UK to fight David Price to showcase himself to the British audience, with great success... After Joshua - Parker, Joshua didn't even mention Povetkin as one of his next opponents, even though he is the mandatory challenger. In stead he mentions Wilder (makes sense) and ... Tyson Fury. Even Eddie Hearn didn't mention Povetkin, he wants to let him fight Whyte next. If Wilder announces his next fight against anyone else than Joshua, both WBA and WBO should start threaten to strip Joshua from the belts. They are waiting for Povetkin to be 40 years old. I wouldn't say that Povetkin beats Joshua now, but the duck is obvious since they've gone all silent about him. This fight needs to happen this year...
Povetkin whether with peds or not, (and let’s face it a lot of guys who blatantly used hardcore stuff like Holyfield are revered here), has been a very good fighter for a very long time. At this point i’m Not sure he can win, but I do believe he deserves his shot, soon. The guy puts on exciting fights, has traveled to opponents back yards and he closes the show. Look at the way he has ended - Takam, Duhaupas, Price, people pay to see that stuff. I say bring him on.
Think for obvious reasons they would prefer Joshua to fight Wilder or Fury but if neither of those happen it should really be Povetkin. Seems like Eddie is using Whyte to stop Joshua fighting Povetkin.
Yep good idea bringing him over to the undercard and give him a guy to look good against so they can duck him. **** sake..
You obviously haven't seen all the interviews. Hearn does mention him, saying that the wilder fight would have to be made this year or the mandatory would have to take place which is povetkin .. He actually names him
They've talked about Povetkin as a potential opponent ever since he was named mandatory, so it's unlikely they will duck him. I expect Joshua's next opponent to either be Miller or Povetkin, more likely the former. Wilder is looking to fight Breazeale of Kownacki according to a recent interview so I doubt the Wilder fight happens. Both seem happy to delay the fight for a bit longer despite what they are saying to the public. Povetkin/Whyte being talked about by Hearn was a surprise. Only reason I can see why Hearn will do that is to build up a clash with the winner vs Joshua. He's been trying to match Whyte with Wilder in the hope the winner fights Joshua and is now trying to do the same with Povetkin. If Povetkin wins the casuals will see Povetkin as a threat and of course the fight will then sell more, if Whyte wins, Hearn finally has a good enough win on Whyte's resume to justify a rematch with Joshua which we all know would do very well at the box office if Whyte is again seen as a threat.
Id like to see Whyte vs Povetkin in July as i think that would be a great fight . If Whtye wins it grants him a deserved rematch with Joshua and if Povetkin wins it makes the Joshua fight even bigger and better. Its a win / win situation really.
Let's just hope Povetkin doesn't his risk his life against the monstrous super heavyweight in Anthony Joshua. Size difference, power difference and physical strength difference is totally astronomical between the two. Mismatches like these must be condemned!
