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Nick Parkinson
LONDON — Here are some thoughts of what we learned from WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s seventh-round stoppage win over Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on Saturday and what lies ahead for the world champion.
Joshua’s team still chasing Wilder
Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs), 28, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, remain intent on facing WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder, who makes an eighth title defense against Joshua’s British rival, Tyson Fury, at a U.S. venue on Dec. 1.
Hearn will make contact this week to start talks with Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel, with the aim being to strike a deal before the American faces Fury.
If WBC champion Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), 32, beats Fury — he will start betting favorite — Joshua’s team might have to make concessions if it wants the American to travel to London for April 13.
Over the summer, negotiations between the rival world heavyweight champions broke down, with Joshua opting to face WBA mandatory challenger Povetkin and Wilder turning his attention to Fury.
Joshua-Wilder is the fight everyone wants to see, and the initial plan was for it to happen instead of the Povetkin bout.
But talks collapsed as a $50 million offer from Wilder was dismissed and then a contract offer from Hearn was not signed by the American.
It’s Wembley next, not the U.S.
Wilder has spoken about facing Joshua in the U.S. — but Joshua and Hearn are determined to fight at Wembley Stadium on April 13, when the venue will be set out for 90,000.
The best chance of luring Joshua away from home comforts is the millions on offer from a fight in Las Vegas.
But a U.S. debut is likely to happen in the second half of 2019 at the earliest.
Hearn said at the postfight news conference Saturday: “April 13 we know what we are doing, but we have plans to box in the United States and other territories. I think in 2019 you’ll see his first fight abroad.
“We don’t rule out fighting in the States at some point in the future. We’re involved with some serious players over there, like DAZN, who want to back that fight, as well.
“But we also live in a time where fans want things now and in a division where heavyweights can lose, so we want that fight now. If they want the deal, we need to start negotiating. If they don’t want to do that, he will box someone else and he’ll box again in November or December.”
The negotiations have stopped the fight from happening before and might delay Joshua-Wilder again until later in 2019 if Hearn is determined to put Joshua out at Wembley in the spring.
If Fury (27-0, 19 KOs), 30, upsets the odds, just like he did to outpoint Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, IBF and WBO belts in November 2015, then Joshua-Wilder will definitely have to wait, as Wilder has a rematch clause with Fury.
Whyte is alright for a backup plan
Since Dillian Whyte and Joshua share the same promoter, a rematch at Wembley on April 13 can be made if no deal is done between Joshua and Wilder.
The Jamaica-born Whyte (24-1, 17 KOs), 30, who has lived in London since childhood, is first being lined up to face either British rival Dereck Chisora in a rematch or American Dominic Breazeale in London on Dec. 22.
Whyte is ranked No. 1 with the WBC governing body and will likely be promoted to top spot with the WBO in place of Povetkin. He hurt Joshua before also being stopped in the seventh round in December 2015, and even beat the world heavyweight No. 1 when they were amateurs.
“Hopefully, it’s me next,” Whyte said. “I’m here and ready to fight.”
Wilder and Fury will not go away despite KO
Like a perfectly-timed left hook, Wilder-Fury was confirmed for Dec. 1 just one day before Joshua had concluded business against Povetkin.
The timing of the announcement was designed to remind Joshua and fight fans there is a bigger fight than Joshua-Povetkin going down later this year.
Joshua said Fury and Wilder were waiting for him to lose, or ready to criticize via social media.
And Fury, who has had two fights on the comeback trail after 31 months out, was quick to hit Joshua on social media Saturday night.
“Can’t box eggs,” Fury said among other comments.
No matter what Joshua did in the ring against Povetkin, he can expect Fury and Wilder to belittle his achievements and downplay his status in the division.
And neither can Joshua escape talk of facing Wilder next.
Joshua’s popularity intact
Joshua’s past four fights have now been in front of a combined 300,000 fans at Wembley Stadium and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. But how long can promoter Hearn, of Matchroom Sport, keep putting Joshua in huge stadiums expecting to sell out? Is there a saturation point, and have we reached it?
We might find out on April 13, back at Wembley, when Joshua’s opponent could be Whyte, a man who he clinically knocked out three years ago.
It remains to be seen whether there is a big appetite from fans to see that again or whether obstacles in purse split and television companies can be overcome to match Joshua with Wilder, the biggest fight available for him in the division.
A fight against Wilder would have no problem selling out in England or America, but Joshua is running out of big fights suitable for big stadiums in the U.K.