With plenty of talk about a massive undisputed battle with Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion will likely be frozen out until 2019 as Joshua goes through the motions of making the eventual fight an even bigger affair.
Sky Sports’ Adam Smith, the Head of Boxing TV for Joshua’s promotional company at Matchroom, recently told WBN the Wilder fight would be on the backburner until 2019.
Povetkin and Miller are now the most probable opponents for AJ.
Miller represents Joshua’s opportunity to finally give the American public a birds-eye view of the top division ruler. Povetkin has been ordered as a defense for Joshua by both the WBO and WBA.
Povetkin also features on the undercard to Joshua’s battle with Joseph Parker, with only the finer details to be sorted out before the pair head into the ring to fight it out for four versions of the world title.
Both have to win in Cardiff. Joshua against Parker, and Povetkin against David Price. That’s before promoter Eddie Hearn then sits down with his star-fighter to map out where he goes next.
DEONTAY WILDER
Whatever the situation is, the blueprint doesn’t involve a clash with Deontay Wilder at the moment.
Wilder would probably be better off agreeing to defend his green strap against Dillian Whyte, with a victory clause inserted into the contract.
Joshua would have to agree on the fight in the first part of 2019. Joshua v Miller / Wilder v Whyte could even form part of a USA double-header.
TV matters would have to be sorted out between HBO and Showtime due to conflicts with the boxers involved.
Miller’s next outing is on HBO against Johann Duahaupas, whilst Whyte was also featured with the broadcasters for his latest crushing knockout against Lucas Browne in London.
Joshua and Wilder, on the other hand, are both big names with Showtime.
A win for Wilder over Whyte on home soil, which could double up as a WBC mandatory, would also leave the 40-0 puncher free to feature with Joshua on his UK bill against Povetkin before an undisputed meeting a few months later.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay.
