Not what Alexander Povetkin wanted to hear.
Anthony Joshua has made his mind up on his next opponent and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder can expect another concrete offer in the coming weeks.
Fresh from his victory over Joseph Parker in last month’s heavyweight unification fight, Joshua identified two names – Wilder and Tyson Fury – as potential opponents he hoped to face next while promoter Eddie Hearn announced that the list of candidates had been narrowed down to two, claiming ‘AJ’ would either fight Wilder or Povetkin next.
Well now that the dust has settled, Joshua has his eyes solely focused on a clash with ‘The Bronze Bomber’.
Speaking at a Lucozade Sport Fitwater event which challenged people to take part in the world’s largest ever boxercise class, Joshua said: “Wilder is who I want next. I didn’t want to talk about it all that much in the build-up to the last fight because I didn’t want to look past Parker but it’s Wilder now.
“If he wants to step up then that’s what I’m interested in. But he’s the only person I’m thinking of right now.”
Povetkin has recently been declared the mandatory challenger for Joshua’s WBA title but if that’s an avenue that the Brit can put off to a later date, he would appreciate the chance to strike while the iron is hot and attempt to unify the whole division.
“Povetkin doesn’t really interest me. It might have to interest me but not right now,” Joshua said.
“The time is just right to fight Wilder now, with both of us still undefeated, and the opportunity is here to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It’s something I want to do sooner rather than later.
“The build-up to a fight with Wilder would be interesting because of his personality. Guys like that deserve every penny because of what they do with their trash talk and hyping.”
Joshua seemingly can’t put a foot wrong right now and, on Monday, he motivated 541 participants to smash the Guinness world record for the largest ever boxercise class at the Lucozade Sport Fitwater event at York Hall, an iconic London boxing venue.
After proving his staying power to his critics by going 12 rounds for the first time in his career, Joshua is confident that there are no chinks in his armour but he continues to strive for improvement.
He said: “Everybody already knew I could punch and everybody already knew I could knock people out. I wanted to show that I could out-box opponents and prove that there’s no issue with my cardio or gas tank.”
Not since Lennox Lewis have we seen an undisputed heavyweight champion and Joshua is keen to cement his legacy before he turns 29 this October.
Following the path that has been walked by boxing legends #AJBXNG pic.twitter.com/8usTd03AtH
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 31, 2018
His two most recent outings have taken place in Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, which has turned into something of a happy hunting ground for Joshua.
Having insisted that he doesn’t feel the need to travel to the United States, as has traditionally been required of several British champions in years gone by, Joshua is hoping to return to the site of his dramatic 2017 win over Wladimir Klitschko.
“I think London would be ten out of ten for my next fight but I’m not really that fussed, to be honest,” he said.
“Cardiff has been good for me so that’s always going to be an option.
“I definitely don’t see why I’d need to travel to America. This is why I’ve done this and worked so hard in my career, to be the powerhouse in terms of negotiations. I want the Wilder fight and I am the majority shareholder.”
