The rebirth of the Heavyweight division?

THE PRESENT:

Deontay Wilder dropping Luis Ortiz to his knees!

With the Joshua - Wilder fight not coming to fruition, the WBA sanctioning body left Joshua and camp with no choice but to face mandatory challenger, Alexander Povetkin. A certain time limit was stipulated for the Joshua - Wilder fight, and since it failed to come to pass, Joshua was going to be stripped of his WBA title if he failed to fight Povetkin on immediate notice. The 38-year-old Russian, Alexander Povetkin, is a tough fighter and even though his reach and height are shorter in comparison to Anthony Joshua, he could prove to be a serious problem for the champ.

Alexander Povetkin was the WBA champion from 2011 to 2013. His only loss, since his debut in 2005, came in 2013 against a Wladimir Klitschko who was in his prime. Povetkin's last win came against heavyweight David Price, on the Joshua - Parker undercard in Cardiff. Anthony Joshua realizes that a win against Povetkin will give him the freedom to choose any opponent he wants. Invariably, that opponent will be Deontay Wilder. This is what Joshua had to say about his upcoming fight against Alexander Povetkin:

"I can't wait to get back in the ring - the end of March feels a long time ago now. Povetkin is a serious challenge that I will prepare meticulously for. He has serious pedigree and only a fool would underestimate what he brings to the table.

"It's not the height of the man, it's the fight of the man. He's fought people like me all his life. He's used to tall guys. He knows how to slip and throw punches, so I've got to make sure I give him no gaps or openings. It's not the height that's the issue - it's how willing and determined he is."

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn also faced quite some criticism when fight fans realized that the Joshua - Wilder fight was pushed to a later date. He believes that it is, in fact, a career smart move for Joshua to face Povetkin at this point in time. He firmly feels that Povetkin will pose a serious threat to Joshua. This is what Eddie Hearn had to say about the Joshua - Povetkin fight, scheduled for 22nd September 2018:

"I can't wait to return to Wembley for what I believe will be one of the biggest tests of AJ's career. Last time he was there he produced one of the most dramatic fights and endings in the history of the sport and I expect this fight to be full of energy and drama.

"Povetkin is a top-three heavyweight and extremely dangerous but in AJ I see the best heavyweight in the world today and I think we will see a major statement."

Anthony Joshua is on the road to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The only thing standing between him and this pedestal is the WBC belt strapped around the waist of Deontay Wilder. The most recent boxer to claim the honor of undisputed champ was Lennox Lewis, back in the year 2000. Deontay Wilder looks to cement his name permanently in the history books as well. He too realizes that a fight with Joshua is one for the ages. This is what he had to say about the situation:

"Most definitely he (Joshua) could have gotten an exemption for this (Povetkin) fight. That was the least of the worries right there because everyone wants it. When everyone wants it, then there's nothing that could stand in the way of a fight of this magnitude. No possible way.

"Even when he's announcing Povetkin, they're talking about me. Everywhere we go, they're talking about this fight.

"At the end of the day, me and Joshua don't need each other. Not to survive and live. We've been doing that before we even met each other, and we're going to do that after we've met each other.

"But for this fight to happen - for fans to see one of the biggest fights in world history and to see one champion, one face, one name - we definitely need each other."