Nigeria heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is determined to give fans the mega bout they have been clamouring for.
AJ is promising to fight Deontay Wilder — even if the Bronze Bomber is KO’d by Tyson Fury. AJ defends his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight crowns against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley on September 22 after talks with the American broke down. WBC king Wilder is expected to meet Fury in December. But Watford slugger Joshua said: “We’re going to fight regardless because we’re the same weight category, the same era and it’s the fight that people want to see. Let’s say the worst happens with Povetkin, it don’t stop me from having to fight them. And if Wilder gets beat in that fight with Fury, I’ll still fight Wilder down the line.”
AJ is not taking his eyes of the ball with Povetkin as he eyes a mega-bout with Fury or Wilder. He added: “I think I’ve got good opponents on my record so far. Povetkin’s a good one and I’m at that stage where I do want to look past Povetkin, because the division is alight, it’s amazing. There’s some real good challengers out there, but at the same time you’ve got to focus on your opponent in front of you, and that’s why – is it a big threat? Yeah, but if I can’t get past him then what can I say, everyone is going to be a big threat. I’ve got to dismantle Povetkin with ease, so I’m the threat, I’m the one to be reckoned with. It’s been years since British boxing, especially at heavyweight, has got the respect it has today, and it’s good to be leading the way, and Povetkin is a real game challenger, but he’s got to come across myself, I’m game as well, and it will be a good fight. It’s not going to be a quick one. We both can take a lot of punishment, and dish out a lot of punishment, and it’s the first one to go.”
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