Heavyweight Division

[African Monkey]

Good effort from Price, brutal knockout where Price seemed to be knocked out on his feet.

Oh God here we go, Eddie Hearn trying to line up Povetkin with Whyte now like he always tries to do with top tier contenders.

[mippy]

Great fight, I'd back Whyte

[Steven]

African, glad someone is even trying to line up top tier contenders.

[African Monkey]

I just see it as a way to keep him away from Joshua. I'm happy with the fight as long as Joshua faces Wilder next but lets be honest Joshua will probably face Miller instead and I'd still back and old Povetkin to smash Whyte.

[African Monkey]

No wonder why Wilder doesn't want Whyte next when Hearn will probably try and feed Chisora to him after that or someone like that after Wilder inevitably wins.

[diehard]

MARCH 31, 2018
Povetkin brutally KOs Price in five

Former world champion Alexander Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) scored a spectacular fifth round KO over 6’8 David Price (22-5, 18 KOs) on Saturday night at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Povetkin dropped Price in round three, but Price later connected sending Povetkin into the ropes. Referee Howard Forster ruled it a knockdown. The end came in round five when Povetkin landed two savage shots that laid Price out. A huge Povetkin right left Price out on his feet, Povetkin then finished the job with a monster left hand sending the defenseless Price to the canvas. Time was 1:02.

[NakiFan]

Good luck Joe, You went further than many thought you could.

[diehard]

Boxing: Deontay Wilder accepts Anthony Joshua's challenge to unify division

Deontay Wilder has accepted Anthony Joshua's challenge and "is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer" in a unification contest to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.

The US fighter's team are ready to begin immediate negotiations, Wilder's co-manager Shelly Finkel confirmed on Monday, after promoter Eddie Hearn stressed the need to get the fight signed for this year.

The American fighter is prepared to accept a 60/40 split of the fight purse with the two camps having already broadly discussed a two-fight scenario, with the first contest most likely at Wembley Stadium and the second in Las Vegas or New York.

"We are really glad that Anthony Joshua said for the first time 'I will fight Deontay next...' and we believe he is a man of his word. Deontay accepts the challenge," Finkel told Telegraph Sport.

Joshua had been quick to call out Wilder in the ring immediately after defeating Joseph Parker in Cardiff, where he claimed the unbeaten Samoan's WBO title to go with his own IBF and WBA belts. Now only American Wilder, the WBC champion who is undefeated in 40 contests, stands in the way of the Briton unifying all the division's belts for the first time in history.

Finkel revealed to The Telegraph that he will make contact with Eddie Hearn, Barry Hearn and Matchroom Sport this week, wanting to stress that Wilder, for whom he is co-manager with the influential Al Haymon, is committed to the contest. "We want to make it public that Deontay wants the fight, and we are prepared to come over, or meet here and get the deal done. Deontay is ready to sign and come to the UK to fight this summer."

Eddie Hearn said on Sunday morning that there is a small window of opportunity before Joshua must defend three other belts against mandatory challengers. In response, Finkel, who has the authority to get the contest signed from the Wilder side, told The Telegraph: "We're ready. Let's do it. And anyway, unification fights always trump mandatories. A unification between Wilder and Joshua would push the mandatories back.

"Assuming it will be Wembley Stadium in the summer, we are ready, and if they are ready as they say they are, we want to get it done. We want the fight, they want the fight, the public wants the fight. There is nothing to stop it going ahead."

Finkel confirmed that talks had taken place last October and November, conducted in New York with Eddie Hearn and then Barry Hearn respectively, in which the prospect of two fights being signed between the two heavyweight champions, one in the UK, and the other in the USA, were discussed. Then things stalled. "That was in November, we were told they would get back with a P and L [statement], with the numbers, but we never heard back from them again," added Finkel.

Barry Hearn, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek on Sunday, said: "[Wilder] is a fight Anthony Joshua really wants and I think he wants it this year. Joshua wants all the belts - that is the big card Deontay Wilder has got to play [but] commercially, Joshua is far bigger than Deontay Wilder. I think Wilder would come over here [the UK] because in the world we live in, in boxing, the couple of million dollars Wilder is getting for a fight is pretty small fry in comparison to the rewards that await him for a Joshua fight. I think negotiations will start next week."

Eddie Hearn, meanwhile, insisted at the post-fight news conference in Cardiff that "they don't want it. They've never approached us." According to Finkel, that is not the case. The bigger picture is that when Joshua boxes next will be a decision made by the fighter himself and his trainer Rob McCracken.

"I will present the deal to Anthony but it has to be the right deal," Hearn said. "It's not really about Wilder, it is about us. We will sit down over the next couple of weeks and plan out the rest of 2018. It's his [Joshua's] call on how many times he wants to fight this year." Finkel, meanwhile, told The Telegraph: "We are happy to come over and meet face to face. We think a 60/40 split is fair. Let's not have any roadblocks, let's make the fight. If they want it in the UK, fine. If they want the first one in Vegas, fine."

Finkel also explained Wilder's reasons for not attending the Joshua fight, the heavyweight having felt that he may have been subjected to unnecessary taunting from other quarters, such as Dillian Whyte. "We can get the broad contracts down, and then go over the finer details," added Finkel. "When I had Tyson and Holyfield, I picked up the phone. That's all we need to do here. If we get two great fights, there will no doubt be a third. That's the bottom line."

"If this was any other sport, the two leading players would be competing to find out the world No 1, and we have a huge opportunity to do this in boxing's great, histories division, and there's nothing in the way off it happening.

"These are two undefeated heavyweight champions. It has been a long time since we've had this opportunity. We are prepared to meet as soon as possible, anywhere, anytime, and when I meet Matchroom I will have the authority to make the deal. It's for the better for everybody, and the sport. Unless someone has another agenda. We are ready. Let's make the fight."

[diehard]

Eddie Hearn offers Alexander Povetkin a June fight with Dillian Whyte

Hot on the heels of his savage knockout of David Price on the undercard of the heavyweight unification clash between Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker on Saturday night, veteran heavyweight Alexander Povetkin has been offered a fight with WBC #1 contender Dillian Whyte in June by promoter Eddie Hearn.

The 38-year-old Russian, who starched the hapless Scouser with a left hook in the fifth round at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, will move into the WBA’s number one contender spot with the victory.

It’s a savvy move from the Matchroom Sport boss, who wants to stall a fight between his blue-chip heavyweight Joshua and Povetkin by offering the dangerous veteran an alternative payday against Whyte.

“He will be the mandatory for AJ. I’ve made him an offer to fight another fighter in June if he wants it – Dillian Whyte,” said Hearn, according to the Mirror.

The 29-year-old Whyte, who goes by the nom de plume “The Body Snatcher”, is coming off an impressive KO victory himself against Australian heavyweight Lucas Browne at the O2 Arena in London nine days ago.

That victory consolidated Whyte’s position as the WBC number one contender for American Deontay Wilder’s green championship belt.

The Brixton heavyweight is amiable to the idea of facing Povetkin first.

“I’ll fight him next,” said Whyte from ringside. “Let’s do it.”

The 23-1 (17) Whyte, nine years Povetkin’s junior, has only ever lost to Joshua when the two met in the current heavyweight champion’s 15th pro bout. Joshua won by TKO7 but Whyte did have his own moments of success.

Povetkin, 34-1 (24), has only ever lost to long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitshcko back in 2013. At the time the Ukrainian titleholder was undefeated in nine years and making the fifteenth consecutive title defence in his second world title reign.

[bart]

Hearn protecting his prize piece AJ by throwing Dillian at him... was prepared to do same with Ortiz signed him so he wouldn't fight AJ. Great promoters business savvy.
He only wants J Miller next as he is slow and mediocre power and AJ will win and look good.