By Luke Furman

Promoter Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, who handle Russian heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin, will do everything possible to force a mandatory fight with WBA, IBO, WBA, IBF world champion Anthony Joshua.

Povetkin is the mandatory challenger under the WBA and WBO - and the World Boxing Association has ordered Joshua to fight him.

“Now there are 150 days to arrange the fight, it must take place,” Ryabinsky stated. “Before the fight with Alexander, Joshua has no right to fight with anybody else. We have 30 days to negotiate.”

Both fighters were in action this past Saturday night, before a crowd of nearly 80,000 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

In the co-featured attraction, Povetkin knocked out Olympic bronze medal winner David Price in brutal fashion in the fifth round.

In the main event - Joshua added the WBO title to his collection with a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Joseph Parker. It was the first time where Joshua went the full twelve round distance.

Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) is now fully focused on getting his mandatory shot against Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs) next.

Like Joshua, Povetkin is an Olympic gold medal winner and a former WBA "regular" heavyweight champion.

"As a whole, I am pleased with the work (in the fight with Price), except for the moment with the knockdown, although at first I was frustrated and many things did not work. Then he quietly opened himself up and eventually I landed the punch that I worked on in sparring. I now have one desire - to fight with Joshua. This will be a good and interesting fight. I am confident in myself," said Povetkin to Vasily Konov.

Joshua and his handlers have been discussing the possibility of fighting WBC champion Deontay Wilder in a summer unification - but that would now require working out a step-aside deal with Povetkin - or getting an exception approved by the WBA.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.