What if Povetkin beats Joshua?

[Eff Pandas]

Povetkin vs Joshua II becomes the biggest fight to make at HW. Wilder gets put to the back burner although he may gain some people saying he's the #1 guy if Joshua loses bad enough to Povetkin or its just a ho hum upset.

[Eff Pandas]

It's an extremely dangerous fight for AJ. Wlad, but the time he fought Joshua, was very slow. Povetkin has extremely fast hands and AJ isn't hard to hit. Povetkin also has a hell of a chin.

Personally I think Hearn would be crazy to make this fight.... I've been wondering if the negotiation is all leverage to get Wilder to come to the UK. If not, Hearn is drunk with power.

Isn't Povetkin the mandatory? Its fight Wilder or Povetkin or lose a belt as I understood it.

That doesn't mean Hearn isn't just playing up the chances of Joshua vs Povetkin to hopefully get the best possible scenario with Wilder, but I think Povetkin is gonna happen this time or next no matter what. Or Joshua is gonna be getting some more critical remarks coming his way if he drops a belt to a damn near 40 year old dude.

[Eff Pandas]

He is a mandatory so I doubt AJ would have an obligated rematch.

If Hearn is drawing up the contract I'd bet it has a rematch clause. If they go to a purse bid & Ryabinsky wins & the fight is in Russia then a rematch wouldn't be in the contract more than likely.

That said I suspect there is so much money, rematch clause or not, an immediate rematch would go down as long as most of the belts were cool with that plan. IBF belt might want Povetkin to fight Eddie Chambers or someone weird like that, but the other belts would fall in line I bet & then its a money decision if you only lose 1 belt & still keep the others.

[Boxfan83]

Than it means his roids r better than Joshuas.

[paulf]

Isn't Povetkin the mandatory? Its fight Wilder or Povetkin or lose a belt as I understood it.

That doesn't mean Hearn isn't just playing up the chances of Joshua vs Povetkin to hopefully get the best possible scenario with Wilder, but I think Povetkin is gonna happen this time or next no matter what. Or Joshua is gonna be getting some more critical remarks coming his way if he drops a belt to a damn near 40 year old dude.

Yes; Joshua has to fight Povetkin, drop the belt, or unify with Wilder. From a marketing standpoint, it doesn't appear Hearn and Joshua are entertaining the possibility of dropping the belt, so that leaves two options.

The question is; does Hearn really want to risk Joshua fighting Povetkin before making 50 million+ against Wilder? It's a big gamble.

If Joshua loses, Wilder will face Povetkin for undisputed HW title. That would be a nightmare for Eddie and he'd never live down causing Joshua to lose a Mayweather-level payday.

[Eff Pandas]

Yes; Joshua has to fight Povetkin, drop the belt, or unify with Wilder. From a marketing standpoint, it doesn't appear Hearn and Joshua are entertaining the possibility of dropping the belt, so that leaves two options.

Not now. Thats always an option & it could happen out of the blue too. At some point Hearn & Joshua are gonna wanna do something & a ABC Group guy is gonna throw some random 23-2 guy at him & he'll dump a belt.

The question is; does Hearn really want to risk Joshua fighting Povetkin before making 50 million+ against Wilder? It's a big gamble.

Thats assuming the Joshua money train dries up cuz he loses. I don't think it does. I think Joshua is cashing checks from now til he's done even when he's losing fights in the later stages of his career most likely. He'll be like Tyson in that way I tend to think. He's just got that IT factor.

The only thing Hearn should be doing is maximizing the upside not trying to minimize losing. And as much as I hate to say it I think the play to max out here is to prolong Wilder longer. So right now that means Povetkin's the better opponent cuz he's old & less sellable than Wilder is/will be in another 6, 12, 18 or w/e months from now.

If Joshua loses, Wilder will face Povetkin for undisputed HW title. That would be a nightmare for Eddie and he'd never live down causing Joshua to lose a Mayweather-level payday.

If Joshua loses to Povetkin, Joshua is still the A side money guy in the division. Thats not changing. Povetkin doesn't become the HW Ryan Garcia cuz he beats Joshua. And I can't see anything but Povetkin vs Joshua II next if that happens.