By Elliot Foster

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will fight Alexander Povetkin next.

The Matchroom Boxing head honcho revealed the WBA Super world champion, who also holds the WBO, IBF and IBO titles, is set to come up against the 38-year-old Russian in his next fight.

Hearn, Joshua and the wider British boxing public had hoped for a super-fight with WBC world champion Deontay Wilder for the undisputed crown later this year.

And though a deal has been done to get the mandatory challenger out of the way sooner rather than later, with Boxing Scene understanding that the fight will take place at Wembley Stadium in London on September 22, Hearn has yet to pour water over a fight with the Alabaman.

He has told media that there is an offer that has been sent to Wilder for a fight between the pair for April 13, 2019 at Wembley Stadium.

Hearn even went as far as to say that he would offer ‘The Bronze Bomber’ a two-fight deal worth $20million that would see him allowed to make a defence of his WBC belt against a mutually agreed opponent or Dominic Breazeale, with the end goal of facing former Olympic champion Joshua in the first half of next year.

Wilder is thought to have a deal with Breazeale for a fight later this year and Hearn is ready to offer him a $5million purse for that fight – or against a mutually agreed opponent, as mentioned above – with a $15million purse guarantee for the Joshua fight.

There is a rematch clause in the Joshua-Wilder deal that is currently on the table and Wilder and his team are reportedly unhappy. The rematch would take place in the United States but would only be enforceable should Wilder win the first fight between the heavyweights.

Hearn has yet to confirm the date and venue for the fight between Joshua and Povetkin, which will be next, but has gone as far as to say that the deal has been done for the UK.

Further details will be revealed in due course.