Two years ago, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder was scheduled to make a mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin in Moscow, Russia.

Before the fight could come off, Povetkin tested positive for a performance enhancing drug and the contest was canceled.

Povetkin has found his way back, built himself up, and is now going to challenge WBA, IBO, WBO, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in the fall.

The only defeat on Povetkin's record came in 2013, at the hands of a prime Wladimir Klitschko - by way of twelve round decision.

Povetkin scored a brutal knockout over David Price back in March, as part of the undercard to Joshua's decision win over Joseph Parker in Cardiff.

Jay Deas, the co-manager and trainer for Wilder, is backing Joshua to win - but he doesn't rule out the possibility of Povetkin - an Olympic gold medal winner and former world champion - of securing the upset.

"Joshua should win the fight but he can't win the fight if he's not fully-focused and if there are any distractions or a bad camp or he's looking ahead to anything," Deas said to Daily Mail.

"Povetkin is a tremendous fighter, he has a fantastic left hook. Dillian Whyte hit Joshua and he has a tremendous left hook as well... the question is whether Povetkin has aged a bit or whether he still has it in him to pull out a great fight. That's going to be the question and so we will see. It's a very interesting fight and a dangerous fight."

Wilder and Joshua were negotiating for months to face each other this year. The contest fell apart a few days ago, when the WBA gave Joshua 24 hours to reach an agreement with the mandatory challenger, Povetkin.

Deas is very disappointed with Joshua's decision to go in another direction.

"I'm the kind of person who thinks that when you get a huge opportunity, you take it because you never know. Paul Williams was set to fight Canelo Alvarez for his biggest payday and got in a car wreck and of course that fight never happened and Paul never fought again," Deas said.