Anthony Joshua

It emerged on Tuesday that the WBA had ordered Joshua to agree a date for a mandatory title defence against Alexander Povetkin.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, questioned whether Wilder wants to step into the ring with the Briton, stating that he had not heard back from the American's camp after sending a contract over last week.

Hearn said it appears that a bout with Povetkin will be next for WBO, IBF, IBO and WBA strap-holder Joshua and Wilder – the WBC champion – let his feelings be known over that latest twist.

WBC champion Wilder is yet to agree to a unification fight with Joshua, who is aiming to hold all four of the major heavyweight belts. 

The lengthy negotiations have once again stalled after delays in the American's camp returning the contract they were sent by Hearn.

Now, the World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered the Briton to sign for a mandatory title defence against Povetkin within 24 hours, and Hearn believes the governing body has run out of patience.

The unbeaten fighters have been on a collision course for some time, particularly since Joshua defeated Joseph Parker to add the WBO strap to his WBA and IBF belts.

However, despite plenty of back-and-forth verbal sparring, a deal has yet to materialise and Hearn, Joshua's promoter, recently suggested that an agreement to fight Alexander Povetkin was close and the Wilder clash would have to wait until February 2019.

Unbeaten knockout merchants Joshua (21-0) and Deontay Wilder (40-0) have seemingly been on a collision course for some time, particularly since the former beat Joseph Parker to add the WBO title to his WBA and IBF belts.

Negotiations with WBC holder Wilder and his camp have appeared fractious at best, but a breakthrough appears on the horizon.

However, Joshua will likely fight WBA mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin first, with an announcement expected before the end of the week.

But Fury says that will not stop him from defeating Joshua in a potential blockbuster showdown, which would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

The 29-year-old has not fought since upsetting Wladimir Klitschko back in November 2015 and Joshua has captured the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in the interim.

But Fury will return to action on June 9 and he told the Sunday Times that he wants to fight again in September and December - before a possible tilt at Joshua next year.

A unification bout with WBC champion Wilder has been touted for WBA, IBF and WBO titleholder Joshua, who claimed the latter belt with a unanimous decision over Joseph Parker last month.

A clash between the two unbeaten boxers is the fight everyone wants to see and on Wednesday, American Wilder announced he had something in the mail for Joshua – a $50m offer.

"I got something special for you," Wilder tweeted. "And by the way, all the money's in the bag."

The WBC king this week rejected a reported flat fee of $12.5m for a world heavyweight title fight against Joshua, the IBF, WBA and WBO belt holder, but the American's backers will respond with their own offer to the British star's promoter Eddie Hearn.

Joshua vowed to knock WBC champion Wilder "spark out" after beating Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday to add the WBO belt to his IBF and WBA straps.

Finkel said the Wilder camp are prepared to come to an agreement to face the Briton, with reports that a two-fight deal for bouts in the UK and the United States is on the cards.

"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 The Daily Telegraph.

Italy's Giuseppe Quartarone was the third man in the ring as Joshua outpointed Parker on Saturday, adding the WBO belt to his IBF and WBA belts.

"I don't need to say much. Everyone is saying it for us," Parker's promoter David Higgins told Sky Sports.

The British heavyweight star added the WBO belt to his IBF and WBA 'super' titles as he produced a disciplined display against the rugged Parker to earn a wide unanimous decision with scores of 118-110, 118-110 and 119-109 at the Principality Stadium.

Joshua's perfect run of 20 knockouts was ended by Parker, who retained his reputation for toughness, but AJ moved one belt away from becoming the undisputed champion.