Joshua vs Parker: Povetkin-Price fight likely to be announced soon

According to a report from Sky Sports, Alexander Povetkin has agreed to terms to face David Price on March 31, and the fight could be announced this week. Price had already agreed to terms for the bout.

Povetkin (33-1, 23 KO) became Anthony Joshua’s WBA mandatory challenger with his last victory, against Christian Hammer on December 15 in Russia. The 38-year-old Povetkin has long been a top contender in the division, and held the WBA’s “world” title from 2011 until 2013, when he challenged and lost to Wladimir Klitschko.

Since losing to Klitschko, Povetkin is 7-0, but made his biggest headlines by failing drug tests, including one that cost him a 2017 fight with Deontay Wilder, the WBC titleholder.

Price (22-4, 18 KO) is a big guy and a big hitter, but has a spotty chin that has gotten him stopped twice by Tony Thompson, and also by Erkan Teper and the aforementioned Christian Hammer. (Teper also failed a drug test.)

The fight, taking place on the Joshua-Parker undercard, would be one to showcase Povetkin in front of a UK audience before possibly challenging Joshua later this year.