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Anthony Joshua has been ordered to sign an agreement to fight Alexander Povetkin "within 24 hours" or to be stripped of the WBA portion of his heavyweight boxing titles in the world.
The WBA lost patience with talks between Joshua and WBC champ Deontay Wilder for a unification fight, and wants Joshua to fight his mandatory challenger from Russia.
WBA President Gilberto Mendoza said in a statement on Tuesday: "The WBA extended negotiations with Povetkin and ongoing discussions with Deontay Wilder for another month.
"It seems that Wilder's team has not returned the contract for the fight and therefore we are asking for a date for Joshua's fight against Povetkin with immediate effect."
He did not seem to have a choice for Joshua (21-0, 20 KO's).
Its promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports Tuesday that they would not give up the WBA belt to wait for Wilder. Joshua owns three of the four big belts, and aims to become the first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000. His WBA and IBF belts were joined by the WBO version that he picked up from Joseph Parker in March.
"We will not lose a belt to the WBA by ordering a mandatory warrant," Hearn said. "If Povetkin is ready to leave then it will be next, it will be in September, and then we will fight right after Wilder, if he signs a contract."
The WBA initially gave the promoters Joshua and Povetkin until May 5 to reach an agreement, and then extended the deadline twice because of a potential deal with Wilder.
Hearn said that they gave a contract to the Wilder team nine days ago, and their reaction did not occur until Sunday, when they offered to comment on this Friday.
"They know we're under pressure from the WBA and everything feels like a great match," said Hearn.
"We must continue our activities: if Povetkin is ready to sign a contract, he will be the next. Conversations and negotiations will continue with Deontay Wilder and we will sign this contract at any time.
"The important thing is to maintain the belts."
Povetkin (34-1, 24 KO's) became the WBA mandatory challenger last December when he beat Christian Hammer of Romania by unanimous decision. He improved his record in March by eliminating David Price of England in the fifth round on the undercard of Joshua Parker's fight in Cardiff.
Povetkin held the "regular" WBA title from 2011 to 2013, when he suffered his only loss in a unification fight with Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision.
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