David Price has fired a warning to Anthony Joshua urging his fellow Brit not to underestimate Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin. 

Povetkin is the WBA mandatory challenger for Joshua and the fight was believed to be close to being announced before the intervention of Deontay Wilder's team who have unexpectedly agreed to terms for a unification bout.

WBC champion Wilder has reportedly accepted Joshua's demands to fight in the UK which has thrown the status of a bout against Povetkin into doubt.

Wherever the Povetkin fight now lies in terms of schedule and certainty, 34-year-old fellow British boxer David Price has warned Joshua not to take the match-up lightly.

Price lost to the 39-year-old former world title holder in brutal fashion back in March, with paramedics rushing to the ring following a knock down in the fifth round.

Price now fears that if Joshua doesn't take his opponent seriously, he could get caught by similar shots.

He told iFL TV, via Express: “The reason he did [hurt me] is because he’s such an accurate puncher.

“His accuracy is unbelievable. The shot that ended the fight, not the one that put me on the floor, the one that hit me on the temple. It was a perfect shot on the temple.

“I got caught because I was throwing with him, that is down to my own ambition I suppose. It’s the small mistakes and decisions that you make at that level that can cost you everything.

“He’s much better than people give him credit for but the funny thing is now with Povetkin, because I’ve given him an alright fight – albeit a short fight – and I had him hurt, all of a sudden he is s**** in a lot of people’s eyes.

“Everyone is going to batter Povetkin now, but he has done what he’s done for a reason.

"He’s going to fight Anthony Joshua, Joshua is going to beat him obviously, but I wouldn’t take him lightly. Not one bit.”

News about the AJ-Wilder fight is expected by Friday, with 'The Bronze Bomber' reportedly anticipating a contract to sign from Joshua's team.