If you want to see an example of how it is done, refer back to 1994 James Toney. Just because you are a champion does not mean you have to only fight championship defenses. And if you are a beginning champion who still needs to hone your craft there is absolutely no reason not to take some developmental fights between title bouts. Toney was likely doing it because of weight, and because he is a throw back bad arse that would like to fight every month if he could, especially back in his young days. Wilder is needing these extra fights because he simply lacks experience and needs to keep working on his craft. They coddled him for the safest path to the title...they achieved it. So now when he has the belt he has some making up to do. The guys he has beaten as Champion are more along the lines of those he should have beaten on the way to the title. But so far so good for them, even if it is not so far so good for the fans. But eventually, he will deliver for the fans too. He's going to step up to the big guys, Povetkin is one of them, and he is either going to get his arse busted or bust some arse. Either way lots of fans will be happy when he finally gets there. And while it has been a maddening deal for most HW fans so far, his team really has done about the best you can as far as guiding a guy through the easiest part of the obstacle course. It has been good management. And they are continuing to manage him well even right now putting the pressure on the WBC saying he will take another fight first. They can do it either way, and the WBC will likely cave as they only lose money by preventing it.
But I want to say this much. Another bout and then Povetkin is one thing.....ducking Povetkin and letting the strap go is another. If Wilder refuses to take on his mandatory and vacates...then everybody in boxing should disregard the mf'r no matter what. I will boycott the son of a bitch forever if he runs away from this mando. Even if he gets a fight with Fury or Klitschko by ducking out on the WBC and cherry picking some more, I will never watch that fight or any of his fights again.