Anthony Joshua promises to bring back aggressive style against Alexander Povetkin

[Memphis]

I thought AJ boxed really well. People can pretend Povetkin was a pushover all they like but for 4 or 5 rounds he’s dangerous and probably puts punches together better than anyone. AJ’s jab yo the body was s good weapon and opened the door for the right hand nicely. He was a bit lazy with it at times, he’s by no means perfect. Bloody nose aside the early part of the fight probably went exactly as they’d expected. Why people are surprised that it was close after 5 rounds I don’t know. A lot of donuts out there.

The finish was great. Some heavy artillery went into that. When it was time AJ didn’t flinch.

[nuggetdotcom]

Povetkin was up at the time of the stoppage. Wilder will destroy him. All this praise for Joshua but he was losing to an old man like Wilder and needed to pull out a stoppage. Most of the Brits were laughing at Wilder, but here saying 'Woah, look at Joshua go'. But that is yet another fight where Joshua looked scared, robotic and lost. Wilder will be licking his lips.

Fury has pulled off the best deal, he beats over hypo Wilder easily and can name his price for Joshua. Serves Hearn right for not taking the easy Wilder payday.

Fury, Joshua, Povetkin, Whyte all beat Wilder easily, Fury will get the best payday, the others will be on a reducing pecking order.

[Gandalf]

I don't think it was particularly close, I think Joshua was losing. 4-2 Povetkin would have been generous. Didn't look good to me. Both Wilder and Joshua are fresh off fights where they have lost plenty of rounds.

[Ron Swanson]

Impressive showing. Gets his nose busted in the first and marches on like it’s nothing. Brilliant finish. His habit of backing straight up is super dangerous against a guy like Wilder but they would know that going into the fight. Just make the fight.

[Gandalf]

In saying that Povetkin was the one slowing and looking old having won the first half. Round 6 he lost quite heavily and then done. Just too old and a bit too small. That was Wlad's leftovers. Fight someone your own age and size now!

[Gandalf]

Oh, and you too Wilder! Oh, look, he actually is!

[Batman]

My mate went to Wembley to watch this last night, he text me saying that there seats were right at the front but they still could only see the action by watching the screens.

I know that AJ's following are mainly football fans who enjoy a sing song but surely that is an expensive ticket only to have to watch it on the screen.

[Fenster]

I thought AJ boxed really well. People can pretend Povetkin was a pushover all they like but for 4 or 5 rounds he’s dangerous and probably puts punches together better than anyone. AJ’s jab yo the body was s good weapon and opened the door for the right hand nicely. He was a bit lazy with it at times, he’s by no means perfect. Bloody nose aside the early part of the fight probably went exactly as they’d expected. Why people are surprised that it was close after 5 rounds I don’t know. A lot of donuts out there.

The finish was great. Some heavy artillery went into that. When it was time AJ didn’t flinch.

That's exactly what I watched too (i'll be a little more complimentary though).

The consistent jab to the body was superb and key in turning the fight around. It not only gave him confidence of the range and slowed Povetkin down but he was able to whip in the odd disguised left hook which eventually led to the right hand Povetkin had done a great job in stopping.

[Alpha]

I thought AJ boxed really well. People can pretend Povetkin was a pushover all they like but for 4 or 5 rounds he’s dangerous and probably puts punches together better than anyone. AJ’s jab yo the body was s good weapon and opened the door for the right hand nicely. He was a bit lazy with it at times, he’s by no means perfect. Bloody nose aside the early part of the fight probably went exactly as they’d expected. Why people are surprised that it was close after 5 rounds I don’t know. A lot of donuts out there.

The finish was great. Some heavy artillery went into that. When it was time AJ didn’t flinch.

That's exactly what I watched too (i'll be a little more complimentary though).

The consistent jab to the body was superb and key in turning the fight around. It not only gave him confidence of the range and slowed Povetkin down but he was able to whip in the odd disguised left hook which eventually led to the right hand Povetkin had done a great job in stopping.

At only 22 fights and the guys he's been fighting, you can't really ask for much more from him. He's still a work in progress, but he's taking fights that will help with that development. If we can get the Wilder/ Fury winner before the end of 2019 I'll be happy.

[Beanz]

Povetkin was up at the time of the stoppage. Wilder will destroy him. All this praise for Joshua but he was losing to an old man like Wilder and needed to pull out a stoppage. Most of the Brits were laughing at Wilder, but here saying 'Woah, look at Joshua go'. But that is yet another fight where Joshua looked scared, robotic and lost. Wilder will be licking his lips.

Miles have you started mixing drinking and prescription pills again? Povetkin was done. No complaints from him.

Plenty of non Brits who are not AJ fan boys can see it for what it is. He is a late starter learning on the job but his finishing instinct is great. Brilliant finish against a dangerous opponent nobody else has come close to matching. Povetkin would have beaten Wilder or Ortiz quite conclusively with a performance like that.

[Master]

Anthony Joshua stops Alexander Povetkin to retain world heavyweight titles



Anthony Joshua delivered a stunning finish to stop a game Alexander Povetkin and retain his world heavyweight titles at Wembley Stadium.

The IBF, WBO and WBA champion, criticised in some quarters for failing to finalise a deal with the division's other high-profile names, responded emphatically with a seventh-round stoppage of the Russian, who had never been beaten inside the distance.

After an early chess match in which Joshua suffered a bloodied nose before cutting his rival, the Briton grew in confidence and a savage right hand followed by a left hook began an onslaught which would prove telling.

Another right-left combination downed Povetkin, who somehow made the count, only to stagger into a left hook which saw him slump into the ropes, leaving referee Steve Gray with no option but to intervene.

Roars poured down to ringside as the rain had all day, with Joshua's corner ecstatic and rightly so. His display showcased poise, intellect and power, sending a message to the heavyweight division that the champion will take some stopping.



Joshua, who had been suffering from flu during his preparations and had a problem with his right hand before the fight, paid tribute to his opponent.

"Povetkin is a very tough challenger, he proved that with good left hooks and counter punches," he said.

"I came in here to have fun, and give it my best. I knew he was strong to the head but weak to the body. I was just mixing it up.

"It could have been seven, maybe nine, maybe 12 rounds to get him out of there, but the ultimate aim was to be victorious.

"And I got my knockout streak back," added Joshua, who was taken to 12 rounds for the first time in his previous fight against New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Cardiff in April.

Less than 24 hours after WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury confirmed their 1 December fight, Joshua snatched the heavyweight limelight back his way.

He will be back at Wembley on 13 April and whoever steps in with him next will face questions as to how they thwart the champion after a display like this.

His last outing here was a see-saw encounter with Wladimir Klitschko. On that night, he came of age, setting new levels of excitement and expectation.

The Joshua name now carries such weight that the likes of Povetkin - the 2004 Olympic super-heavyweight champion and a mandatory challenger who had lost just once in 35 outings previously - was arguably overlooked by the masses.

But, crucially, not by Joshua's team. There had been rumblings, even before the fight was signed, that those around him saw Povetkin - who has twice failed doping tests - as a significant risk. The challenger's experience, low centre of gravity and sleight of foot, despite his 39 years, were live threats.

After landing a solid left hook on the bell in the first round, Povetkin clearly had Joshua's attention but by the fourth, the Briton had dropped his lead hand, showing confidence in his judgement of distance against a man known for leaping in with shots from obscure angles.

He slipped a shot in the fourth to drive an uppercut home, drawing groans ringside. With Povetkin cut above his left eye in the fifth, a Joshua right hook found the temple. Then the Russian winged a left hook home in the sixth and he chased his man, sensing vulnerability.

The pair tapped gloves to start the seventh, a sign respect was flowing. But Joshua broke the challenger's heart. From a position of calm, he erupted into life in the middle of the ring, with a corking right hand sending Povetkin backwards and a left hook flowing seamlessly off the back of it.

Moments later, with Povetkin limp against the ropes, it was over - another step in a remarkable career.

With 22 professional bouts under their belts, Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson were still chasing a world title. Joshua, by contrast, has now defended his six times.



There will be some who continue to demand a stellar name. Povetkin's failed to sell Wembley out, with around 70,000 turning out on a sodden day.

But the Russian - only beaten by Klitschko in the past - is now a glowing name on Joshua's record.

Taking on the likes of Fury or Wilder next makes sense from a boxing perspective but outside of the ring is a different matter. Negotiations with Wilder have proven tedious, while Fury will need to beat the American in December to be able to face Joshua as soon as April.

Dillian Whyte - already beaten by Joshua but much improved since - appears the most likely candidate at this stage. His own fine form and a long-standing rivalry will be easy sells for Eddie Hearn, who promotes both men.

"My number one choice would be Wilder," said Joshua. "All I want to fight is serious challengers. If Dillian wants to fight here he is also more than welcome."

Heavyweights will continue to call Joshua's name. The type of pay day that comes with a man who has sold more than 300,000 tickets in four fights is a jackpot draw.

After this destructive victory, though, rivals will know they are stepping in with a man who is getting better.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/45616241

[smashup]

I thought AJ boxed really well. People can pretend Povetkin was a pushover all they like but for 4 or 5 rounds he’s dangerous and probably puts punches together better than anyone. AJ’s jab yo the body was s good weapon and opened the door for the right hand nicely. He was a bit lazy with it at times, he’s by no means perfect. Bloody nose aside the early part of the fight probably went exactly as they’d expected. Why people are surprised that it was close after 5 rounds I don’t know. A lot of donuts out there.

The finish was great. Some heavy artillery went into that. When it was time AJ didn’t flinch.

That's exactly what I watched too (i'll be a little more complimentary though).

The consistent jab to the body was superb and key in turning the fight around. It not only gave him confidence of the range and slowed Povetkin down but he was able to whip in the odd disguised left hook which eventually led to the right hand Povetkin had done a great job in stopping.

He clicked as a fighter last night, that was seriously impressive.
Patience, craft and controlled violence on tap dished out when he saw fit.
I think he now realises that containing his best weapons is foolish.
Josh is a KO merchant and needs to keep it that way - he's untouchable in the division when he comes to damage.
I heard McCracken had him sparring over 300 rounds and dropped out the heavy weight lifting bullshit for this one.
It showed too... he looked alot more disco on his feet and with that speed comes more fluid/liquid natural power.

[GAME]

In saying that Povetkin was the one slowing and looking old having won the first half. Round 6 he lost quite heavily and then done. Just too old and a bit too small. That was Wlad's leftovers. Fight someone your own age and size now!

Yeah povetkin was doing well but size and age took over. Once an old guy gets hurt it's rare they can come back into it as well as a younger guy

luckily for Joshua he had Bellew screaming advice from ringside. Having lost to cleverly and blown away by Stevenson he is more qualified than McCracken or even the unified heavyweight champ himself....

on on another note Bellew is always going on about fighters who quit. Be interesting to see what he says about plumber Price' performance

[Dark Lord Al]

I enjoyed the fight a lot well done to both men.

[Primo Carnera]

Very impressive from AJ last night. I don’t think people give Povetkin enough credit . People say he’s an old man, but his pedigree is way better than Ortiz and AJ’s performance was way more comfortable than Wilder’s against Ortiz.
Joshua is improving all the time and the finish was superb.
At this moment in time AJ beats them all, and we may have to wait and see if Usyk is the next big threat in time.