Anthony Joshua promises to bring back aggressive style against Alexander Povetkin

[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

[Ron Swanson]

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.

There is absolutely no evidence of that and in fact it seems quite a reach. Like a desperate reach.

[powerpuncher]

Just watched the fight. I’m surprised by those who think that AJ looked bad. I think he looked good. He fought cautiously but not too cautiously. He used good movement and seemed to have a good gameplan. Obviously he won’t fight the same way against Wilder, so certain flaws in this fight I believe he will focus on for that fight.

[palmerq]

Some nice moments from povetkin despite his drug test failures the fellow has always been very good at putting together a variety of punches, hes pretty fun to watch when he gets going... I would have liked him to win but ah well, he's old and I think he's been paid well through his career so good for him.

[Fenster]

Like last weeks GGG-Canelo wrap up - I love the way this geezer gets the punches that matter right (AJ body work), Eddie shitting himself, Wilder jumping in, Fury, Whyte and a cameo from GGG.

[ono]

He looked good. He spent the entire fight setting up the finishing punch. He got Povetkin used to only being hit by the jab, but was obviously throwing it with enough power to bother him/slow him down. I'm surprised that the opening took 7 rounds to appear, but can't fault Joshua for being patient.

The only criticism would be that he might not have had a plan B should that not work. But it did. From a stylistic point of view, Povetkin was always going to give Joshua trouble, particularly early on. Short, explosive hookers are a nightmare for a taller guy. A peak Klitschko found it awkward to deal with and actually resulted to holding and leaning throughout the duration of the fight.

For what it is worth, Compubox had Joshua landing almost double the amount of punches landed by Povetkin. From seeing the post fight reaction to the scorecards, I can only assume fans pay more attention to aggression and power punching.

From Joshua's point of view, the perception of his vulnerability is heightened because of the ramifications associated with him losing. Re-watching the fight, without the suspense, and Joshua's control is more noticeable and should be applauded.

He now has wins over a Ring Magazine ranked #1 and two Ring Magazine ranked #3's plus wins over the current Ring Magazine ranked #5 and #8. For a 22 fight career, with a fairly limited amateur background (yes he won Gold but only had around 35 amateur fights) that is outstanding.

[smashup]

He looked good. He spent the entire fight setting up the finishing punch. He got Povetkin used to only being hit by the jab, but was obviously throwing it with enough power to bother him/slow him down. I'm surprised that the opening took 7 rounds to appear, but can't fault Joshua for being patient.

The only criticism would be that he might not have had a plan B should that not work. But it did. From a stylistic point of view, Povetkin was always going to give Joshua trouble, particularly early on. Short, explosive hookers are a nightmare for a taller guy. A peak Klitschko found it awkward to deal with and actually resulted to holding and leaning throughout the duration of the fight.

For what it is worth, Compubox had Joshua landing almost double the amount of punches landed by Povetkin. From seeing the post fight reaction to the scorecards, I can only assume fans pay more attention to aggression and power punching.

From Joshua's point of view, the perception of his vulnerability is heightened because of the ramifications associated with him losing. Re-watching the fight, without the suspense, and Joshua's control is more noticeable and should be applauded.

He now has wins over a Ring Magazine ranked #1 and two Ring Magazine ranked #3's plus wins over the current Ring Magazine ranked #5 and #8. For a 22 fight career, with a fairly limited amateur background (yes he won Gold but only had around 35 amateur fights) that is outstanding.

This 👌🏼😎