[ad_1]
-
Nick Parkinson
LONDON – Anthony Joshua returned to the round of 16 with a seventh-round stoppage win over Alexander Povetkin on Saturday night.
After being forced to score for the first time as a professional in his previous fight, Joshua assured that the judges were not needed with an emphatic finish, the Povetkin floor covering with a left hook and right hand spray.
Povetkin rose but was noticeably arrested while Joshua hit him with punches in front of a crowd of nearly 800,000 at Wembley Stadium.
It was a satisfying conclusion for World Heavyweight Champion WBA-IBF-WBO Joshua (22-0, 20 KO), but he had some precarious moments.
"I had my KO series and I found my right hand," Joshua said. "Alexander Povetkin is a very difficult challenge, he provided that, he was good with the left hook, I realized that he was strong in the head but weak in relation to the body so I put it back. . "
It was the sixth defense of the English boxer of his IBF title, the third of the WBA and the first of the WBO, while the Russian Povetkin (34-2, 24 KO) suffered his second professional defeat, of first by stop.
The dominant victory was exactly what Joshua needed after his two biggest rivals, compatriot Tyson Fury and WBC title holder Deontay Wilder, announced they had signed contracts to fight Dec. 1.
Wilder, an American against former Fury champion, is widely considered to be a bigger and bigger fight than Joshua's 22nd professional win, but Joshua insists he wants to win it.
"I'm not too busy to win between them, good luck to both of you," said Joshua. "The champion has to go here in the UK and we'll have a good dust, my number 1 would be Wilder."
The location and date of Joshua's next fight have long been determined – the Wembley Stadium on April 13 – but the opponent is still not sure. It will be either the winner of the clash between Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora, the winner of Wilder-Fury.
"Let's see what happens on April 13," said Joshua. "Provided there are no mandatory challengers, who do you want? I'll put a poll on Twitter.
"Sometimes you have to face your mandatory challenger, and now we will put a poll on the will of the fans."
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, insists that the fight for the unification of the world title must take place next.
"We will leave now and try to fight with Wilder," said Hearn. "Tonight, it was about removing this big banana skin from Alexander Povetkin.
"If it's not Deontay Wilder then it'll be whyte here on April 13th."
For Povetkin, it will probably be his end at the highest level and he has given everything, wavering Joshua a few times.
Povetkin, 39, knew it was probably his last shot after being beaten four times in a unanimous loss of points against Wladimir Klitschko five years ago. Two failed doping tests in 2016 cost Povetkin a chance at Wilder, but he looked dangerous when he eliminated Britain's David Price from Joshua in March.
And the mandatory challenger of the WBA showed how dangerous he could be by stiffening Joshua's legs with a straight uppercut to the jaw followed by a left hook towards the end of the first round.
Joshua was not too troubled by the combination, but it was the best attack of an entertaining first round and let the champion's nose sink blood.
Povetkin was abrupt early in the second lap before Joshua attempted to establish authority behind the single jabs.
Povetkin shook Joshua again with a small left hook in the third round, after he had a big right pass, and the champion seemed nervous.
But Joshua, who had an advantage of 4 inches in height and weighed nearly two heavier stones (246 pounds against 222 at Povetkin), better used his jab later in the third round.
Joshua, 28, a native of Watford but now living in North London and training in Sheffield, was more composed in the fourth round and his job left Povetkin over his left eye.
Povetkin was gold medalist in the 2004 Olympic super-heavyweight, eight years before Joshua and four years before Joshua entered a boxing ring, and this experience caused Joshua many problems.
Povetkin remained dangerous with his left hook and his right-hand stick, but Joshua took control more and more of his jab and in the sixth took a short right hand at close range that the Russian did well to lose.
But Povetkin could do nothing to repel the punches that fell on him in the seventh decisive round.
Joshua first shook Povetkin with his right hand, followed by a left before the left hook and the right hand did not knock the challenger over the canvas. Povetkin fell into the ropes as he stood bravely and only beat the count.
When the fight resumed, Joshua showed no mercy and referee Steve Gray jumped inside while the champion took down shots one minute and 59 seconds later. the seventh round.
Source link
