News broke recently that World Boxing Association (WBA) Super World Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20KO’s) will be taking on Alexander Povetkin (34-1, 24KO’s) at Wembley Stadium on September 22nd.
Fans were clamoring for Joshua to fight Deontay Wilder, but that fight is put on ice likely until April of 2019 – assuming that Joshua gets past Povetkin in September, which is no small feat.
Povetkin figures to play spoiler in this one, and is perhaps a better fighter than given credit for. Povetkin has only lost one time as a professional to Wladimir Klitschko and owns an Olympic gold medal from his extensive amateur experience.
Povetkin has fought and beat a slew of world class opponents including Carlos Takam, Mike Perez, David Price, Manuel Charr, Ruslan Chagaev, Mariusz Wach, and many others. Lots of people are saying that he is undersized in this one, but he has beaten taller/bigger men than Joshua in David Price and Mariusz Wach.
For this fight the super champion Joshua is looking to impress so that he can set up the highly anticipated showdown with Deontay Wilder that is the biggest fight to be made in boxing currently.
Joshua will be coming into the Povetkin bout after having given Joseph Parker the first loss in his career, winning a unanimous decision over the Auckland native in March that put another feather in his cap as the king of the heavyweight division.
At the kick-off press conference Joshua said “Povetkin is one of the best fighters I will have faced; just because a guy is not on social media or does not quite have the fan base of others that does not mean they are not dangerous – I cannot overlook him.”
AJ said that he is gaining experience in the sport, and indeed it would appear so as he offered some interesting insight on his changed mindset heading into this bout “I used to worry about who I was boxing next but now it is about me, it is not about Povetkin, it is not about Wilder, it is about me, my legacy, and reaching my potential.”
The fight figures to be a thriller, with Joshua saying that it will be like Holyfield vs Bowe due to his style meshing well against Povetkin “You got a brawler – I know Alex can box, he wouldn’t have done what he done in the amateurs and as a professional if he couldn’t box well, but in terms of his solid base and gravity he swings good hooks vs someone who is more European English style – upright to hit and be first then move back and be second.”
Povetkin said that he will overcome the young champion because “This fight will be all about experience,” further saying “I am aware that Anthony Joshua is a world champion but I have already been training very hard and I will be ready for this fight.”
September 22nd figures to be a thriller and another great night of boxing from Wembley Stadium, which usually tend to turn out as historic matchups. Brace yourselves for heavyweight boxing; the type that brings new fans to the sport.
