Anthony Joshua knocks out Alexander Povetkin to retain IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight boxing titles

HEAVYWEIGHT boxing champ Anthony Joshua was labelled a “bum” despite unleashing hell on Russian Alexander Povetkin.

Anthony Joshua looks on as the referee checks on Alexander Povetkin. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

• AJ-Povetkin ‘an absolute disgrace’
• Undercard: Full results

Live: Anthony Joshua vs Alexander Povetkin

Anthony Joshua made another successful world heavyweight championship defence against dangerous Russian Alexander Povetkin.

BRITAIN’S world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was shaken early in his title defence against Alexander Povetkin but responded like the star he is to savagely KO his Russian opponent at Wembley Stadium.

Joshua — who retained the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation titles — was bleeding from his nose after being hit by an overhand right in the opening round.

Joshua, 28, had admitted to feeling under “tons of pressure” as he returned to the scene of arguably his greatest triumph, an 11th-round stoppage of former champion Wladimir Klitschko last year.

And he was likely behind on the scorecards halfway through the fight as the challenger looked like shocking the world.

Joshua said he was sticking to a plan of breaking down the Russian with shots to his body but there was real concern in his camp. “I was just thinking, please don’t slip up now,” Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said.

The right hand that changed the fight. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

Joshua looked like a man still only in his 22nd fight for much of the encounter but like he has done throughout his young career he found a way to win.

“Alexander Povetkin is a very tough challenger he proved that tonight,” Joshua said. “I came here to have fun, do what I have done in the gym ... he was strong to the head but weak to the body.

“I got my knockout streak back,” he added. “I found my right hand again.”

But Joshua seized on the tiniest of openings in the seventh round to stun Povetkin with a straight right, before unleashing a series of furious punches to put him on the canvas.

Povetkin made it back to his feet after almost falling head-first out of the ring but it was only a matter of seconds before he was down again and the referee waved the fight over. It was the first time the Russian had been stopped in his 36-fight career.

Hats off to Anthony Joshua - that was a real test and AJ came through — Sasha came to win and AJ overcame real adversity— even tho I picked the round, Sasha was much better than I thought / excellent match up 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾#JoshuaPovetkin

— Audley Harrison MBE (@audleyharrison) September 22, 2018

It was another invaluable learning experience for the biggest star in British boxing and will prepare him well for a mooted fight with unbeaten American Deontay Wilder.

Wilder announced a fight with lineal champion Tyson Fury in the US in early December. Joshua said he wants Wilder in April next year.

“If I had a pecking order it’d be Wilder, Dillian (Whyte) and then Fury, because Dillian deserves it more than Fury,” Joshua said.

Fury was unimpressed with Joshua’s performance Povetkin — and his declaration the Gypsy King was third in line for the next shot at the title.

“I think it’s fair to say Team Joshua and (promoter) Matchroom Boxing will never fight the Gypsy King — ever,” Fury said in an Instagram video.

“It’s all right fighting men (who are) 39 years old (who are) half your size ... tonight is pure evidence I’m fighting the best heavyweight out there in Deontay Wilder.

“Joshua’s not even close. He’s slow, methodical, ponderous at times. Powerful, yes, but they all are.

“If I was you, Joshua, I’d avoid me because I will jab your face off, you bum ... I’ve never seen a bigger bum in my life.”

7.40am

Joshua-Povetkin: Round by round

Anthony Joshua jabs at Alexander Povetkin. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

R1: Nice opening for the challenger as he clips Joshua late in the round with an overhand right and wobbles him. Povetkin 10-9.

R2: Povetkin looking confident and dangerous as Joshua battles with a bloody — and potentially broken — nose. The Russian’s right hand landed again. Povetkin 20-18.

R3: Povetkin continues to head hunt, chiefly with the left hook in this round. His speed is troubling Joshua, who is relying almost solely on his jab at this point. Even round but champ may have just shaded this one. Povetkin 29-28.

R4: Pace has slowed as Joshua begins to look more comfortable. Povetkin is marked up around his right eye. Has he missed his chance? 38-38

R5: Good response from Povetkin in this round as he looks to regain momentum. A nice hook-uppercut combination was the highlight as the Russian edges back in front. Povetkin 48-47

R6: Povetkin hasn’t lost any of his explosiveness halfway through the fight as his onslaught continues. Povetkin 58-56

R7: Povetkin down! Joshua unloads a series of vicious punches and puts the Russian down. He answers the first count but it’s only a matter of seconds before the referee jumps in and waves off the fight at 1:59. It’s over!

7.10am

AJ ringwalk best in combat sports

Anthony Joshua has completed another spectacular entrance at Wembley Stadium.

The champ was raised on a platform as the White Stripes anthem Seven Nation Army blasted across the arena. The pyrotechnics were next level as Joshua, all in white, towered over the audience.

The champ is here. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

6am

AJ-Povetkin an ‘absolute disgrace’

British fighter and Sky Sports pundit Tony Bellew has slammed today’s main event, saying it should have never been sanctioned because of Alexander Povtekin’s dark history with drug use.

The 39-year-old Russian twice tested positive for performance-enhancing substances in 2016 — failures Bellew said should have seen him booted from the sport.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that these guys are getting to fight and continue,’ Bellew told BBC Radio.

“This is not down to the promoters. This is not down to anyone else but the sanctioning and governing bodies, and it’s an absolute disgrace that these guys are allowed to fight on because it’s going to happen.

“Someone is going to be killed at the hands of a drug cheat. It’s going to be a very, very bad and sad day for boxing when it does, but it will happen eventually.

“I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but it will, and when it does, I hope that fighter is locked up for the rest of their life because it’s premeditated murder in my opinion.”

Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin face off in London. (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)

5.30am

Undercard: Price retires

David Price retired on his stool after four punishing rounds against Sergey Kuzmin.

The Liverpool heavyweight was boxing well against his unbeaten Russian visitor and the conclusion silenced the considerable support he had enjoyed at the national stadium.

An injured bicep was the cause of Price’s withdrawal, and it represents a second consecutive stoppage defeat having been knocked out by Alexander Povetkin on the undercard to Anthony Joshua’s win against Joseph Parker.

“I’ve had a slight tear in the bicep the last few weeks,” Price said afterwards. “We had to take the fight, and take a chance.

“At the end of the fourth round, it was barely movable.

“It’s really frustrating. I would love the opportunity to fight him again with the right preparation.”

David Price holds his injured left bicep. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

It is a sixth career defeat for the 35-year-old from Liverpool, all via stoppage. Kuzmin, a stablemate of Povetkin’s, reacted with surprise when the referee waved the fight off in between rounds and is now 13-0.

Results:

Luke Campbell defeated Yvan Mendy via unanimous decision (119-109, 118-111, 116-112)

Lawrence Okolie defeated Matt Askin for the British Cruiserweight Title via unanimous decision (116-110, 114-112, 114-113)

Sergey Kuzmin defeated David Price via fourth round retirement

Shakhram Giyasov defeated Julio Laguna via fourth round TKO