Anthony Joshua defeated Alexander Povetkin in seven rounds to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles and reaffirm his status as the world’s leading heavyweight.
After being rocked in the first round, and with a bloodied nose, the WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO champion finally found his rhythm to apply the pressure to his 39-year-old opponent.
The Russian, punished with six rounds of body shots, eventually lowered his hands, and an overhand right began a flurry of punches that dropped Povetkin in the seventh.
Joshua had spoken in the week of feeling “tons of pressure” to perform and the confirmation of the December 1 date for the higher-profile fight between Wilder and Fury will not have helped, but if he felt that pressure in the ring, it did not show.
“He proved that tonight with good left hooks, good counter punches. But I come in here to have fun, do what I’ve been working on in the gym, and give it my best.
“I realised he was strong to the head, but I know that he was weak to the body, so instead of jabbing to the head, I was switching it up.
“Every jab [to the body] takes a second of breath out of you, so it slows him down. It could have took seven, maybe nine, maybe 12 rounds to get him out of there, but the ultimate goal was to be victorious tonight.”
“A few years ago, maybe I wouldn’t have won that fight but credit to my team for making my life easier,” Joshua said. “It’s about developing. I’m in it to win it and I’m in it to learn. But enough talking about my development, it’s April 13 that I’m interested in here. The tougher the challenge, the harder the performance and the more you learn. This is chapter two. We are at a different level now and I’m here to fight on my feet again.”
The win means Joshua will likely face either Deontay Wilder, who faces Tyson Fury in December or Dillian Whyte next in April 2019.
