Joshua vs Povetkin

Business as usual for Joshua or a little bit more involved for that? Povetkin's getting older but he's a talented fighter without too many miles on the clock. Trouble is he's a LOT smaller than AJ and will have to be at his absolute best to get the win. I also thought that (knockout aside) he really didn't look that great against Pricey last time out. I reckon on Joshua establishing his size and power early to keep Povetkin honest then he'll start unloading the bigger punches.

Unless he's very careless this has an AJ knockout written all over it. For all the talk from the media about how Povetkin's a gold medallist & dangerous etc, I think he's way past his past. Joshua KO5, and I think it'll be a brutal one.

Luke Campbell vs Yvan Mendy
Matty Askin vs Lawrence Okolie
Sergey Kuzmin vs David Price

Some decent fights on the undercard. Okolie has looked good what I’ve seen of him and it’s very much last chance saloon for Price vs Kuzmin. Not seen Kuzmin but if he keeps his progression up he could be around the world title challenge mark in 18 months or so.

None of the above makes it Box Office worthy but at least it’s a competitive undercard opposed to Hearn fighters smashing tomato cans before the main event which was happening for far too long.

Povetkin has never been stopped, is mobile and is a skilled boxer.  I think he must be odds on to stay the distance - which would be good for the learning curve of Joshua, assuming Joshua wins (which surely he must).

So what would be Povetkin's plan to win - or is he just looking for a good payday?   I think Povetkin must imagine he might test out Joshua's stamina and patience and hope to catch him with something in the later rounds.  Or he must hope to outbox Joshua and win on points (unlikely given home country advantage).  

But Povetkin is old - maybe he is past it?  If that is the case then maybe Joshua might be able to get a knockout win - but let's have no referee intervention stopping the fight when Povetkin still has all his senses and is covering up and biding his time.

Joshua looks ripped as usual and not too heavy at 245. Povetkin, unfortunately, looks like a mildly annoyed security guard by comparison, weighing in at 222. Agree with Bertie that I hope that if Joshua gets a stoppage win, there's no premature interventions by the ref.

Given how easily Price was able to send Povetkin staggering into the ropes, Joshua should easily be able to do the same. I think this shot's come too late for the Russian, as he should have been fighting for a title a couple of years ago. I stand by my KO5 prediction.

I think the first few rounds will be dangerous for AJ but I suspect he will break Povetkin down however unless his age has caught up with him he might know enough to survive until late/wide points as he did v Wlad (let us hope it is no repeat of that hug-a-thon).

Some good undercard fights.

Do I hope Price wins his bout? If he wins and it catapults his confidence then yes I want him to win. If he wins but has just set himself up to be pulped in his next fight then NO. Just hope he doesn’t get gunshy if taken into a shootout.

Campbell mendy looks to have the hallmarks of a 12 round affair - mendy looks in tremendous shape, hope Lukes shaken off the demons from that loss. Campbell by split decision.

Askin okolie is a great fight. Askin to pose a problem early on. Okolie to pull forward with a UD or late KO. IF he blasts askin out early doors then it’ll put out a huge statement to the elite in the division.

Povetkin has been in some tough fights and to an extent is old BUT still dangerous. Joshua may have to come through some tough moments in the fight. I can see this fight mirroring the wlad AJ fight. Joshua UD or late KO.

Big pricey quit. Came in with a bicep injury and took the fight at late notice he says. Don’t take a fight if you’re not willing to give it a 100. Not exactly a broken eye socket.

Hang them up.

Stinker of a fight Okolie v askin. The one I was looking forward to undercard-wise. Styles did not gel at all. Unanimous decision to Okolie. Would definitely not like to see a rematch and both will do well going different routes.

What an awful card it’s been so far. Price pulled out despite what he says and the Askin vs Okolie fight made Andre Ward’s style look like Sugar Ray Leonard.

Hopefully the Campbell fight is decent, first one was so fingers crossed.

Not really matchroom or sky’s fault but a bore fest so far

Wasn’t really aimed at anyone, more just an opinion.

Campbell being odds on with the bookies is strange. 3/1 on Mendy is good value.

Campbell is just very average, fringe contender. There isn't a situation where he would ever beat Lomachenko or Garcia to legitimately win a title. His only hope is a vacant belt or a paper wba 'regular' belt

Joshua is due a loss, but I can't see Povetkin being the one to deliver it.

Joshua looking quite nervous

Good opening round from Povetkin, actually. Joshua not using his jab effectively.

Povetkin carries more power than I thought he had.  He can damage Joshua - and he did at the end of the first round.  Povetkin is also very intelligent in the ring.  He seems to be doing just enough to win the first two rounds and poses a great danger.  Along with the Klitschko fight this looks to be Joshua's greatest test - and he is being caught.  Joshua has to stay clear minded.

Povetkin has studied Joshua, seems to have a game plan, his defence is excellent.  This is a very very tough fight for Jushua - he has been greatly overestimated. Maybe not by Joshua but by pundits who have been focusing on Wilder and Fury.

Patience. Povetkin looks a mess now. AJ always vulnerable, but it’s that power he has which changes fights.

Povetkin has a nasty cut from a clash of heads. That's highly unfortunate and will probably seal the fight.

Joshua getting into a flow but think the pundits are reading a lot into the cut on POV.

Povetkin has a cut and maybe he is tiring a little.

This may end up being close - in which case Joshua will get the home country vote. I am listening on talksport and they have Povetkin leading 4-2.

Povetkin down

Fair play, that was a very clinical finish. Joshua may have some serious flaws, but he has the raw knockout power to overcome them.

Joshua's power tells out in the seventh. Well done to Joshua for keeping calm and patient when he was under the cosh. First time Povetkin has been stopped.

I personally don't think Joshua needs to fight Wilder yet. He is still young, hasn't had that many professional fights and is still getting better.

And that's why Joshua is ducking Wilder. Joshua is all hype struggling with a guy that Price nearly KO'd. Joshua paper champion nothing more

You were saying?

What a great win. Haters or nay sayers, he just did why no one elae has done

I think Wilder knocks AJ out too. Fury would probably beat him in points.

Fair play for finding some composure and finishing the job. However, Povetkin is another old man that got badly hurt against Price recently.

Joshua is far from great, but he gets the job done.

Joshua vs the lump (Whyte) in April!! Can hardly wait!

Least we have Wilder and fury to look forward too. Both guys have balls.

Joshua KO'd a guy who rarely fights and is nearly 40. Not really one to tell the grandkids.

Wilder creases Joshua clean out. Fury boxes his ears off.

Talksport pundits are saying Joshua was caught too easily by Povetkin's overhand right, but took them fairly well. This is the danger punch of Wilder who punches harder but Wilder is perhaps also vulnerable in terms of his defence.

Wilder has freakishly long arm so he can tee off from greater range. And he's much faster than Povetkin

I'm not sure if Joshua fought a great fight or if he is having is best weapons trained out of him. Tyson needed his hooks, Chavez needed his side to side closing down footwork and Joshua needs to have his right hand and power ready for me. His jab at ain't at a Holmes or Lewis level and I don't think it ever will be. Good performance, but against Fury or Wilder I don't want to see him relying on his jab to control the fight. Looks good business from Wilder and Joshua not making the fight now mind, coz if Wilder comes through Fury (which is a real pick em for me), the winner takes all fight will now be immense in financial and fighting terms.

Wilder also has more speed and a distinctive reach over Povetkin.

Hearn doesn't want Wilder. Far too dangerous, when Aj can milk money fighting other guys.

Fury would box AJ's ears off if he's near full form.

Aj has power and shows heart, but he lacks a lot. If he is really the best heavyweight in the World? Then it shows how far boxing has fell.

Bruno would smash AJ if he were around now.

All joking aside, if Lewis wanted to pull a Foreman, he could come back and have a chance.

Don't rate AJ, he will lose next year!

I still think Joshua needs a few more learning fights before taking on Wilder - but the media and commercial pressure seems to be enormous to get the Wilder - Joshua fight on - which may be Joshua's next fight in April 2019. Mayweather always refused to fight Pacquiao, until Mayweather was ready. Similarly Canelo refused to fight Golovkin until Canelo was ready.

Just wait until Wilder is old?

Everyone is saying AJ is number one, so he should be ready now.

I am not convinced Fury is going to be ready for Wilder. Fury is an enigma - he doesn't seem to care about anything.

Fury chasing dollar and maybe he will turn it on. He is overrated by some since beating Wlad, but the other heavyweights are awful. I think he could out box everyone (provided he doesn't get chinned).

Dillian Whyte is a bum and he is even in the top ten. He's fatter than my dad and throws head-butts that count as knockdowns.

Dillan Whyte ain't a bum, but we all know only 3 people are at the top table. Winner of Fury Wilder should fight AJ in April. They would have December off and a chance for a 13 week camp which is perfect preparation.

Luis Ortiz is still a dangerous boxer, he gave Wilder a tough fight earlier this year, and has only lost once (to Wilder).   Ortiz aged 39 may not have many fights left in him but I think he would give Joshua a big test and might even win. But there seems to be no interest from Hearn for a Ortiz - Joshua fight. It looks like it will be Wilder - Joshua next - assuming Wilder gets past a what seems to be an out of form / out of condition Fury. I think most would have Wilder as favorite against Joshua if it occurs next (april 2019).

Guys what everyone is seeming to forget get all 3 guys have there downfalls but out of the 3 fighters AJ has definitely fought the toughest opponents who has Wilder or Fury bar Ortiz and Vldad who else of note have these fought? I would like to see AJ fight Wilder, Fury talks a good game but is dreadful to watch and would put you asleep from boredom and not by KO

Basset is right: for Joshua getting wobbled by Povetkin's early assaults you have to compare it to Wilder's last fight with Ortiz where he was in far more trouble and saved by the bell. Let's also not forget Fury was downed by ex cruiserweight Steve Cunningham. All was seemingly forgotten by the comments above.

All have their faults. Cut the guy some slack.

Watching the fight on youtube - I would say that Joshua wasn't really particularly hurt by Povetkin, and his wobble in the first round was more clumsy movement with his feet trying to get out of the way. He was taking punches but wasn't really wobbled. After a few rounds the threat from Povetkin subsided as Joshua found his distance and range. Povetkin troubled Joshua in small periods afterwards but it wasn't sustained. When Joshua caught Povetkin with a right in the 7th, Povetkin was briefly stunned, stepped back and dropped his guard. Joshua immediately caught him with a left and then that was it for Povetkin - his punch resistance was more or less gone, and Joshua kept finding his chin. Joshua doesn't seem to jab, it is more circling around his opponent and throwing the occasional punch, but threatening to land something substantial. You're supposed to jab to keep the opponent away from you, but Povetkin kept finding his way inside - until he tired.