Confirmed for September and what a fight. Joshua should win with youth on his side and crowd support, but his opponent is far from the bum he's getting called on social media (mainly by Fury fans playing down AJ) and it's one tough fight. He did a proper job on David Price and has only lost once, knocking out most of his opponents..... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Povetkin
You're joking, surely? Joshua walks through him. Easy work. But it's his mandatory so no idea why anyone would knock AJ for it. Hopefully he'll take the Wilder fight early next year. Fury will be back in top gear by then and we've potentially the biggest fight in UK boxing history.
This is far fr This is far from an easy fight. Povetkin is a World Class Amateur and hasn't really struggled in any of his pro fights other than against Klitschko, his only defeat. Although the tactics of the latter constantly leaning on him as the bigger man were questionable. He kept getting up and coming though. AJ favourite though due to youth and range and random drug testing. Wilder in April. Fury in September. What a year.
I'm sure sky and the Eddie Hearn hype train will have us convinced it's the biggest fight ever soon enough. Shame the Wilder fight couldn't be sorted but that's boxing politics at it's best.
He will walk through him because he's the best in the business. But this guy will be as tough as Parker was and could easily go the distance. He's not lost since Vladimir five years ago. Fight night AJ will be 28 and Povetkin 39, so that should be the big difference. It's a shame Wilder made it so hard to make the fight everyone wants to see, so the mandatory had to be fought through no choice of AJs.
Wilders team did not make it easy but neither did Hearn. Don't buy into everything he says. He is brilliant at playing the media. Hearn didn't really want that fight yet. Fair play to him too this way AJ can make more money at less risk and come round to Wilder fight next year. It's how the game is played.
No disrespect to Joshua, you can only box whats around you at the time but from what ive seen he would struggle to be in the top ten when Tyson, Holyfield and Lewis were at it. Only my limited boxing knowledge opinion mind.
I agree, That's exactly what a promoters job is. Get the fights together that get many people interested as possible and then bring the biggest crowd to the fight at this point in time plus biggest TV audience whilst paving the way for the next big payday for their boxer. Hearn does it better than many and especially in Europe so shouldn't be criticized for doing his job well.
It can be frustrating and the hype can get a bit much too sometimes bit I do get the reasoning. Also to be fair it is a decent enough fight.i won't be parting with any cash to watch it but hopefully it will lead onto the big fights we want to see.
It’s not easy as in Povetkin being a bum. I just think it’s a huge mismatch. He’s bigger, faster, stronger, his boxing skills aren’t any worse, he’s about 10 year younger. Eddie and co will hype it up (so they should) and yes I will look forward to watching it. But it’s an easy win for AJ. Hope I’m wrong and he beats him in a war, like the Wlad fight. But I won’t be shocked if it gets called off anyway, Povetkin is unreliable for one reason or another. Bang on though. If all things go well, there are some huge fights in the division.
Great post, absolutely spot on regarding all of it. The heavyweight division is completely stacked, and Povetkin is still one of the biggest names in there. Outside of Wilder I think many who know boxing would say Povetkin would be the toughest fight. AJ and Povetkin have Carlos Takam as a common opponent, Povetkin destroyed him whereas AJ was a more controversial stoppage. Anthony Joshua's record is INSANE by the way, 21-0, already has three of the world titles. Beat Wladmir Klitschko after just 18 fights. Beat the undefeated world champion Joseph Parker. Dillian Whyte is currently ranked number one in the WBC. Dominic Breazeale is currently the WBC mandatory to face Wilder. Winning the world title in his 16th fight. Now fighting Povetkin. You cannot compare AJ's resume to literally anyone else at heavyweight because it's just miles and miles ahead. Also just to add to the upcoming fights, Parker vs. Whyte holy **** I can't wait for that. I'd go with Parker, possible KO but seriously routing for Whyte. (I even made a lame Rocky montage for that fight)
I'd say Povektin is probably top 5 no argument with that and it's a decent enough fight. Is whyte v Parker really worthy of box office? Old Eddie can really sell anything.
I would've said yes whilst Kell Brook was on the card, along with Buatsi vs Summers.. But Kell Brook is now injured and Summers has pulled out. So I think maybe the price should be reduced or something? I hear they're still trying to get Joe Joyce on the card though as a replacement.
Povetkin showed how good he was, but then AJ came through by showing how great he is, to stop someone that's never been stopped. He's still on his way to becoming the best ever. Nobody has ever achieved as much as him so soon in to their career.