Joshua calls out Povetkin0:00
Boxing: Anthony Joshua has labelled his next opponent Alexander Povetkin a 'drug cheat', after the Russian was allowed to fight despite failing two drug tests.
BRITAIN’S world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will be over 10kg heavier than his veteran Russian opponent Alexander Povetkin when he defends his title at Wembley today.
Joshua — whose International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation titles will be on the line — weighed in at 112kg while 39-year-old Povetkin tipped the scales at 101kg.
Joshua, 28, has admitted to feeling under “tons of pressure” as he returns to the scene of arguably his greatest triumph, an 11th-round stoppage of former champion Wladimir Klitschko last year.
Joshua-Povetkin: Round by round
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.
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)Source:Getty Images
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)Source:Getty Images
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)Source: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
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