Joshua to fight Povetkin at Wembley in September
Russian challenger will be British heavyweight's toughest opponent since Klitschko
British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has confirmed he will defend his titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on 22 September.
“The unified world heavyweight champion faces his WBA mandatory challenger Povetkin as he returns to the scene of his epic victory over Wladimir Klitschko in front of a post-war record crowd of 90,000 in April 2017,” says Sky Sports.
Joshua was ordered to fight Russian Povetkin or give up his WBA title after talks with Deontay Wilder stalled earlier in the year.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Negotiations for Joshua to face American Wilder were accommodated by the WBA for over two months but with no agreement in place between the fighters, the boxing body called for the Briton to face mandatory challenger Povetkin,” explains the BBC.
And BBC boxing correspondent Mike Costello says Povetkin will be a tough opponent.
“There is no question he will bring the fight to Joshua. He will not be standing off in the way Joseph Parker was last time, he will not be cautious in the way Carlos Takam was in October. He will take it to Joshua,” he says.
“It's not like Povetkin will bring something he has not seen before, it's just that Povetkin is aggressive and just keeps on the front foot.”
The 38-year-old Russian has lost only one fight – to Wladimir Klitschko in 2013 – and is “a dangerous opponent who could ruin the possibility of a Joshua-Wilder megafight”, says Dan Rafael of ESPN.
He is also a controversial figure. “Povetkin has twice failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs and gotten off with little more than slaps on the wrist.”
Steve Bunce of the BBC calls him a “flawed man”, but adds: “As a fighter, I like him. I think he's dangerous, I think he's accurate, I think he has a brilliant boxing brain.”
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why Man United finally lost patience with ten Hag
Talking Point After another loss United sacked ten Hag in hopes of success in the Champion's League
By The Week UK Published
-
Who are the markets backing in the US election?
Talking Point Speculators are piling in on the Trump trade. A Harris victory would come as a surprise
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 3, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is it time for Anthony Joshua to retire?
After his latest brutal defeat, British boxing's 'poster boy' has a difficult choice to make
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder III: fight guide, predictions, odds, UK start time and TV
In Depth The heavyweight trilogy clash takes place in Vegas this weekend
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published