Boxing: Knockout in round 7! Joshua beats Povetkin and remains world champion

Anthony Joshua remains heavyweight world champion. The Briton won against the Russian challenger Alexander Povetkin (34-2) in London’s Wembley Stadium by technical knockout in round seven. The 28-year-old thus continues to hold the belts of the WBA, WBA and IBF.

The fight is completely re-live on DAZN.

However, it was no easy task for Joshua, who knocked Wladimir Klitschko out and retired in April 2017.

39-year-old outsider Povetkin presented himself as a tough opponent to 80,000 frenetic fans, beating a passive Joshua in the first few laps. Povetkin scored his first heavy goal at the end of the first round and the defending champion, bleeding from his nose, was visibly respected.

From the fourth round the fight slowly became more balanced, Joshua opened a deep cut over Povetkin’s left eye. He took it down slowly after lap six – and scored heavy goals in the seventh round, which sent him to the ground.

Although Povetkin, who had only lost to Klitschko in his career and had never been knocked out, came up again, referee Steve Gray broke off the fight a short time later – Povetkin’s corner threw in the towel almost simultaneously.

“Povetkin was a tough challenger, he proved that tonight,” Joshua said afterwards in the ring. “I knew he was strong against the head, but weak against the body. I found my right hand and knocked someone out again.”

However, he admitted that the pressure was high. “A few years ago I might not have won that fight[after the first round].” However, it has evolved.

Joshua also addressed a challenge to World Champion Deontay Wilder and his next opponent Tyson Fury at DAZN’s microphone. Both will compete against each other in December, at stake is the WBC belt from Wilder.

“There is no obligatory challenger,” stressed Joshua, who improved his record to 22-0-0. “I’ll be back here on April 13th[at Wembley Stadium], the champion is here to come to the United Kingdom for a good fight.”