Joshua keeps himself composed through adversity to win by knockout
The buzz behind the only unified heavyweight champion is massive! Many believed he would walk right through one of the more respected fighters in the division unscathed.
The fight started with Joshua looking to establish his jab and Povetkin using subtle movements and feints to confuse the champion. The round played this way until right before the bell, the challenger landed a crushing uppercut on the inside. The shot wobbled Joshua and he began to immediately suffer from the effects of a broken nose.
The 39 year-old seemed to be fueled off seeing blood. In the next two rounds, he got inside and landed hard right hands consistently. Trying to avoid allowing the smaller fighter on the inside, Joshua had to change his game-plan early.
The man who is usually walking his opponents down, measuring his right hand behind his jab is now fighting off the back-foot and using more of the ring. This would result in Povetkin taking an early lead in the fight.
However, this would be the only time the challenger would be in control.
In the fourth round, Joshua would benefit from the change in game-plan as he opened a cut over the left eye of his opponent. With his vision hampered, the champion took full advantage; peppering him with the jab from a distance.
The ring generalship the champion displayed would ultimately lead him to victory. While boxing from the outside and using more lateral movement definitely drained him, it would have more of a negative impact on his opponent.
Povetkin would tire trying to get inside of Joshua, which eventually stagnated his upper body movement. In addition, the consistent jabbing to the body brought the challenger’s hands down. This allowed more opportunities for Joshua to land the the overhand right upstairs.
He was able to deliver in the seventh round! As Joshua touched the body of Povetkin coming in, he threw an overhand right that landed on the temple of his opponent. Two more right hands would see the discombobulated challenger hit the canvas.
Povetkin looked extremely hurt and almost on the verge of not making the count. The referee could have stopped the fight there but allowed him to continue. Fans knew based on the Russian’s body language that he wouldn’t last much longer.
As the referee signaled for the fight to continue, Joshua would land a barrage of shots until the third man in the ring decided to wave it off. As the fight was called, Povetkin would hit the deck again.
The British champion would successfully defend his three major titles and improves to 22-0 with 21 knockouts.
Joshua on who he wants April 13
When asked about who he would like to fight on his scheduled April 13 date, he had this to say:
“Lets ask the question. I have no mandatories. There is nobody that will popup this time. Provided I have no mandatories who do you want to see me fight in April….we will put a poll out to the audience.
“I don’t want to talk too much about it but my number one will be Wilder. Lets not talk about number two or three.”
On Fighting Deontay Wilder Next
Eddie Hearn had this to say when asked if he is under pressure to deliver a Wilder figt now:
“We delivered that fight. We signed the contract they didn’t so we had to take the mandatory challenge.
“I believe Dillian Whyte will be the opponent in April but our main focus is Anthony Joshua being the next undisputed heavyweight champion of the world!”
By: EJ Wiliams
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