Anthony Joshua, the current WBA Super, IBF, WBO and IBO belt holder, has taken the world of boxing by storm since turning professional after a successful amateur career, most notably at the London 2012 Olympics with Team GB, where he impressed and showed his potential.
Since then, the rest is history as they say, and ‘AJ’ has gone on to become the most feared opponent in the heavyweight division and a star who continues to attract interest and gain fans globally. Put simply, Joshua is the main man in British boxing right now and looks set to takeover the world of boxing as he continues on with his remarkable journey.
Another barrier awaits Joshua as he looks to cement himself in the boxing hall of fame in the shape of a dangerous Russian opponent, Alexander Povetkin – the mandatory challenger to Joshua’s WBA title.
The fight, which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 22, at the world famous Wembley Stadium in London – a venue usually known for hosting soccer matches – is highly anticipated and as it draws closer, the excitement around the contest is certainly gathering pace.
Joshua, who has the advantage of being on home soil and with a huge British fanbase cheering him on, is the overwhelming favorite for the fight. Unsurprisingly, the Watford-born big hitter is priced at 1/16 (bet365) to win the bout and being rated at 2/5 to win the fight by KO, TKO or disqualification.
The occasion is actually the meeting of two former Olympic champions, with Povetkin also a former amateur who represented his country at the games. The dangerous Russian won super-heavyweight gold at the 2004 Athens Games and Joshua the same title at London 2012.
Povetkin, 38, was the WBA champion from 2011 to 2013 and is now the WBA’s mandatory challenger, meaning Joshua has to fight him or he faces being stripped of his title. The Russian knocked out Liverpool’s David Price on the Joshua/Joseph Parker undercard in Cardiff and has suffered only one defeat since his professional debut in 2005, making him a tough opponent for Joshua.
The pressure is clearly on Joshua in this one, with many seeing this going only one way. The Brit certainly isn’t underestimating his opponent though, saying, “Povetkin is a serious challenge that I will prepare meticulously for. He has serious pedigree and only a fool would underestimate what he brings to the table. It’s not the height of the man, it’s the fight of the man. He’s fought people like me all his life. He’s used to tall guys.”
Odds are stacked firmly against Povetkin despite his impressive resume, but stranger things have certainly happened in the world of boxing. He’s currently priced at 7/1 to cause a shock in London and win the fight. Bookmakers are also offering odds of 8/1 for the lethal puncher to be victorious by KO, TKO or disqualification.
This is sure to be a fantastic spectacle, with an abundance of betting offers available from top gambling apps and the coverage around the fight undoubtedly drawing in a worldwide audience. The match-up promises to deliver and live up to the hype, that’s for sure, and ‘AJ’ will be desperate to put on a show in his capital city.
Joshua’s power and precision should dampen Povetkin’s hopes, but if the Russian lands one of his well-timed counter-punches then we could see Joshua’s chin tested further. For the much smaller man in Povetkin to reign supreme it would almost require a minor miracle. But he’s a hard nut to crack and has huge heart. It’s an incredibly interesting match-up, that’s for sure.