9/22 DAZN Anthony Joshua vs Alexander Povetkin (WBA/WBO/IBF Heavyweight Championship)

[patscorpio]

from espn.com

The expected fight is now official: Unified heavyweight world titleholder Anthony Joshua will face mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on Sept. 22 at Wembley Stadium in London, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced Monday.

Hearn had been in talks with the camp of world titleholder Deontay Wilder for a fall fight to produce an undisputed world champion -- a showdown that looms as perhaps the biggest in boxing. But even after Wilder agreed to a flat fee of $15 million rather than a percentage split, and also agreed to fight Joshua in his home country of the United Kingdom, they elected to go with Povetkin, a dangerous opponent who could ruin the possibility of a Joshua-Wilder megafight.

If Joshua, who will be making his sixth title defense, defeats Povetkin, April 13 is the next date on which he intends to fight, also at Wembley, as part of a two-fight deal he recently entered into with the stadium. Joshua drew a British boxing record crowd of 90,000 for a sold-out fight in April 2017 against former longtime unified world champion Wladimir Klitschko. Joshua stopped Klitschko in the 11th round in the consensus 2017 fight of the year.

Now Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), 28, will take on Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs), 38, of Russia, a former secondary titleholder whose lone defeat came against Klitschko, who knocked him down four times in a shutout decision in Moscow in 2013.


Povetkin has won eight fights in a row since, including a fifth-round knockout of David Price on March 31 on the undercard of Joshua's decision win over Joseph Parker to unify three world titles. But Povetkin has twice failed tests for performance-enhancing drugs and gotten off with little more than slaps on the wrist.

"I can't wait to get back in the ring; the end of March feels a long time ago now," Joshua said in a news release. "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.

"Training hasn't stopped for me, but the next 10 weeks ahead will be intense both mentally and physically. I will push myself to breaking point to make sure I am in peak condition for another huge night for British boxing at Wembley Stadium."

The fight will be a rare matchup of former Olympic super heavyweight gold medalists. Joshua won his gold medal at the London Olympics in 2012, and Povetkin stood atop the podium at the 2004 Athens Games.

Povetkin was a mandatory challenger for Wilder's belt and the fight was scheduled for May 2016 in Moscow, but it was canceled due to one of Povetkin's failed drug tests.

Povetkin is looking forward to getting another title opportunity.

"The battle for the world title has always been my goal," he said in the news release. "I fought for the moment to face the strongest in the world, and on Sept. 22, I get my opportunity. Anthony Joshua has [three major] belts, and I want them all. I'm glad that our fight will finally take place. The meeting of two Olympic champions in the ring is destined to be a breathtaking event."

The fight will headline a Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view card in the U.K. Broadcast plans for the United States have not been disclosed, though many expect that one of the announcements Hearn will make Tuesday at a news conference in New York is that the fight will kick off his eight-year, $1 billion deal with the all-sports streaming service DAZN, which is available in several countries but won't launch in the U.S. until the fall.

"I can't wait to return to Wembley on Sept. 22 for what I believe will be one of the biggest tests of AJ's career," Hearn said. "Last time he was there he produced one of the most dramatic fights and endings in the history of the sport, and I expect this fight to be full of energy and drama. Povetkin is a top-three heavyweight and extremely dangerous, but in AJ I see the best heavyweight in the world today and I think we will see a major statement.

"It will be another huge night for British boxing with major championship fights on the card and another one of those special nights and atmospheres that will be watched by millions all around the world."

 

[Kinguno]

Excited but damn the delay is wild

In my eyes AJ & Deontay are champions and got heart but these delays seem so forced but in a way it's clearing everyone out plus Tyson the giant is around

 

[ComorianKid]

King Femi about to do what Beyoncé wilder was scared to do and thats knock pedvetkin spark out

 

[BlackMajik]

King Femi about to do what Beyoncé wilder was scared to do and thats knock pedvetkin spark out

It was Deontay's fault Povetkin got busted for PEDs now???

Get Joshua's dikk out ya mouth

 

[8====D]

Looking forward to this fight.

 

[FreedMind]

Povetkin irks the shyt out of me. Failing back to back tests against Wilder and Stiverne, and his shady promoter who gets backed by shady Russian oligarchs.

I hope Joshua knocks him out.

 

[patscorpio]

just confirmed this will be on DAZN

 

[Scottie Drippin]

Joshua/Wilder is happening in 2020. I think I said this after Wlad. Joshua got too many other options.

Next year he fights Fury and Bellew which are gonna be promotional blockbusters in England. Then Wilder after that. Too much bread in the HW scene in the UK to come over now.

 

[patscorpio]

 

[Figaro]

Joshua/Wilder is happening in 2020. I think I said this after Wlad. Joshua got too many other options.

Next year he fights Fury and Bellew which are gonna be promotional blockbusters in England. Then Wilder after that. Too much bread in the HW scene in the UK to come over now.

Joshua & Bellew fight has been ruled out by each other....but a Dylan Whyte rematch is another block buster, especially if he looks good against Parker.

 

[Tim Dripcan]

It wouldn't surprise if Pedvekin get busted again. He's not the same fighter he once was and this is easy work for AJ if Pedvekin is clean. Still waiting for that mega fight between AJ and Wilder. AJ keeps ducking him.

Fury Vs Wild is interesting too.

 

[patscorpio]

Joshua/Wilder is happening in 2020. I think I said this after Wlad. Joshua got too many other options.

Next year he fights Fury and Bellew which are gonna be promotional blockbusters in England. Then Wilder after that. Too much bread in the HW scene in the UK to come over now.

i dont think femi is going to fight bellew...they both said they werent going to fight each other

bellew for whatever reason is calling out fury lol...thats its own blockbuster fight (in england)

 

[patscorpio]

It wouldn't surprise if Pedvekin get busted again. He's not the same fighter he once was and this is easy work for AJ if Pedvekin is clean.

im not taking povetkin lightly..he only has just 1 loss...he's getting up there...but there's too much fukkery surrounding him to make me think he is not a risk..clean or not

 

[R=G]

Top 5 heavyweights according to Wilder are

Wilder
Ortiz
Fury
Parker
Joshua
Why? Because "Joshua is scared. Not risking anything."

 

[R=G]

im not taking povetkin lightly..he only has just 1 loss...he's getting up there...but there's too much fukkery surrounding him to make me think he is not a risk..clean or not

Nah..Joshua is supposed to knock.this guy out.