Joshua breaks briefs record in title bout

ANTHONY JOSHUA was last night hailed as the biggest draw in boxing after a record 70,000 tickets were snapped up for his clash with Kubrat Pulev.

Joshua will defend his WBA Super and IBF heavyweight titles against Pulev at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium on October 28 in front of the biggest crowd for an arena fight.

The unbeaten Olympic champ has smashed the previous mark of 65,000 who took in Muhammad Ali’s rematch with Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome in 1978.

The turnout will also be a record for a bout at the Principality, surpassing the 55,000 who watched Joe Calzaghe beat Mikkel Kessler a decade ago.

And promoter Eddie Hearn said: “It was another incredible day at the box office for Anthony Joshua as he continues to cement his place as the biggest draw in world boxing.

“The support he receives from the British public is incredible and has been an integral part of his success.

“The fans will be in for a great night on October 28 and we thank them all for their support.”

While Joshua has entered the record books before stepping foot in the ring, Gennady Golovkin claims his showdown with Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas on Saturday will go down in history like Leonard v Hagler did.

The WBC, WBA Super and IBF middleweight king faces Canelo in the division’s most anticipated fight since its halcyon days in the 1980s.

And the unbeaten Kazakh wants to write his name alongside middleweight legends such as Sugar Ray Leonard who came out of retirement to beat champ Marvin Hagler 30 years ago.

Golovkin is a human wrecking ball who has won all 37 of his pro fights and reigned over the middleweight division for seven years.

The 35-year-old said: “I want to win this fight because for me this win will be like a history fight – like Leonard versus Hagler.

“The story of the middleweight division, it’s a long story. I remember a lot of great champions like Carlos Monzon, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Bernard Hopkins.

“Right now we can write new stories – these are new times for us. So many stories are huge in the middleweight division. To be a champion is huge.”

Two-weight world champ Canelo has lost once in 51 fights – to a retired Floyd Mayweather Jnr four years ago – and the Mexican will carry the hopes of every Latino at the T-Mobile Arena. He said: “Without a doubt our fight on Saturday will be one of the great fights in the history of boxing.

“Golovkin will bring out the best in me. I know what I have in front of me. I know he’s a strong fighter.

“He’s the most dangerous opponent of my career but I’m ready for him and what’s next to come.

“That’s why we prepared and also to give the fans a beautiful fight.”

● Canelo v Golovkin is live on Saturday on BoxNation Box Office. Press the Box Office button on your Sky remote or buy online at boxnation.com.