POV WILL PASS TEST
Hearn: AJ faces ‘clean’ Russian
ENZO CALZAGHE, the father of two-weight world champion boxer Joe, has died aged 69.
Rumours of his illness surfaced on Friday night when it was wrongly reported in some media outlets that he had passed away.
But yesterday his family stated: “Joe and all of the Calzaghe family would like to thank the public for their well wishes and kind thoughts, especially the outpouring of support from within the boxing community.
“Enzo led an incredible life both inside and outside of the boxing gym and his loss is a devastating one for the entire Calzaghe family.”
Despite having no previous experience, he trained Joe as he became super-middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion during an undefeated 46-fight career.
He also guided Gavin Rees and Enzo Maccarinelli to world titles and in 2007 won coach of the year at the BBC Sport awards.
ANTHONY JOSHUA has been assured he will face a clean fighter when he steps in the ring to face Alexander Povetkin on Saturday.
Joshua defends his WBA, IBF and WBO titles against former champion Povetkin at Wembley.
But questions remain over Povetkin over two failed drug tests in a year – for enduranceenhancing meldonium ahead of a fight with Deontay Wilder and then for muscle-building ostarine ahead of a clash with Bermane Stiverne.
But Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says the Russian has been heavily tested during his 12-week training camp to prove he is clean, and faces further tests in the UK this week.
Hearn said: “Povetkin’s had loads of tests. Every fight we do with Joshua, of course he is on UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), but we sign up to additional Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) testing, which comes 12 weeks before the fight.
Confident
“Off the top of my head there have been five or six tests from VADA for Povetkin, not from the Russian one. They will go into his camp and that’s been done from 12 weeks out.
“I’m very comfortable and confident that that’s been dealt with.
“Once he gets into the country this week UKAD will start as well. That test is not irrelevant, but not as important as testing nine to 12 weeks out. “Never say never, but I’m confident with what has been put in place.”
Povetkin is the underdog but Hearn believes the challenger will be fired up to score a PR win for Russia against arguably Britain’s biggest sports star.
Relations between the two nations are poor thanks to the Salisbury Novichok poisonings. “He has not just got his team but his country and, dare I say, his government behind him,” said Hearn. “They are all involved. “This is like a mission from them to beat Britain and for a Russian to become the world heavyweight champion. “He and his team know how important this is for them and for Povetkin nationally.
“This is not just about him personally winning a title, this is a major, major thing if Povetkin could stick one on a Brit.
“I think it adds a bit of spice to be honest with you.”