THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON YOU
Povetkin’s warning to Joshua
ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned that “the walls are closing in” as the world heavyweight champion admits he’s feeling the pressure.
The WBA, IBF and WBO title holder defends his belts against Russian Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium tomorrow.
Unbeaten star Joshua admitted he can feel the expectation on his shoulders ahead of his fourth stadium fight in a row, as he went face-to-face with Povetkin at the final press conference yesterday.
“There’s loads of pressure, tons of pressure, it’s the reality,” said Joshua.
“We both know what we are in for, it’s the same with every fight. I know I have a lot of fire in my belly, that’s just as important as skills.”
But Povetkin piled on more of that pressure, just 48 hours before the pair meet in the ring in front of 80,000 fans.
He said: “There is more pressure to win on his shoulders. There’s a saying in Russia, ‘You feel like the walls are closing in’.
“Psychologically I’m very stable. I don’t feel under any pressure.”
Drugs
Povetkin, 39, earned notoriety for two failed drug tests in 2016, which forced fights with Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne to be cancelled.
He shares a former opponent with Joshua in Wladimir Klitschko, who is the only one to beat him in 35 fights.
Povetkin may not be well known in Britain but he is big news back home and Russian president Vladimir Putin is expected to tune in to watch.
He cuts the figure of someone who would be a reluctant hero if he caused an upset against arguably Britain’s biggest sports star.
Povetkin was a champion kickboxer as a teenager, urged to learn combat sports by his father after a few skirmishes on the streets of Kursk.
“I was not bullied,” said the 6ft 2in fighter.
He almost quit the sport after winning gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, which brought an invite to the Kremlin to meet Putin.
Povetkin does not fear the judges will favour the hometown fighter, even with Anglo-Russian relations in their current state following the Novichok poisonings in Salisbury.
But there may be louder boos than usual for a fighter not liked because of that doping history.