The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Career-enders becoming a habit now for Joshua
Anthony Joshua defends his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles tonight against Alexander Povetkin in the knowledge that he may just end another career.
The 28-year-old fights at Wembley Stadium for the first time since his 11th-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko – which led to Klitschko’s retirement and established Joshua among the world’s leading boxers.
If there has been frustration that Joshua did not defeat Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker as convincingly as he would have hoped in his most recent two fights, there is also the reality that, like Klitschko, they have yet to recover from those defeats.
Takam had been the favourite against Dereck Chisora in July but lost via a shock stoppage that suggested the punishment he absorbed from Joshua had ensured his decline. And on that same evening Parker unexpectedly lost to Dillian Whyte, ending his options at world level.
Russia’s 39-year-old Povetkin, whose reputation will never fully recover from the damage caused by two failed drug tests, secured tonight’s fight by becoming Joshua’s mandatory challenger five years after last fighting for a world title.
He is unlikely to do so again if he suffers his second defeat.
By fighting Joshua, Povetkin is ultimately risking never fighting again.
Asked about his ability to end careers, Joshua said: “It does happen, it’s a tough game. It’s not only the training camps, it’s the actual fighting – 10, 11 rounds of punishment.
“It does take a lot out of opponent.
“Obviously, I’ve not been out there knocking people out (in the early rounds) like I used to, but it’s different, top-tier fighters at the top end. I’m fighting the best of the best and it’s tougher, but ultimately they’re getting someone just as tough and it does take a lot out of them.
“It does take something out of (even) these tough guys.”