Joshua ’under pressure’

LONDON: Anthony Joshua has admitted to feeling under “tons of pressure” ahead of his latest world heavyweight title defence against Russia’s Alexander Povetkin at London’s Wembley Stadium today.

Joshua, the 2012 Olympic champion, will be fighting in front of his home London crowd as he looks to extend his unbeaten professional record to 22 consecutive wins when he puts his International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation titles on the line.

The fight sees Joshua returning to the scene of arguably his greatest triumph, an 11th-round stoppage of former champion Wladimir Klitschko last year.

But he will be under particular pressure to deliver this time around.

Joshua’s last fight saw the 28year-old taken the distance for the first time in his professional career, but he secured a unanimous decision over New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in Cardiff in March.

“There’s loads of pressure; tons of pressure,” Joshua told a Wembley news conference on Thursday. “That’s the reality.

“Skills and technique apart, we both have a big heart and can dig deep. We both showed that against Klitschko (who beat Povetkin on points). The one who’s toughest will come out victorious.”

The night Joshua outpointed Parker at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, Povetkin demonstrated his considerable punching power on the undercard, with a fearsome fifth-round knockout of Britain’s David Price.

Povetkin, like Joshua, is a former Olympic champion, having won gold at Athens in 2004.

“Joshua is one of the strongest in the division,” said Povetkin. “Anthony is a very strong fighter but I am just as strong.”

Joshua’s trainer, Rob McCracken, was in no doubt of Povetkin’s class.

“This is a fighter from a different level, with respect to Parker and (Carlos) Takam,” he said. “Povetkin comes from the top level.”