Anthony Joshua looking impressive

By the sixth round, the fading Povetkin had been reduced to a punching target for Joshua’s crisp combinations and in the seventh, a three-punch combo caused the denouement of the fight.

Ididn’t have the column space to squeeze in this heavyweight matchup two weeks ago, but Anthony Joshua looking spectacular in stopping Alexander Povetkin in seven rounds at the Wembley Stadium certainly deserves a belated feature.

What was impressive was Joshua revealed he had been under the weather, and felt the ill-effects of a head flu coming into the fight.

TOUGH. Povetkin (34-2, 24 KOs) has a tough and rough reputation and looked to bring the fight to the hulking Joshua despite a size and reach disadvantage. He is an Olympic world champion and his only prior defeat had been a unanimous decision loss to Wladimir Klitschko back in 2013.

True to his promise, Povetkin cracked Joshua with several power shots and even bloodied his nose in the first three rounds. Joshua was still probably infirmed by his health issues, but it certainly didn’t help matters that he stood in front of his veteran opponent, winging shots.

The tide turned in the fourth when he began finding a home for his snapping jab and stopped Povetkin in his tracks and discouraged his forays.

By the sixth round, the fading Povetkin had been reduced to a punching target for Joshua’s crisp combinations and in the seventh, a three-punch combo caused the denouement of the fight.

Povetkin was tough, but Joshua (22-0, 21 KOs) proved he can recalibrate his attacks and make adjustments mid-fight.

NEXT. The fight the world wants to see is Anthony Joshua vs. Deontay Wilder but the latter still has to get past Tyson Fury in December.

Both fighters have blamed each other for how the initial talks fell apart, but it looks like Joshua is already looking forward to April 13 as the day he fights Wilder—seemingly presumptuous of a victory by his American rival.

If that fight pushes through that will be this decade’s equivalent of an Evander Holyfield-Lennox Lewis matchup.

VERBATIM. “There is always some complications in negotiations but the sport is about what the fans want. Sometimes you have to take care of your mandatories, which is what I did tonight. My No. 1 would be Wilder. That’s it.” Anthony Joshua (www.cbssports.com)

LAST ROUND. It’s on my kumpare, Eddy Basa who celebrates his birthday this week. Cheers, Pre!