Event of the Day: Anthony Joshua versus Alexander Povetkin

Our event of the day is the world title fight between Anthony Joshua and Alexander Povetkin at a packed-out Wembley Stadium in London. Anthony Joshua has taken the professional boxing world by storm since turning pro following his Olympic gold medal in 2012. He is a unified heavyweight world champion, holding the IBF, WBA and WBO titles. The WBC title, currently held by American Deontay Wilder, is the only world title not in Joshua’s clutches. The Brit hasn’t put a foot wrong on his way to being crowned a triple world champion. He is undefeated in 21 fights, winning all but one by knockout. Measuring an intimidating 6”6, Joshua is taller and heavier than his 39-year-old opponent. And with a buoyant home crowd of over 80,000 cheering him on, this is certainly a formidable task for Povetkin. 

Russian Povetkin has had a similar path to the top as Joshua, winning Olympic gold in 2004. Like Joshua, he has a strong knockout rate, with 24 out of his 34 fights being won via knockout. In 2011, Povetkin was crowned WBA heavyweight champion. The 39-year-old has suffered just one career defeat, when in 2013 he took Wladimir Klitschko to 12 rounds, but lost on a unanimous points decision. Anthony Joshua famously defeated the great Wladimir Klitschko at today’s very same venue in 2017. Povetkin’s rise to global success has not come without controversy. In March 2017, he was given a lifetime ban by the World Boxing Council for failing a drugs test, which was lifted at the beginning of 2018. However, with a near perfect record and experience on the big occasions, Povetkin will no doubt be a real test for Joshua. Can the Brit maintain his world dominance, or will Povetkin cause an upset? An explosive evening of world class boxing lies ahead.

Honourable mentions around the globe go to the AFL preliminary final between West Coast Eagles and Melbourne at the Optus Stadium in Perth. West Coast finished second in the AFL ladder and beat Collingwood in the qualifying finals to reach this stage. Melbourne meanwhile finished fifth, before overcoming Richmond and Hawthorn, leaving them one game away from the Grand Final. Elsewhere in Australia, the Sydney Roosters face the South Sydney Rabbitohs in a NRL preliminary final at the Allianz Stadium. Meanwhile in the Rugby Union Premiership, Leicester Tigers entertain Worcester Warriors at Welford Road Stadium. At Anfield, Liverpool will aim to maintain their 100% start to the Premier League season against Southampton. In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich travel to Schalke, and in La Liga, Real Madrid host Espanyol. Sampdoria and Inter Milan play at Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Serie A, and the New York Red Bulls and Toronto face off at the Red Bull Arena in the MLS. Additional sporting action in the States comes from the MLB with a clash between the St Louis Cardinals and the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium in St Louis. The PGA Tour Championship continues in Atlanta, whilst it’s day 3 of the Portugal Masters on the European Tour at Oceanico Victoria. ATP World Tour action comes from Metz and St. Petersburg, whilst the WTA World Tour is in Seoul, Tokyo and Guangzhou. Qualifying for the Aragon MotoGP gets underway in Alcañiz in Spain, and with just six races remaining, Marc Márquez is the man to catch.

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

Fixture

Photos by Anthony Joshua; Wembley 

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