I don’t think there’s a chance of Alexander Povetkin not making it to the ring to face Joshua. Simply because, money talks and he’s backed by some wealthy people.
It doesn’t matter how many tests Povetkin fails, he’ll always be allowed to continue. That’s the sad state of boxing.
Not many people will admit to that in boxing, but I will. It’s disgusting, but that’s the way it is. I couldn’t say Povetkin was on drugs against David Price because that’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever seen him.
He’s a completely different man when he’s on drugs. I have no problem saying, I would absolutely annihilate Povetkin if he wasn’t on drugs. But if he’s on drugs I haven’t got a hope. That’s the harsh reality.
Joshua has proved he can navigate his way through a 12-round fight without any hiccups. Anthony Joshua will resume normal service against Povetkin, return to being the guy who goes in there looking for the knockout. He’s the guy who goes in there and takes the gamble looking for the knockout.
Like I’ve said before, 2018’s Mike Tyson. He goes in, gets rid of you and goes home. I think that’s the guy we’ll see against Povetkin in September. He shuts a lot of people up who clamour to say his stamina is off, he can’t stick to a game plan.
He did that against a fellow world champion in Joseph Parker in March. Now, he will want to get back to his usual self. Mr. Excitement.
That’s what everyone turns up to see when they watch heavyweight boxing. No one wants to see a 12-round match, two fighters playing chess. They turn up to see blood, guts and someone going to sleep.
Joshua has done that time and time again, and I believe he’ll deliver that when he faces Povetkin. I think he’ll absolutely obliterate him. Smash him in three or four rounds at most. Price was five seconds away from ending Povetkin. It was just that the bell saved him.
He was doing a backstroke in a boxing ring, so that tells you how hard Price hits and how vulnerable Povetkin is. He still had a heavy leg when he came out the next round, but it didn’t work out for Price.
Povetkin is a different man when he’s on drugs and I say this because I know sparring partners who have been in his camp. They have openly said to me, ‘he’s a ferocious animal, when he’s on drugs’ but they see and feel the difference sparring him when he isn’t on them.
Thoughts?
