Joshua vs. Povetkin, a mismatch or not ?

[Luis Fernando12]

One of the two men pictured above has the body of a normal male athlete. The other one has a body that is rather unaturally "cut up" in a way that indicates the likelihood of steroid use. Can you tell which is which?

I never claimed Joshua never used steroids. Nor did I ever claim that Povetkin isn't a natural athlete. But that doesn't change the fact that Joshua is SIGNIFICANTLY bigger than Povtekin in terms of functional weight / size. To the point where they shouldn't even belong in the same weight division, never mind the same ring in a fight against each other.

If Joshua really is on steroids and if Povetin really is natural, then that's more reason why this fight should be condemned and should not be allowed to take place, considering the dangerous uneven playing field and unfair advantages Joshua possesses over Povetkin.

Unless you somehow believe Povetkin is somehow that much better and more skilled than Joshua, where he can overcome this insane uneven playing field. I personally don't see it!

[Luis Fernando12]

There are once again 2 olympic super heavyweight champions of the world in one ring and this is what you comment about it?
Povetkin has never lost on KO, as far as I know, not even in the amateurs while he did get 125 wins. On average, Povetkin is the highest ranked active heavyweight of the century.
AJ is good and AJ is the best of the division at this moment, but being as good as you suggest is nobody, not even AJ.

Just take a look at the pictures I've posted of both guys in regards to their physiques, and then come back and tell me if they even belong in the same ring together.

This is Alexander Povetkin, a fat, small, pudgy and chubby pudding:




And this is Anthony Joshua. An insane physical specimen and a giant behemoth:





Let's not kid ourselves here. This is a fight between almost 2 different animals / creatures altogether, A dinosaur T-REX (Anthony Joshua) against a mouse (Alexander Povetkin). That's how much of a laughable and disgusting mismatch this fight is.

Fights like these must be condemned for the sake for the dignity of the sport of boxing and for the health of smaller and unqualified boxers like Povetkin.

Povetkin has been the highest skilled boxer in the heavyweight division for nearly the entire century by now, so appearantly his looks barely matter.

'Looks' don't matter. Functional size, functional weight, physical strength and punching power do. Who has Povetkin ever fought and beat, that is a super heavyweight physical specimen like Anthony Joshua? Nobody! Who is the closest? Wladimir Klitschko! And what happened in that fight? Povetkin had no chance because the size, physical strength and punching power difference played a HUGE factor.

The heavyweight division is different now. Being successful in the heavyweight division a few years ago, has no bearing on how well you would do in today's heavyweight division where the best guys are SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS of behemoth like stature. Totally different creatures altogether than ever before!

Joshua is arguably even stronger and more powerful than Wladimir Klitschko. Which means Povetkin has 0 chance against Joshua, when he had 0 success against Wlad.

[candyslim]

Don't forget Wlad used, and was allowed to get away with, some very dubious, not to say illegal tactics to overcome Povetkin. Joshua won't be using those methods I'm not sure he'd even know how, which means Sasha will be able to use his skills and experience to get close and try to apply the left hook which is probably his best chance of making an impression on AJ.

You can be sure the Vityaz man will have re-watched round two of the Joshua/Whyte fight with great interest and no little encouragement. As a Joshua fan I'm glad Povetkin is 38 and not 28.

Joshua will be very cautious in the first few rounds and I don't blame him at all.

[Ilya Muromets]

"Mike Tyson was also one of the smallest heavyweights in his era, in fact I'm taller myself, but he seemed to do very reasonable, even at young age."

You are trying to say shortest not smallest. He was about the same weight as Pov., 220s sometimes ranging up to the 230s. Tyson is 5'10", not that short. Pov is 6'2". I'm right in between them. I don't like fighting short people. They punch you in your knees and bite your ankles. Best thing to do is hit them over the head with a folding chair like they do in wrestling.

[candyslim]

You are Dereck Chisora and I claim my £5

[funso banjo baby]

Povetkin is a live opponent with a thoroughly impressive record.

He has been beaten once and has fought the highest level of opp available.

of course this is decent fight.

hard to moan about this

[candyslim]

Joshua is arguably even stronger and more powerful than Wladimir Klitschko. Which means Povetkin has 0 chance against Joshua, when he had 0 success against Wlad.

Yes he is but one thing Wlad in his mature years had going for him was a very reliable chin, although it appears to have improved dramatically with age. Hopefully Joshua's will too but at the moment he can be caught , wobbled, even dropped.

Povetkin is well used to fighting taller and rangier opponents. He is adept at closing the range and when he does, he throws a spiteful left hook or a wicked right hand over the top. If AJ were foolish enough to leave his head up there unprotected like a weather vane, Povetkin would take full advantage. AJ is no fool and will concentrate on tight defence using his jab and stiff counters to make Sasha pay for each forward step.

Size does matter in boxing of course it does, but you need to know how to get the best out of your height advantage because you can be sure that a good shorter man has been successful by learning how best to turn his height shortfall to his advantage.

Size matters but it's not the be-all and end-all. I do believe your obsession loses you sight of the whole picture.

Povetkin is a very long way from having no chance, I'd rate his chances about 35%. and it'll probably be up to 40 % by fight night as my nervousness for AJ peaks.

[ValMar]

Candyslim, betting odds on William Hill - Joshua win : 1, 11

[FruitStealer]

Povetkin looks in great shape.

Hopefully this will be more fun to wwatch than AJ - Parker.

[candyslim]

Candyslim, betting odds on William Hill - Joshua win : 1, 11

Well I would say that's ridiculous odds in a two-horse race but then who am I to think i
know better than the professionals? Perhaps I'm too invested in a Joshua win that I exaggerate the threat, it's possible.

I do feel Povetkin isn't the force he was a couple of years back but I'm not going to make the mistake of underestimating him, and more importantly, neither I'm sure, is Joshua.

1 - 11 eh? What are the odds on Povetkin win ... a bit of an imbalance there I shouldn't wonder? Now if Povetkin were anywhere close to 11/1 it would have to be worth a score (£20) wouldn't it?

[ValMar]

Candyslim, betting odds on William Hill - Joshua win : 1, 11

Well I would say that's ridiculous odds in a two-horse race but then who am I to think i
know better than the professionals? Perhaps I'm too invested in a Joshua win that I exaggerate the threat, it's possible.

I do feel Povetkin isn't the force he was a couple of years back but I'm not going to make the mistake of underestimating him, and more importantly, neither I'm sure, is Joshua.

1 - 11 eh? What are the odds on Povetkin win ... a bit of an imbalance there I shouldn't wonder? Now if Povetkin were anywhere close to 11/1 it would have to be worth a score (£20) wouldn't it?

William Hill, Joshua vs. Povetkin (decimal format, 22.07.2018) 1 : 1,11 X : 26,00 2 : 6,50

[candyslim]

I'm not a betting man Valmar, and I understand only the most basic jargon (meaning language particular to that business or interest group) so I get Joshua 1/11 means for every £11 I put on him to win they give me back 12 plus my stake back if he does, yes?

I'm afraid after that you lost me. Obviously 1/11 on Joshua doesn't equate to 11/1 on Povetkin, are you telling me he's 6.5/1?

Please excuse my ignorance I must appear to be stupid.

[ValMar]

I'm not a betting man Valmar, and I understand only the most basic jargon (meaning language particular to that business or interest group) so I get Joshua 1/11 means for every £11 I put on him to win they give me back 12 plus my stake back if he does, yes?

I'm afraid after that you lost me. Obviously 1/11 on Joshua doesn't equate to 11/1 on Povetkin, are you telling me he's 6.5/1?

Please excuse my ignorance I must appear to be stupid.

It is simple, if you put 100 $ on Joshua's victory (and Joshua really win) you will get 111 $ (in fact, you will get only 11 $).
But, if you put 100 $ on draw, you will get 2600 $ in the case of draw, etc... etc....
BTW, when I was young, I had been betting very often, and I had earned very decent money, but I had never been betting on boxing (only football)..............Just now, I am an middle-aged clerk, and I don't gamble.............

[candyslim]

Yes I remember you saying about your gambling successes in the past. Me, I always remember the saying "You never see a poor bookie".

So if I backed Povetkin and he won, 100 dollars gets me 650. I bet x2x would have some of that !

[Lackeos]

...
This is Alexander Povetkin, a fat, small, pudgy and chubby pudding:
...
And this is Anthony Joshua. An insane physical specimen and a giant behemoth:
...

Boxing isn't bodybuilding, and there isn't a very strong correlation between bf% and success. Tyson Fury would starch Tyrone Spong. Alexander Povetkin would make mince meat out of Kimbo Slice.

To call Alexander Povetkin "unqualified" or "smaller" makes you look like you don't know anything about boxing. He's a 2-time gold medalist of the super heavyweight division, and a former world titlist with 5 world title wins, whereas Joshua has 6 world title wins. He has weighed-in at as much as 232 pounds. His last victim was 6' 8", 256¼ pounds, which is taller and heavier than Joshua.

All that matter is how good your overall package is, and in Povetkin's case, the sum of his parts equates to the #3 heavyweight in the world. Do we need to prevent the #1 heavyweight from fighting the #3 heavyweight in order to spare the sport a dishonor? No, that's idiotic. By your logic, which seems to be only concerned with height, it would be less disgraceful if Anthony Joshua defended his title against someone like Alexander Ustinov, David Price, Tye Fields, or Julius Long. That, too, would be idiotic, and a much bigger disgrace of the sport.

Who has Povetkin ever fought and beat, that is a super heavyweight physical specimen like Anthony Joshua? Nobody!

David Price and Mariusz Wach? By your logic, Povetkin should not have any chance of beating them. There seems to be a skill component to boxing that you are totally overlooking.

[ValMar]

Candyslim, believe me, there are some methods (or techniques) to get the money from the bookies, but this is off topic.

Lackeos, I think that L Fernando is not serious.

[candyslim]

I'll just have to trust you on that one Valmar

[G.McClellan]

He is still very dangerous. Not as dangerous as he was a few years ago, but still very dangerous.
One punch changes everything.
Povitkin has that one punch power.

AJ sometimes has trouble tagging fighters shorter than him. Povetkin could use that to his advantage. He also (as you already mentioned) true one punch power.

Not a mismatch if you factor in some of AJ's flaws.

[Thomastearns]

It's no more of a mismatch than Joshua v anyone this side of Wilder. Some believe Joshua v Wilder is even a mismatch. This should certainly answer a few remaining questions as to where Joshua is really at.

However although anything can happen in heavyweight boxing, I'm expecting Povetkin to get a rude awakening sooner than later.
Anthony Joshua hits as hard as Klitschko and is simply too big for Alexander Povetkin. Even a peak Povetkin would be a slight underdog in my eyes.

Can't see Joshua deciding to pose for a photograph mid fight the way Price did but if there's even a hint of danger from Povetkin I'd expect Joshua to smother the smaller man instantly.

[candyslim]

Aaagh so that's what Price was doing ... now it all makes sense

[Mexi-Box]

It's no more of a mismatch than Joshua v anyone this side of Wilder. Some believe Joshua v Wilder is even a mismatch. This should certainly answer a few remaining questions as to where Joshua is really at.

However although anything can happen in heavyweight boxing, I'm expecting Povetkin to get a rude awakening sooner than later.
Anthony Joshua hits as hard as Klitschko and is simply too big for Alexander Povetkin. Even a peak Povetkin would be a slight underdog in my eyes.

Can't see Joshua deciding to pose for a photograph mid fight the way Price did but if there's even a hint of danger from Povetkin I'd expect Joshua to smother the smaller man instantly.

Wow.

[Luis Fernando12]

Joshua is arguably even stronger and more powerful than Wladimir Klitschko. Which means Povetkin has 0 chance against Joshua, when he had 0 success against Wlad.

Yes he is but one thing Wlad in his mature years had going for him was a very reliable chin, although it appears to have improved dramatically with age. Hopefully Joshua's will too but at the moment he can be caught , wobbled, even dropped.

Povetkin is well used to fighting taller and rangier opponents. He is adept at closing the range and when he does, he throws a spiteful left hook or a wicked right hand over the top. If AJ were foolish enough to leave his head up there unprotected like a weather vane, Povetkin would take full advantage. AJ is no fool and will concentrate on tight defence using his jab and stiff counters to make Sasha pay for each forward step.

Size does matter in boxing of course it does, but you need to know how to get the best out of your height advantage because you can be sure that a good shorter man has been successful by learning how best to turn his height shortfall to his advantage.

Size matters but it's not the be-all and end-all. I do believe your obsession loses you sight of the whole picture.

Povetkin is a very long way from having no chance, I'd rate his chances about 35%. and it'll probably be up to 40 % by fight night as my nervousness for AJ peaks.

I don't give Povetkin a % of a chance at beating Joshua. And seeing as you are an AJ fan, there is absolutely nothing for you to worry about what so ever as Povetkin poses 0% threat or risk at beating Joshua. He doesn't have the power to KO Joshua with one punch. And suppose he lands one punch that hurts Joshua and tries to follow up on them with more punches to get the KO, Joshua is physically too strong and will man handle Povetkin as if he was a little child.

And Povetkin has 0% chanec of out-boxing Joshua and winning a decision.

Skills become irrelevant against an opponent that is that much bigger in size, and also knows how to use his size. Povetkin is out of his depth and element here. He is going to be hopeless and is going to be praying to his god that the damage that will be inflicted on him, is not severe that it takes years out of his life and gives him permanent health damage.

Just by looking at the pictures of both guys, it makes me sick to my stomach that both are even allowed to fight each other as if it was a credible and a legitimate match up.

This is Alexander Povetkin, a fat, small, pudgy and chubby pudding:





And this is Anthony Joshua. An insane physical specimen and a giant behemoth:







How can anyone honestly say with a straight face, after looking at both guy's picture, that they even belong in the same ring together? It's disgusting and looks totally gruesome.

Povetkin has as much of a chance at beating Joshua, as a mouse has at beating a T-Rex whilst colliding head on and head first with that T-Rex.

[Luis Fernando12]

Povetkin has been the highest skilled boxer in the heavyweight division for nearly the entire century by now, so appearantly his looks barely matter.

'Looks' don't matter. Functional size, functional weight, physical strength and punching power do. Who has Povetkin ever fought and beat, that is a super heavyweight physical specimen like Anthony Joshua? Nobody! Who is the closest? Wladimir Klitschko! And what happened in that fight? Povetkin had no chance because the size, physical strength and punching power difference played a HUGE factor.

The heavyweight division is different now. Being successful in the heavyweight division a few years ago, has no bearing on how well you would do in today's heavyweight division where the best guys are SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS of behemoth like stature. Totally different creatures altogether than ever before!

Joshua is arguably even stronger and more powerful than Wladimir Klitschko. Which means Povetkin has 0 chance against Joshua, when he had 0 success against Wlad.

Mike Tyson was also one of the smallest heavyweights in his era, in fact I'm taller myself, but he seemed to do very reasonable, even at young age.

That's because Mike Tyson fought in a completely different era, where he was able to dominate because modern SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS like Anthony Joshua and the Klitschkos did not exist.

[Luis Fernando12]

...
This is Alexander Povetkin, a fat, small, pudgy and chubby pudding:
...
And this is Anthony Joshua. An insane physical specimen and a giant behemoth:
...

Boxing isn't bodybuilding, and there isn't a very strong correlation between bf% and success. Tyson Fury would starch Tyrone Spong. Alexander Povetkin would make mince meat out of Kimbo Slice.

To call Alexander Povetkin "unqualified" or "smaller" makes you look like you don't know anything about boxing. He's a 2-time gold medalist of the super heavyweight division, and a former world titlist with 5 world title wins, whereas Joshua has 6 world title wins. He has weighed-in at as much as 232 pounds. His last victim was 6' 8", 256¼ pounds, which is taller and heavier than Joshua.

All that matter is how good your overall package is, and in Povetkin's case, the sum of his parts equates to the #3 heavyweight in the world. Do we need to prevent the #1 heavyweight from fighting the #3 heavyweight in order to spare the sport a dishonor? No, that's idiotic. By your logic, which seems to be only concerned with height, it would be less disgraceful if Anthony Joshua defended his title against someone like Alexander Ustinov, David Price, Tye Fields, or Julius Long. That, too, would be idiotic, and a much bigger disgrace of the sport.

Who has Povetkin ever fought and beat, that is a super heavyweight physical specimen like Anthony Joshua? Nobody!

David Price and Mariusz Wach? By your logic, Povetkin should not have any chance of beating them. There seems to be a skill component to boxing that you are totally overlooking.

The only time Alexander Povetkin fought a real, modern sized and like SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT similar to Anthony Joshua was when he fought Wladimir Klitschko. And in that fight, Wladimir Klitschko exposed and proved Povetkin to not be a legitimate / credible heavyweight, or that he even belongs or is suitable in the heavyweight division. Rather, that he belongs in a totally different weight division compared to Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua.

Povetkin is not suitable for the current super heavyweight division consisting of modern super heavyweights like Joshua and Fury. Maybe he would've been couple of years ago, but not now.

Mariusz Wach and David Price aren't physical specimen like Anthony Joshua is. So they don't count!

Gennady Golovkin can maybe beat some light heavyweights that are bums / journeymen like Alexander Brand. Does that mean he can beat, or even stands a chance against top light heavyweights like Sergey Kovalev or Artur Beterbiev? Or even qualifies as a worthy opponent? Of course not!

Likewise, Povetkin might be able to beat some giant super heavyweights who are bums / journeymen like David Price. That doesn't mean he should be allowed to face a real, top super heavyweight that is also an athletic physical specimen that knows how to use his size like Anthony Joshua.

Joshua should only fight guys his own size, that are also at his own level. Not small midgets like Povetkin or bums / journeymen that are his own size

[Ilya Muromets]

The only time Alexander Povetkin fought a real, modern sized and like SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT similar to Anthony Joshua was when he fought Wladimir Klitschko. And in that fight, Wladimir Klitschko exposed and proved Povetkin to not be a legitimate / credible heavyweight...

No, that's not true.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you introduce yourself a while back as a big Povetkin fan? How do they say, with friends like that who needs enemies?

Now let us look at photogaphs of Joshua, Wilder, and Povetkin. Two of them have physiques that suggest possible steroid use, and one of them has the physique of an old fashioned male athlete. Who knows which of the three looks like a good old fashioned strong and healthy athlete from the days before drugs?