Anthony Joshua exploded into life to stop Alexander Povetkin in seven rounds to retain his WBA Super, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley.
Brtish Joshua had not really hurt Povetkin, the Russian challenger before he ended the fight in a brutal devastating few seconds in the seventh.
He did the initial damage with a big right hand, and followed that up with a several unanswered shots before landing another right to send the Russian challenger to the canvas.
Povetkin fell through the ropes and did not know where he was.
He somehow staggered to his feet, but referee Steve Gray waved it off as Joshua pummelled the former WBA champ to hand him the first stoppage of his 36-fight career.
It was a destructive end to a fight in which Povetkin had caused Joshua problems early on.
Povetkin with his good movement and low, crouching stance proved hard for Joshua to hit and rocked him at the end of the first round with a right uppercut and left hook to give him a nose bleed.
Joshua struggled to get his jab going to utilise his superior reach, although he did land a right uppercut at the start of the fourth. Povetkin then suffered a cut above his left eye when Joshua accidentally caught him with his left elbow.
Povetkin had success with his overhand right and this was a tough test for Joshua.
Joshua began landing his right in the pocket before he found his range in the seventh to spell the end for Povetkin one minute and 59 seconds into the round.
Joshua would love to face unbeaten WBC champ Deontay Wilder, who is fighting Tyson Fury on December 1 in the US, next with April 13 at Wembley already booked.
However that looks unlikely given the stalemate in negotiations and don’t be surprised if Joshua instead faces old rival Dillian Whyte again with their tally standing at one win apiece.
(Mirror)
