Boxing
Nick Parkinson 6y

Anthony Joshua: Alexander Povetkin fight is start of a new chapter

Boxing

LONDON, ENGLAND -- Anthony Joshua declared his fight with Alexander Povetkin is the start of a new chapter in his career and believes he has 10 more years in boxing.

The WBA-IBF-WBO world heavyweight champion faces Povetkin at Wembley Stadium, where there is expected to be a sell-out crowd of 90,000 on September 22.

Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), 28, turned professional after winning an Olympic gold medal in 2012 and still lives in north London, not far from Wembley.

"This is a new chapter in my career," Joshua told a press conference at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

"I think I've got 10 years left in boxing and I want to cement my legacy.

"Because of science and information I can go on that long. Bernard Hopkins did it. My friend Wladimir Klitschko went on until he was 40, Floyd Mayweather Jr did and I believe I can do it as well.

"It's not 'him, him, him' for me anymore. I have to look at the end goal.

"I feel like I am back in a tournament like it was in the amateurs or the Olympics. I have to get past people like Povetkin to fulfil my legacy."

It will be Joshua's seventh, third and first title defences of the IBF, WBA and WBO belts respectively.

Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs), 38, from Russia, will be the best opponent Joshua has faced other than Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko, who he knocked out in the 11th round in front of 90,000 at Wembley last year.

During the conference Joshua was once again asked about a possible fight with American Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs), the WBC titleholder, after talks between the pair broke down before the end of the year. 

"There seems there's always a lot going on around my fights, noise about who is next," Joshua said.

"I try to deal with these things. I've been fighting ten years now and I've always done it for fun. Now I'm dead serious about this business and this is chapter two for me and Povetkin is first on my list."

Joshua, who was taken to points by Joseph Parker for the first time as a professional in his last outing, insists he will not be over-cautious against Povetkin, with the possibility of a bigger fight against Wilder next year.

"I used to concentrate on the opponents and always worried what was next," Joshua said. "I thought I don't want to make any mistakes, I used to box within myself, stopped expressing myself and fulfilling my potential to become a great world champion. 

"No, it is not just about Povetkin and Wilder, it's me and my legacy and what I can reach.

"This chapter, I understand what I am involved in. I spend a lot of time studying and looking in the mirror at myself. I'm not interested in the praise or criticism. Sooner or later, if you look at yourself in the mirror you will find the answer."

Povetkin has only lost once in his professional career, in his only previous world title attempt, when he was unanimously outpointed by Klitschko in October 2013.

Since then he has twice failed dope tests but reaffirmed his threat in his last fight, on the undercard of Joshua's win over New Zealand's Joseph Parker on March 31, when he knocked out England's David Price.

Like Joshua and Klitschko, Povetkin is a former Olympic gold medallist.

"I know Alex can box," Joshua said. "He wouldn't have done what he did as an amateur otherwise. He can also swing hooks. 

"I can't afford to get beat and Alex thinks he can beat me so it's going to make for a good fight, like Riddick Bowe-Evander Holyfield.

"Just because his first language is not English or because of social media, fans should not underestimate him."

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