What excuses will we hear when Povetkins steps into ring against Anthony Joshua?

Do you mean will Povetkin fans acknowledge that Sasha is past his best and visibly slowing down?

Yes.

He would have knocked a guy like Hammer out a few years ago.

However, he's still a dangerous fighter with accurate and hard punching, and a good chin. He stopped Takam clean, unlike Joshua. I'd say he'd probably be on par with Wlad as Joshua's toughest test and I'd still pick him to stop Wilder and Parker.

 

What excuses will they make when big David Price smashes Povetkin into oblivion more like!!!

 

If Price suddenly catches fire and unifies the titles I'll LMAO and give him a toast in his honour.

More likely, however, half the glaziers in London buy a second house and new car with the windfall he will provide when Povetkin pulverizes his chin.

 

Didn't you get banned, El Chicano? Why not take the oppurtunity to do something better with your life?

 

All roads end with David Price for Povetkin. Upset of the year coming up.

 

People will say Joshua is ducking Wilder and Povetkin is an old man, ignoring the fact Wilder would of just fought and old man himself while Joshua just fought a young undefeated title holder.

Povetkin is past his best but he's still a top 5 heavyweight and also Joshua's mandatory for the WBA so he'd just be finally facing his mandatory. Hearn always said Joshua would face his WBA mandatory after Parker, it should of been Ortiz but Ortiz chose an easier path to a title, leaving Povetkin to pick up his mandatory position. So it's not like Hearn wouldn't be doing anything he hadn't talked about for many months prior to this.

Whoever Joshua fights his haters will find a way to put a negative spin on it. He fights Povetkin, he's ducking Wilder, he fights Wilder he's ducking his mandatory Povetkin.

 

That he's about 45?

 

No excuses! I'm a Povetkin fan but I don't expect Alexander Povetkin to beat Anthony Joshua at this point in his career. Perhaps current Anthony Joshua may have beaten any version of Alexander Povetkin. However, we don't know for sure, since they never fought in past years. But one thing I'm confident is that Povetkin would've performed much better and gave Anthony Joshua a much tougher fight if they fought a few years earlier, as opposed to now when Joshua would likely have an easier time at winning.

 

Have to agree with this.

Still, you never know.

Povetkin might have one last great performance left in him and Joshua gasses badly late, and after he's been made to work hard. I think Sasha at his best outworks him and lights him up with combinations. If Povetkin puts in his best effort he could still do this. He's as tough as nails.

 

I agree! Alexander Povetkin's chin / punch resistance is grade A and is only second to the likes of Mariusz Wach and Vitali Klitschko. He has never been stopped in around 200 amateur and pro bouts combined till now when he is age 38. And has only been dropped LEGITIMATELY once by Wladimir Klitschko.

If anybody gets knocked out CLEANLY, then it's more likely Anthony Joshua than it is Alexander Povetkin because Anthony Joshua's punch resistance is less proven.

I think if Anthony Joshua wins by stoppage, it would more likely be a nonsensical stoppage like it was when he fought Carlos Takam. Or Joshua might be able to TKO Povetkin from cuts and other physical damage. However, I don't see Joshua getting a clean or a concussive knockout over Povetkin and the reverse is more likely to happen.

The most likely outcome would right now be that this bout goes the distance and Anthony Joshua wins by decision. Something like a 8-4 or a 9-3 type of a scorecard points victory.

The main problem with Alexander Povetkin is that he is age 38 and the biggest worry is that at any given moment, he can become a totally 'shot' fighter. He isn't yet, judging by his last 2 bouts, even though he is still past his absolute best / peak. Considering he still managed to beat Christian Hammer and Rudenko in shutout performances without winning as impressively as he would've a few years ago. But he still managed to beat them, indicating that despite declining and being past his best, he still isn't totally 'shot' as of yet.

It's entirely possible that Povetkin may still have enough left to beat Anthony Joshua, but is saving his best for the right moment without expending too much energy against the likes of Christian Hammer and Andriy Rudenko needlessly at such an old age. Which could be the reason why he didn't KO Rudenko and Hammer.

But I personally believe that going by his last 2 bouts, it's more likely that Alexander Povetkin has lost vital abilities (such as the energy, intensity and mental sharpness / reflexes) required to defeat the absolute best heavyweights right now, especially the giant heavyweights like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. I just don't think he has much in him required to chase after all these giant top heavyweights. He can still beat the lower ranked boxers though.

Though I can never rule / count out one last GREAT performance by the Russian Knight! As you rightfully stated already.

I'd state one last thing though. Which is that even a past prime version of current Alexander Povetkin would be favored heavily by me to defeat Anthony Joshua on the inside range. It'd be suicide tactics and asking for trouble for Anthony Joshua to attempt boxing on the inside against the best inside fighter today in the heavyweight division that is Alexander Povetkin. However, if Anthony Joshua decides to box on the back foot whilst counter punching Povetkin as Povetkin attempts to close distance, then Joshua would be the favorite to win against current Povetkin because I don't think Povetkin can chase down giants like Joshua at his current age successfully without taking significant damage / punishment in return, despite his excellent punch resistance.

 

You have some excellent analysis here.

Personally I think Povetkin's defence is underrated and that he might well be able to slip a lot of the incoming from Joshua. The problem is that AJ has decent skills coupled with a massive weight and strength advantage. My fear is that Joshua takes a leaf out of Klitschko's book and ties Povetkin up if he gets close. Not only would it be a boring fight but Sasha is going to have little chance if a giant like Joshua leans on him for 12 rounds straight. The referee is going to have to enforce the rules.