Anthony Joshua, Russian Alexander Povetkin to Clash at Wembley

Anthony Joshua

Britain’s Anthony Joshua will defend his world heavyweight titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium on 22 September.

The 28-year-old unified the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles with a unanimous points win over New Zealander Joseph Parker in Cardiff in March.

Unbeaten in 21 professional bouts, he now faces 38-year-old Povetkin, the WBA champion from 2011-2013.

Povetkin knocked out David Price on the Joshua-Parker undercard in Cardiff.

The experienced Russian has suffered only one defeat since his professional debut in 2005, losing by unanimous decision to Wladimir Klitschko in Moscow in 2013.

It will be a meeting of two former Olympic champions, Povetkin taking super-heavyweight gold at the 2004 Athens Games and Joshua the same title at London 2012.

Povetkin is the mandatory challenger to Joshua’s WBA title and fighting him means the Briton is likely to have greater freedom in selecting his next opponent.

Unbeaten WBC champion Deontay Wilder has offered Joshua $50m (£37.2m) to fight in the United States, but the Joshua camp wants the bout on home soil.

Wilder beat Luis Ortiz in his last fight in March and has recorded 39 of his professional 40 victories by knockout.

No heavyweight has ever held all four recognised world titles.

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