/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61499461/1037118990.jpg.0.jpg)
Today at 1 pm ET streaming live on DAZN, Anthony Joshua returns to the ring to defend his WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium.
The main event is expected to start around 4:30 pm ET.
Joshua (21-0, 20 KO) is coming off of the first distance fight of his pro career, a March victory over Joseph Parker where he added the WBO title to his collection. Povetkin (34-1, 24 KO) is the WBA mandatory challenger and a serious contender.
The undercard will feature a lightweight rematch between Luke Campbell (18-2, 15 KO) and the man who beat him in 2015, Yvan Mendy (40-4-1, 19 KO), with a potential world title fight in the waiting for the victor. The British cruiserweight title will also be on the line, as Matty Askin (23-3-1, 15 KO) faces rising prospect Lawrence Okolie (9-0, 7 KO). Both of those fights are set for 12 rounds.
Wil Esco will be on the round-by-round call today. Join us!
RESULTS
- ANTHONY JOSHUA def. ALEXANDER POVETKIN by TKO (1:59 of Round 7)
- LUKE CAMPBELL def. YVAN MENDY by UD (119-109, 118-111, 116-112)
ROUND BY ROUND
ANTHONY JOSHUA vs ALEXANDER POVETKIN
Round 1: Joshua comes out and looks SO much bigger than Povetkin. Joshua feints, tries a hook, but Povetkin is able to duck under it. Now Joshua tries a jab to the body but Povetkin is able to pull away. Povetkin tries a big overhand right that misses the mark. Two more jabs to the body come from Joshua. Both fighters look hesitant to throw. Now Joshua lands a good shot that backs up Povetkin. Povetkin tries a straight right to the body that doesn’t land with much authority. Now both fighters trade hooks. Povetkin stuns Joshua with an uppercut that buckles Joshua’s legs! I think that steals Povetkin the round. Povetkin 10-9.
Round 2: Joshua comes out with a jab and then tries to follow it up with two more punches. Joshua has a bloody nose from Povetkin’s attack at the end of the last round. Joshua’s nose is busted after Povetkin lands another one and the blood is streaming down Joshua’s nose. Joshua tries to respond by establishing a jab but Povetkin is staying out of range of it. Right hand to the body lands for Povetkin. Overhand right lands for Povetkin! Joshua jabs to the body but Joshua looks a little uncomfortable with the damage Povetkin has been able to do early. Povetkin lunges forward with two shots that miss. Jab lands for Joshua at the bell but I think Povetkin edges this round too! Povetkin 10-9, 20-18.
Round 3: Joshua tries a jab that Povetkin is able to slip clean. Joshua jabs to the body, Povetkin responds with a right hand to the body. Joshua whips three punches that grazes Povetkin. Joshua snaps a jab at range, feints, and Povetkin jumps in with a hook that misses. Left hook lands right on Joshua’s chin! Joshua snaps another jab and tries to move along the ropes. Jab lands again for Joshua but he misses the follow up hook. A couple more jabs land for Joshua to end the round. I think Joshua nicks this one. Joshua 10-9.
Round 4: Povetkin lands a looping right hand on Joshua. Now Povetkin has a small over over his left eye which looks like it came from a head clash. Povetkin leaps in with a left hook that is mostly blocked by Joshua. Jab comes from Joshua, then to the body. Joshua tries a right hand lead from distance that falls short. Povetkin continues to look for the left hook but can’t quite find the mark. Another jab comes from Joshua who wants to fight this fight at distance at this point. Joshua just edges this round too, I think. Joshua 10-9, 38-38.
Round 5: Joshua tries a left hook but can’t land it clean. Joshua jabs to the body and looks for a big right that just misses and Povetkin looks for a counter and lands it. Joshua jabs to the body again and then come back upstairs and lands. Another jab lands from Joshua that snaps Povetkin’s head. Povetkin attacks back and keeps going for the left hook — maybe too often. Now Povetkin lands a left hook to the body. Another jab lands for Povetkin and I think that one punch is keeping him from being completely befuddled by Povetkin. Joshua 10-9.
Round 6: Jab comes from Povetkin but he can’t land clean. Mutual respect between both fighters after they touch gloves after a messy exchange. Hook lands for Joshua, then a grazing uppercut! Joshua parries two hooks from Povetkin. Solid jab lands for Povetkin! Joshua gets back to center ring and throws a long jab to the body. Lead hook comes from Joshua that partially lands. Povetkin jumps in and misses on two hooks in a row. Povetkin is missing more punches now as he flies in on Joshua. Joshua 10-9, 58-56.
Round 7: Joshua searches with his jab, trying to keep Povetkin at a distance. Well timed jab lands for Povetkin. Joshua goes back to the body with a jab, his favorite punch in this fight. Povetkin missed on a right hook to the body. Straight right lands and hurts Povetkin! Joshua follows it up with a straight right that puts Povetkin down! Povetkin gets up and the ref lets it continue. Left hook lands for Joshua, who then goes on a barrage and Povetkin crumbles! It’s over! Joshua TKO-7.
LUKE CAMPBELL vs YVAN MENDY
Round 1: Campbell comes out with a couple of measuring jabs and then tries to tick it to the body. Mendy stalks forward behind his high guard and tries a right hand lead that grazes Campbell. Campbell tries a straight left to the body from his southpaw stance. Another left to the body lands for Campbell. Mendy taking his time, just walking forward and looking for openings. Campbell lands a good left to the body at the end of a three-punch combination. Now Mendy lands a left hand lead. Campbell goes back downstairs with a left to the body. Mendy goes for two shots with Campbell along the ropes. I think Campbell boxed well in the opening round. Campbell 10-9.
Round 2: Campbell is backing up but is being defensively responsible and is landing well placed shots to the body as he times Mendy coming in. Mendy walks in and lands two hard shots on Campbell’s body now. Campbell touches the body again with a left hand, then circles out as Mendy continues to stalk. Three punch combination comes from Campbell who then pivots out the corner back to center ring. Hard straight right hand lands clean for Mendy! Mendy lands another straight right lead which is a good punch against a southpaw. Mendy lands yet another straight right as Campbell tries to circle away. Hard right hook comes from Mendy to end the round. Mendy landed the hardest shots of the round. Mendy 10-9, 19-19.
Round 3: Mendy comes out and attacks with a three punch combination and grazes Campbell with a couple of them. Straight right lands for Mendy as Campbell responds with a left to the body. Campbell paws several times with his jab but Mendy takes advantage to lands a nice counter right hand. Mendy chases Campbell around the ring as Campbell looks to use his smooth footwork to dictate the engagements with Mendy — he’s having mixed results. Straight left to the body comes again for Campbell but Mendy jumps on him with a short barrage of punches. Mendy 10-9.
Round 4: Mendy tries to walk Campbell down and gets him to the ropes before Campbell pivots away to find more space. Campbell is keeping on the move but takes a hard body shot from Mendy before he can get out of range. Hard left hook lands for Mendy. Campbell throws a combination against Mendy’s gloves as he continues to try to touch and move, and land well placed counters. Campbell lands a right hook to the body. Campbell touches Mendy again to create space as Mendy gets too close for comfort. Now Campbell lands a hard one downstairs. Campbell boxed really well in this one. Campbell 10-9, 38-38.
Round 5: Mendy comes out quick and hits Campbell with a couple of hard shots. Campbell tries to back up and get space but Mendy beats him to the spot and lands a clean left hand, then another clean jab shortly after. Campbell touches Mendy’s high guard while Mendy lands a body shot. Right hand lead lands for Mendy. Campbell goes with a straight left hand followed by a solid right hook to the body. Mendy covers up and then shoots out of his guard with a quick couple of body shots. Campbell circles the ring, touching with his shots to keep Mendy off of him. I think Campbell just edged that round on most of his clean boxing and activity. Campbell 10-9.
Round 6: Campbell throws a combination but Mendy answer back by trying to lure Campbell into a firefight. Campbell jabs, jabs, jabs on the outside, keeping Mendy at arm’s length. Campbell pivots and splits Mendy’s guard with a straight left hand uptairs. Campbell throws shots and pivots ever time Mendy gets into a certain range. Campbell is boxing and moving and keeping Mendy’s work to a minimum. Campbell 10-9, 58-56.
Round 7: Mendy tries to come out quick again and make a scrap of this. Campbell jabs to the body twice while Mendy tries to respond with with a combination but Campbell is largely able to escape without taking too much contact. Hard right hook lands for Mendy. Campbell responds with a right and left hand combination. Mendy lands another right hand lead but Campbell is always able to respond with punches because Mendy stays right in front of him. Campbell is able to outpace Mendy with his boxing ability. Campbell 10-9.
Round 8: Campbell jabs but takes a hard straight right in return from Mendy. Mendy getting increasingly aggressive as he needs to mix things up as he starts to fall behind on points. Mendy strafes Campbell with two punches to the body but Campbell has the feet to get himself out of danger before he takes too many shots. Hard left to the body lands for Mendy! Campbell responds with a short flurry himself to steal the play away. Campbell 10-9, 78-74.
Round 9: Mendy tries two right hooks that at glancing. Campbell lands a right hook downstairs. Straight left to the body lands for Campbell. Now Campbell lands another one. Campbell hasn’t seemed to hurt or discourage Mendy much, but he’s accumulating points in the ring. Left to the body lands for Campbell again. Mendy is really struggling with Campbell’s movement. Campbell walks Mendy into a two punch combination now. Campbell 10-9.
Round 10: Campbell leas with a jab followed by a three punch combination that is partially blocked by Mendy. Campbell throws three punches that are blocked but then pivots away before Mendy can respond with anything. Campbell has been able to keep up his pace, throwing punches, moving out of range, and doing it all over again. These last several rounds have been pretty much the same story: Campbell is simply outboxing Mendy, scoring points, and staying out of danger. Campbell 10-9, 98-92.
Round 11: Mendy partially lands a lead right hand but that punch has come far too seldom over the last few rounds. Mendy attacks with several punches with Campbell along the ropes. Mendy is throwing caution to the wind now, knowing he probably needs to press for a stoppage win. Campbell is standing his ground a little more now believing his body work on Mendy has sapped his energy. Mendy walks forward and Campbell gets back to boxing and moving again, touching Mendy on the outside, even if a lot of the shots land on Mendy’s high guard. Campbell 10-9.
Round 12: Mendy needs a knockout to win on my scorecard, he’s landed clean shots but they just have come far too infrequently. Mendy jumps in with a right hand. Now Mendy lands another lead right. Campbell gets back to establishing his jab and pivoting off the ropes when Mendy wants to launch an attack. Right hook to the body lands for Mendy. Mendy taunts Campbell to stand and fight. Another right hook whips to the body from Campbell. Mendy lands an uppercut during a break and the referee talks to him about it. Campbell circling the outside of the ring, sticking to his game plan which has been working throughout the fight. Four punches come from Campbell, finishing to the body. Campbell 10-9. I’ve got it scored wide for Campbell, 118-110.