Joshua starts slow; comes-back to stop Povetkin in 7

Anthony Joshua retained the IBF/WBA/WBO Heavyweight titles with a 7th round stoppage over mandatory challenger Alxander Povetkin in front of 80,000 at Wembley Stadium in London.

Povetkin rocked Joshua at the end of round one with a hard right hand.  Joshua was bleeding from his nose as Povetkin was able to sneak some counter right hands.  In round four, Povetkin was cut over his left eye from a punch.

In round seven, Joshua landed a booming 3 punch combination that sent Povetkin crashing down in his corner.  Povetkin was able to get to his feet, but that only prolonged the inevitable as Joshua pounced on his prey and landed several more flush power shots that had the referee stop the fight as Povetkin fell for a 2nd time at 1:59.

Joshua, 246.5 lbs of Watford, England is now 22-0 with 21 knockouts.  Povetkin, 222 lbs of Russia is 34-2.

Luke Campbell avenged a defeat to Yvan Mendy by turning the tables, and winning a 12-round split decision in a lightweight bout.

Campbell used a nice body attack and moved nicely throughout the 12 round affair.

Campbell, 134.6 lbs of Hull, England won by scores 119-109, 118-111 and 116-112 and is Now 19-2.  Mendy, 134.7 lbs of France is 40-5-1.

In an ugly cruiserweight contest, Lawrence Okolie won a 12-round unanimous decision over Matty Askin.

Okolie was deducted point’s in rounds five for headbutt, in round eight for a low blow, and round 11 for holding.

Okolie, 199.3 lbs of Hackney, England won by scores of 116-110, 114-112 and 114-113 to stay perfect at 10-0.  Askin, 199.8 lbs of Blackpool, England is 22-4-1.

Sergey Kuzmin stopped David Price after round four of their scheduled ten round heavyweight bout.

Price had his moements, but was exhausted after round four, and he pulled the plug on the fight.

Kuzmin, 244.6 lbs of Russia is 13-0 with 10 knockouts.  Price, 265.4 lbs of Liverpool, England is 22-6.

Shakram Giyasov remained undefeated by stopping Julio Laguna in round four of their scheduled eight-round welterweight bout of undefeated fighters.

Giyasov landed a huge flurry that sent Laguna to the canvas, and the bout was stopped at 38 seconds.

Giyasov, 143.2 lbs of Uzbekistan is now 5-0 with five knockouts.  Laguna, 142 lbs of Nicaragua is 14-1.