WBA Heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin steps into the lion’s den on Saturday night with the more casual spectator expecting or anticipating an early nights work for the division’s ruler Anthony Joshua

Here is a recent Poll that was conducted by TopClassBoxing

But the question I am now asking is, are they being too presumptuous in overlooking the challenge of the Russian?

The fact is as follows:

He is an Olympic Gold Medallist amassing a record of 125 wins against just 7 losses which is more impressive considering the fact that he started as a World/European champion Kick Boxer.

It was after his triumph in Athens in 2003 that prompted him to try his hand in the paid ranks, as many at the time predicted, his path was paved in gold, culminating in a shot for the WBA title which he took via unanimous decision over Ruslan Chagaev.

Up until that point in his career, he had solid learning fights against the veteran figure of ex-world champion Chris Byrd, Larry Donald and easily outpointed Eddie Chambers over twelve.

In fact, it wasn’t until his twenty-seventh fight that he would taste the only defeat of his career to date, a one-sided beatdown from the divisions most dominant in Wladimir Klitschko.

Knockout wins over Manuel Charr, Carlos Takam, Mike Perez, Mariusz Wach, Johann Duhaupas followed before a fighter actually went the distance in Andriy Rudenko, the order though was soon resumed with the near decapitation of David Price on the undercard of Joshua Vs. Parker, ill leave the video below:

Usually, when a fighter appears on the undercard of a superstar, it is a promotional tact to get fight fans excited at the possibility of a matchup, we saw it on Saturday in David Lemieux’s knockout of Gary O Sullivan, which if rumours are to be believed will be Canelo’s first title defence.

Talk of Wilder being in the firing line evaporated into thin air whilst predictably Alexander’s name was selected as the next in line for Boxing money ticket (AJ), It was a tough pill to swallow not seeing Wilder in a heavyweight tussle but I think we can all agree this is a great alternative.

The scene is set, Joshua already stated his intentions of an early knockout “He has a lot of things in his locker so we have to shut him down early”

This White Lion’s roar may not be as load or exuberant as Wilder’s but his power is just as potent as he looks for another bite at becoming the divisions best.

Photo By Lawrence Lustig