Fight Night Preview 22nd September 2018

Ok fight fans it’s that time of the week again fight night preview time. This week we are in the capital at Wembley Stadium for a pack night of boxing action. All the action is live on Sky Box office from 6pm.

Anthony Joshua V Alexander Povetkin

There is only one place to start this week and that is with this big world title unification fight. Anthony Joshua comes into this huge fight with a perfect professional record of 21-0 with 20 knockouts. He has knocked out all but one of his opponents in his last fight he was taken the distance by Joseph Parker on his way to winning a wide unanimous decision. However although Parker put in a brave effort I think Joshua was happy to do the full 12 rounds so that he could prove to any doubters at he can go the distance easily. Joshua is no stranger to fighting in big stadiums as his last two fights have been at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. This fight will be his third fight at Wembley having fought on the Froch Groves 2 undercard in 2014 and last year he took on the heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko to unify the devision.

Alexander Povetkin comes into this fight as the number one contender and the mandatory challenger. With a very impressive record of 34-1 with 24 knockouts. He also is no stranger to been in big fights as he is a former world champion and like Joshua an Olympic gold medalist, however I don’t think he will have experienced anything like the atmosphere on Saturday night when that first bell rings. He has won all of his last 6 fights, 3 of them by knockout. The only mark on his record came against Wladimir Klitschko when he lost a unanimous decision in their world title fight back in 2013. In his last fight he scored that stunning knockout over David Price in the 5th round on the Joshua Parker undercard, however up until he put Price on the canvas he was losing the fight.

Now we get to the question that everyone wants to know the answer too who’s going to win? To be honest I don’t think anyone knows this could be a real 50/50 fight. Although I think if Joshua can stay away from Povetkin’s left hand for the first couple of rounds I can see him coming on strong in the middle rounds. I also think we are going to see a much more aggressive Joshua than what we did in the Parker fight and he will go looking for the knockout if that happens I can’t see the fight going past the 6th round, but for as long as the fight lasts Povetkin is always going to carry a threat with his one punch knockout power.

Luke Campbell V Yvan Mendy

Luke Campbell comes into this fight with a record of 18-2 with 15 knockouts. He has won 5 out of his last 6 fights, 4 of them by knockout. In his last fight he was just looking to get his career back on Track after losing in his world title challenge against Jorge Linage, and he did that with a 5th round knockout victory over Troy James.

Yvan Mendy comes into this fight with a record of 40-4-1 with 19 knockouts. He’s won all of his last 6 fights but only 2 of them by knockout. In his last fight he knocked out Jesus Arevalo in the 8th round.

This fight has a big question behind it will it be repeat or revenge? When the pair first met back in 2015 Mendy Shocked the world when he put Campbell on the canvas in the 5th round and then went on to win a split decision. So what’s going to be different this time around well quite a few things when they first fought Campbell was a 12 fight novice and he had a lot of personal things going on out of the ring. In the 3 years since they last met Campbell has become a stronger fighter and a stronger person. I think he’s going to come out with a point to prove I’m not sure if he will get the knockout, but I think he will look to out box Mendy to prove to himself and the world that their first fight was just a bad night at the office for him.

Matt Askin V Lawrence Okolie

This fight is for the British title and it will be Matt Askin’s first defence of his title. He comes into this title fight with a record of 23-3-1 with 15 knockouts. He’s won 5 out of his last 6 fights, 4 of them by knockout the only blot in his recent form was that controversial 1st round draw when he was ruled unable to continue because of injury. In his last fight he knocked out Stephen Simmons in the 2nd round to successfully defend his title.

Lawrence Okolie comes into this title fight with a perfect professional record of 9-0 with 7 knockouts. He has knocked out 3 of his last 6 opponents. In his last fight he knocked out Luke Watkins in the 3rd round to add the Commonwealth title to his growing collection.

We all know that a fight for the Lonsdale belt brings out the best in any fighter. Although Askin is the more experienced of the two I think you have to make Okolie the favourite because he’s a powerful puncher and he’s a very big Cruiserweight. I can see him coming out looking to use his boxing skills and landing some big body shots to get the stoppage in the middle rounds.

David Price V Sergey Kuzmin

David Price comes into this make or break fight with a record of 22-5 with 18 knockouts. His career hasn’t hit the heights many people in boxing thought it would after he turned professional after winning Bronze at the 2008 Olympics. On Saturday he starts yet another comeback. He’s only won 3 out of his last 6 fights only 2 of them by knockout. Last time out he made a bright start to his fight with Alexander Povetkin before his glass jaw showed it’s face again and he was taken out in the 5th round.

Sergey Kuzmin comes into this fight with a perfect professional record of 12-0 with 9 knockouts. He’s knocked out 5 out of his last 6 opponents, with one of his fights ending in a no contest after his opponent failed a post fight drug test.

This is a very risky fight for Price to take he’s fighting to save his career and he’s going up against an undefeated fighter with one punch knockout power. If he can somehow keep the fight at range and work off the jab then he might be able to win it on points. If he decides to go toe to toe with Kuzmin then the fight will be over and so will his career.

Hope you enjoy the fights and comment below and let me know your predictions. Unfortunately there will be no Fight Night Review because I’m going to the fight and they stop you taking iPads or laptops into Wembley.