Alexander Povetkin has selected the winner of the much-anticipated world heavyweight title rematch later this month.
The Russian spoke of a unified return between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs).
Joshua has been dethroned by former undisputed weight cruiser Usyk, for WBA Super, IBO, IBF and WBO titles in the sport’s top division, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London 11 months advance and had a chance to get revenge in the desert in just over a week’s time.
Jeddah Superdome will play host to the clash being broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK after they paid a staggering £23 million for royalties.
And Povetkin, who was knocked out by Joshua in the seventh round when the two met for similar titles in September 2018, is backing the Ukrainian to do a job ahead of his old foe.
According to the Russian newspaper Sovetsky Sport,Povetkin told Match TV:
“I will root for Usyk. In the first skirmish, he did everything right, not missing out.”
Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) is a former amateur Olympic champion, like Joshua and Povetkin, but he forgot about boxing and, in February, joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense just days after Russia. invade Ukraine.
And Povetkin, who retired last year with a record of 36 wins, three losses and one draw, with 25 quick shots, believes he will get the better of ‘AJ’ for a second time on August 20th.
“The only thing here is that if Joshua changes something in his preparations and plans, something else could be different.”
“But I think Usyk should win.”
