Alexander Povetkin claims he feels no pressure as he prepares to take on Anthony Joshua at Wembley on Saturday night.
The Russian challenges Joshua for his three world titles, in a fight that is being billed as Povetkin’s last chance to become a world champion again.
Joshua welcomes Povetkin to his hometown, and will have mostly British 80,000 fans packed inside Wembley Stadium when the two heavyweights make their walk to the ring.
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Povetkin though is no stranger to the pressure cooker, and explained that after fighting, and losing, to Wladimir Klitschko 2013 in front of his own home fans, he is not worried about facing Joshua.
‘To be honest, I don’t think about it like that. I don’t feel under any pressure in that regard,’ Povetkin said reflecting on how he has changed since the Klitschko loss.
‘Yeah, perhaps there is more pressure to win on his shoulders. There’s a saying in Russia, you feel like the walls are closing in.
‘Psychologically I’m very stable. I don’t feel under any pressure. I’m very calm and I think Anthony is the same.
‘There was a lot more pressure on me for the Klitschko fight because I was at home. I felt a lot more pressure then than I do now. The walls were closing in on me.’
The loss to Klitschko came via a points decision, but Povetkin was put down three times in round seven and struggled to get close to the taller fighter.
Povetkin was unbeaten before that defeat, and his team had spent a significant amount of money to bring the championship fight to Russia.
‘I changed my team, I changed my attitude, I changed my training camp,’ Povetkin said.
‘I worked hard on my strengths and endurance because in the Klitschko fight, by the end of it, I was exhausted.’
Povetkin struggled to contend with Klitschko’s height, but the 39-year-old insists he has ‘no concerns’ about the 6ft 6in Joshua towering over him.
Joshua himself has downplayed the height advantage, and instead has focused on Povetkin’s pedigree as an Olympic champion.
It’s an achievement Povetkin shares with AJ, but while Joshua was eager to turn pro, his opponent revealed he planned to give up boxing after the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
‘After the Olympics, I didn’t want to box anymore,’ Povetkin said.
‘We travelled around, opening gyms for combat sports, MMA and kickboxing.
‘I was not planning to be a professional fighter. But a year later I realised I missed it and I started boxing again as a pro.’
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