Joshua regained the WBA, WBO and IBF titles in a rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. last December in Saudi Arabia, after being stopped by the Mexican-American in an upset at Madison Square Garden that summer.

Joshua, born to Nigerian parents, beat the Bulgarian at the Wembley stadium on Sunday morning, to hand Pulev his second defeat in his professional boxing career.

The first round saw both pugilists with lots of single punches, while none of them really managed to get anything special in, but Joshua had the snappier jab.

Unbelieveable scenes in the third round saw Pulev barely survive a huge AJ onslaught.

Although the Bulgarian came out for the third round more active than he was in the first two rounds, Joshua landed a one-two for the first meaningful shot of the round.

Then Joshua landed uppercut after uppercut to complement his overhand rights, and Pulev was left barely able to survive.

Joshua secured his 22nd knock-out against Pulev, bringing his bout records to 24-1, 22 KOs.

The 31-year-old uppercut was the story of this bout, because he worked the body and the head with jabs, but when the opportunity presented itself, Joshua destroyed Pulev — an amazingly tough man — with an uppercut to floor the Bulgarian in the ninth round.

Joshua landed a right hand flush on Pulev’s chin to win it, but the Bulgarian was barely in the room, having just got up from the first knockdown in the ninth round.

The world heavyweight champion put on a show at the Wembley Arena in London against the experienced Bulgarian to set up his clash with Tyson Fury in 2021.

“Less talk, more action,” Joshua said after the bout, adding that “I hope everyone was satisfied tonight. For me, I stuck to what I know best, boxing. You ask the crowd what they want to see!”

Joshua also said he wants Tyson Fury next.

“I’ve been chasing the belts since I started this. It’s not about the man; it’s about the belt and the legacy. If it’s Tyson Fury with the WBC belt, then let it be Tyson Fury!” he added.

The post Anthony Joshua knocks out Pulev to retain world heavyweight titles appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

Former five-weight world champion Mayweather, 41, was smiling during the short-lived contest in Tokyo as he floored the 20-year-old three times.

The fight, scheduled for three three-minute rounds, ended with Nasukawa in tears as his team threw in the towel.

Despite his latest comeback, Mayweather said afterwards he was “still retired”.

“It was all about entertainment – we had a lot of fun,” said the American, who beat UFC’s Conor McGregor in a boxing match in August 2017. “They wanted this to happen in Japan, so I said ‘why not?'”

The fight was delayed by several hours, with rumours circulating on social media that Mayweather might not show up, and that organisers were struggling to locate him.

Then, during an “unscheduled intermission”, he promoted his Las Vegas strip club, urging people to go there to watch the event.

Both fighters were undefeated coming into the widely criticised contest, in which Mayweather had a 4kg (9lb) weight advantage.

And after beating Nasukawa, Mayweather insisted: “I’m still undefeated; Tenshin is still undefeated. Tenshin is a true champion and a hell of a fighter.”

Addressing the Japanese fighter, he added: “Hold your head up high.

“I want the fans around the world to support Tenshin, he’s a great guy and a great champion.”

The rules were very strictly defined with kickboxer Nasukawa reportedly facing a $5m fine if he aimed a kick at his older opponent.

There were no judges, with only a knockout or technical knockout considered a victory.

Before the fight, former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan said the bout was a “joke” and was “hurting boxing”.

Mayweather also came out of retirement last year to beat McGregor in the Irishman’s first ever boxing match.

That fight was also criticised as a mismatch prior to one of the richest contests in boxing history, but afterwards BBC Radio 5 live boxing commentator Mike Costello said McGregor had “proved the doubters wrong”.

The post Mayweather floors Japanese Nasukawa three times to win exhibition in first round appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The heavyweight champion told Sky Sports: ‘It is not just about Povetkin and Wilder, it’s me and my legacy and what I can reach.‘I feel like I am back in a tournament like it was in the amateurs or the Olympics. I have to get past people like Povetkin to fulfill my legacy.’

Joshua and Povetkin posed for pictures together at Wembley Stadium after the press conference and there was no animosity between the pair as they smiled and shook hands.The IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO champion also revealed he has changed his mentality regarding opponents.‘I used to concentrate on the opponent and always worried what was next,’ he added.

‘I used to box within myself, stopped expressing myself and fulfilling my potential to become a great world champion. ‘It creates a great fight, I can’t afford to get beat and Alex thinks he can beat me. ‘

Povetkin was respectful in his succinct responses and acknowledged the calibre of fighter he is stepping in against on September 22. ‘I want to say that Anthony Joshua has proved that he’s one of the strongest fighters here – and I’m excited about this fight,’ the 38-year-old said.

‘This fight will be all about experience.‘I know Anthony Joshua is a world champion, but we have been training hard for this fight.’Head of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn also underlined the serious threat posed to Joshua’s record in the upcoming bout.

‘The pace that this young man is moving at and the challenge he is wiling to take is fantastic for the sport of boxing,’ said Hearn.Anthony Joshua wants to create a legacy and the only way you do that is by fighting real fighters,’ he concluded.

The post Boastful Joshua says he will rule boxing for 10 years appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The 28-year-old Joshua takes on his WBA mandatory challenger Povetkin as he returns to Wembley for the first time since his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000 fans in 2017.

Joshua’s last two world title bouts had been at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff where he overcame Carlos Takam before adding the WBO belt in a points win over New Zealander Joseph Parker in March.

“I can’t wait to get back in the ring. The end of March feels a long time ago now,” Joshua, who boasts an unbeaten 21-0 record, told British media.

“Povetkin is a serious challenge that I will prepare meticulously for, he has serious pedigree, and only a fool would underestimate what he brings to the table.

“Training hasn’t stopped for me, but the next 10 weeks ahead will be intense both mentally and physically.

“I will push myself to breaking point to make sure I am in peak condition for another huge night for British boxing at Wembley Stadium.”

Povetkin, who knocked out David Price on the Joshua-Parke undercard, expects a memorable fight with a fellow Olympic medallist.

“The battle for the World title has always been my goal,” Povetkin said. “I fought for the moment to face the strongest in the World and on Sept. 22 I get my opportunity.”

The 38-year-old Russian has suffered one defeat since his professional debut in 2005, losing to Klitschko in Moscow in 2013.

The post Boxing: Joshua to defend world titles against Povetkin at Wembley appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

A statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by the publishers described Daily Sports as a leading online daily newspaper dedicated to the effective coverage of sports, sports people and sports-friendly corporate organisations and their invaluable contributions to sports development.

“Known for breaking news and daily updates from around the world, Daily Sports has been test-run to critical acclaim since September, 28 2015 and boasts diverse online readership that cuts across various age groups and status.

“This is because Daily Sports covers a wide range of sports ranging from Football to Athletics, Basketball, Tennis, Golf, Table Tennis, Boxing and Grassroots Sports,” the statement signed by Daily Sports Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms Betty Osagie, said.

“Daily Sports parades a team of accomplished sports writers led by Isaac Umunna, who brings to the job almost three decades as a Sports Reporter and Editor. It subscribes to the highest journalism standards and is fast becoming a reference point in sports journalism,” the statement said.

It advised sports lovers, wherever they are, to log into www.dailysportsng.com everyday for exclusive stories and daily updates from around the world.

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