Sports
Heavyweight Champ Anthony Joshua Brutally KO’s Alexander Povetkin In Round 7
*Targets Wilder and Whyte As Next Opponents
Britain’s Anthony Joshua has delivered a devastating technical knockout in the seventh round to defeat Russian Alexander Povetkin and retain his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world heavyweight championship belts.
Joshua improved his record to 22 fights unbeaten in his professional career by handing the 39-year-old Povetkin only his second defeat but his first by TKO.
Joshua, returning to the Wembley arena where he knocked out Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in April, 2017 to become a unified heavyweight world champion, was given a hero’s reception by the almost capacity crowd.
However, early on it was the smaller challenger who appeared the more inspired and he caught the Briton late in the first round with an uppercut on the nose.
Both men had won Olympic gold medals but it was the youthful energy of the 28-year-old Joshua which proved decisive as Povetkin visibly tired during the contest.
Joshua began dictating with his movement from the fourth round and started to find his range with his right hook.
That was what did for Povetkin, the WBA mandatory challenger, in the seventh when a fearsome right-hander from Joshua landed square on his jaw and sent the Russian to the canvas.
He got back to his feet but not for long as an onslaught of punches from the champion led referee Steve Gray to intervene one minute and 59 seconds into the round and give Joshua his 21st win by knockout.
“Povetkin is a very tough challenger, he proved that tonight with good left hooks and counter punches,” Joshua said from inside in the ring.
“… It could have been seven, maybe nine, maybe 12 rounds to get him out of there but the ultimate aim was to be victorious.
“I got my knockout streak back.”
The fight is the first of a two-match deal Joshua has agreed to stage at Wembley, with the second due to take place in April next year.
“If I had a pecking order it would be Wilder, Dillian (Whyte) and then Fury,” Joshua told taskSPORT.
“Dillian deserves it more than Fury because he’s been consistent and Wilder because he’s the champion.”
However, his plan to become the undisputed world heavyweight champion may have to wait a little longer as WBC title holder Wilder announced earlier on Saturday a showdown with former world champion Fury on December 1 in the United States.
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Source: AAP
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Sports
De Jong: Barcelona just need some luck to win Champions League
Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong insists “luck” wasn’t with them for last night’s Champions League elimination at Atletico Madrid.
Barca won 2-1 on the night at the Metropolitano, but lost the quarterfinal tie 3-2 on aggregate.
De Jong told Movistar afterwards: “We played a very good game. We have left our lives there. I have the feeling that luck was not on our side.
“I think we are growing, that we have a young, talented team that can compete for everything. Let’s continue like this.
“We are left with one less, which is always more difficult. Each one has left what he could give. It hasn’t been enough.”
He also said: “It’s never good to fall in the quarterfinals. We want to win it (the Champions League). That doesn’t mean we don’t play well or we’re not on the right path. In the Champions League, there are details and you have to have a little luck.
“At some point, it has to fall on our side if it continues like this.”
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Sports
Carragher stunned by Slot benching Salah
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has ripped into Arne Slot after his tactics against Paris Saint-Germain.
Liverpool’s top goalscorer in the Champions League Mohamed Salah waved goodbye to European football with the side who lost 2-0 to PSG on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old was left looking dejected as he clapped the Anfield crowd after full-time, in what is sad ending for the Egyptian who scored 53 times in Europe for Liverpool.
Salah was benched for the start of the clash as Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak started up top for the side who looked toothless going forward.
Speaking after the game, Carragher revealed that he was shocked to see the winger fail to start the game especially when he believes Isak was not ready to make a real impact.
“The manager will have his reasons, but Isak is nowhere near fit.
“Mohamed Salah didn’t play the first leg so he’s not like some of the players who played last week and then played at the weekend in the Premier League.
“He played in the Premier League and scored a goal. He’s still one of Liverpool’s best goalscorers. He’s used to this system. Isak’s never even played with (Hugo) Ekitike before.
“Is it because he’s already announced he’s leaving? It’s something like ‘I’m going with the players who are going to be here next year.’ That’s the only thing I can think of. Even that doesn’t make sense. It’s about the here and now. I’m flabbergasted.”
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Sports
“Next step is to win La Liga” – Barca boss Flick eyes domestic prize after UCL elimination
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has already turned his attention back to winning La Liga after their Champions League elimination on Tuesday (April 14).
The Catalan giants managed to level their quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid within 30 minutes thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres.
Unfortunately for them, Ademola Lookman managed to pull a goal back in the 31st minute, and it was enough to send Atletico Madrid through.
Speaking to BBC Sport after the game, Flick admitted he was disappointing but has now turned his attention back to La Liga.
“We played a fantastic first half. We had to score more goals. It was really possible. At the end we conceded the goal. In the end, it’s football. But the attitude, I am really proud of that,” he said.
“The next step is to win La Liga. We have to show the attitude, the mentality. We are all disappointed. For everyone, it’s a big dream to win the Champions League. Of course we have to learn but we also have a young team. We have to improve and we will improve next season.
“Today, it’s also good to speak about how the players are doing. Every day we have to learn more, we have to be better and this is what we want to do.
“I know it’s very disappointing for everyone but it’s football, it’s life and we have to come back.
“For me, I don’t care about when we win La Liga. I want to win La Liga. It doesn’t matter what day we win La Liga. Now we can focus on La Liga. It’s tough because everyone believed that we could make it happen today but we have to accept it and we will come back.”
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