WBA light-heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol claimed countrymen Alexander Povetkin must use his double left-hook, to beat Anthony Joshua.
Bivol is in the UK to support his fellow countrymen Povetkin and Sergey Kuzmin, who both compete tomorrow night (Saturday September 22).
Kuzmin will meet David Price, while Povetkin challenges for the WBA, IBF and WBO world heavyweight titles against champion Anthony Joshua, at Wembley stadium in London.
Povetkin enters the bout as an underdog, despite a career record of 34–1 (24) with his sole loss coming against Wladimir Klitschko in what was a shutout defeat in 2013.
However, Bivol has urged his fellow Russian to use his ‘double left-hook’ along with his short over the top shots that caused Price to fall victim to a fifth round knockout in March.
“First of all Povetkin has a very good spirit, a very wild spirit,” Bivol said
“Second he has very good power, it’s heavyweight boxing. He can beat him, he can knock out him. He has a great left hook and right hook, most of all he has to fight Joshua in close and he should use his double hook. He has a great double left-hook, he should use this.
“Of course he is older than Joshua, but I believe in him, I’m here to support him and Kuzmin. He can beat him, anyone can win a fight by knockout.”
Former WBO cruiserweight world champion and now Sky Sports pundit Johnny Nelson, cited the keys to victory for Povetkin is to get in close to the taller Joshua, and again work on the powerful hooks the Russian possess.
“What he needs to do to win it is get in close, and get to AJ’s chest,” Nelson claimed.
“When Povetkin gets in close he needs to work the body and throw big right hands over the top, like we how he took out David Price.
“He needs to use his physicality to put AJ under pressure, if he tries to box him long he’ll lose it every day of the week, if he tries to time it and jump in he’ll lose every day of the week.”
