The initial sparring partners for Joshua and Povetkin have now been drafted in ahead of next month’s September 22nd clash at Wembley stadium in London.

While all the talk has been about Joshua and Deontay Wilder the last few months and more recently Wilder vs Tyson Fury, it would be easy to forget that Povetkin is no forgone conclusion for Joshua.

At all.

A man coming into the fight, granted at 38 years of age, but nonetheless a motivated, dangerous fighter in solid form after blasting out David Price not long ago in the UK.

Showing that travelling to England doesn’t intimidate him in the slightest, either.

Sky Sports have revealed that the Russian heavyweight will be using Izu Ugonoh as his first sparring partner for Anthony Joshua.

Seemingly convinced he can replicate the style of AJ.

The 31-year-old Polish heavyweight shares similar height and reach dimensions to Joshua standing at 6’5 and actually has a two-inch longer reach than AJ – with 84 inches in reach.

Izu Ugonoh can punch too with the majority of his wins coming by knockout and has only ever lost to Dominic Breazeale.

Joshua on the other hand has drafted in Martin Bakole.

An undefeated (11-0-8KO) heavyweight prospect training under former Ricky Burns trainer Billy Nelson in Scotland.

A highly tipped prospect, Joshua and his trainer Rob McCracken have obviously spotted something in him that make them think he can mimic Povetkin.