Alexander Povetkin takes on Anthony Joshua this weekend at Wembley and has opened up on the only defeat in his professional career to date ahead of the fight.

Povetkin has all the pedigree in the world as a former world champion and Olympic Gold medalist.

His only loss in his career to date came against future Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko and even then, he took big Wlad the distance.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘Behind The Ropes’ special feature ahead of this weekend’s fight against Joshua, Povetkin said on the loss to Klitschko:

“What is there to explain? All I can say is that Wladimir Klitschko was stronger than me. A that time I was physically much weaker. Tactically I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to give more, get close and fight. But you need to be able to do that and I didn’t know how to.”

Since then Povetkin has certainly improved as a fighter.

To get in close is going to be a challenge for him this weekend if he wants to land the right uppercut or left hook.

Joshua enjoys a superior reach.