Joshua vs Povetkin - as it happened: Anthony Joshua wins by seventh round TKO in devastating finish before revealing he wants to fight Deontay Wilder next

Follow live coverage of Joshua vs Povetkin as well as all the action from a packed undercard

Anthony Joshua celebrates beating Alexander Povetkin

Anthony Joshua faces Alexander Povetkin in what the British champion has described as the "second hardest fight" of his professional career.​ Povetkin, the mandatory challenger to the WBA title, has the potential to become Russia's first ever unified world heavyweight champion, with Joshua's IBF, WBO and IBO straps on the line too.

The 39-year-old has lost just one of his 35 fights, a points defeat to the great Wladimir Klitschko in October 2013. Since then he has won eight consecutive fights, including a knockout victory over David Price on the Joshua-Parker undercard. Ominously, he has never been stopped.

Meanwhile, Joshua will be looking to extend his flawless professional record to 22-0 in his third fight at Wembley.

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Key Points

• Joshua weighed in almost two stone heavier than Povetkin
• What this fight betrays about boxing's promotional Cold War
• Steve Bunce on why Povetkin is far from the walkover many predict
• Why Joshua is feeling the pressure

[22 September 2018 17:01 · Adam Hamdani]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Anthony Joshua vs Alexander Povetkin!

We'll have everything from the undercard to the main event press conferences, so strap in and stay tuned for live updates throughout the entire evening and probably even the early hours of the morning.

[22 September 2018 17:20 · Adam Hamdani]

If you're literally only aware of Joshua vs Povetkin on this bill, you're certainly not going to be the only person.

Here's what the rest of the undercard is looking like for the evening ahead:

Luke Campbell vs Yvan Mendy (WBC lightweight world title final eliminator)

Matty Askin vs Lawrence Okolie (British cruiserweight title)

Sergey Kuzmin vs David Price (WBA intercontinental heavyweight title)

Shakhram Giyasov vs Julio Laguna (welterweight contest)

Dana Zaxo vs Tony Bilic (light heavyweight contest)

Chris Kongo vs Petar Alexandrov (welterweight contest)

[22 September 2018 17:36 · Adam Hamdani]

This will probably be your final opportunity to get some reading in on this man before it all kicks off tonight.

Lawrence Okolie is a story.

[22 September 2018 19:20 · Adam Hamdani]

David Price retires on his stool after four rounds! 

After having his bicep iced, his trainer decided to pull him out of the fight and it's a win for Sergey Kuzmin, remains undefeated after 14 fights.

A disappointing end for the Liverpudlian.

[22 September 2018 19:23 · Adam Hamdani]

"I've had a slight tear in the bicep the last few weeks," Price said. "We had to take the fight, and take a chance.

"At the end of the fourth round, it was barely movable. 

"It's really frustrating. I would love the opportunity to fight him again with the right preparation."

Price faces Povetkin 

[22 September 2018 19:27 · Adam Hamdani]

A frustrating end to the night for David Price

Price retired on his stool 

[22 September 2018 19:28 · Adam Hamdani]

Up next is Matty Askin against British Olympian Lawrence Okolie! 

The cruiserweight belt is on the line in this one, with challenger Okolie the favourite to walk away with the strap.

[22 September 2018 19:34 · Adam Hamdani]

Lawrence Okolie makes his way to the ring! This one could be fight of the night and will be getting underway shortly.

[22 September 2018 19:36 · Adam Hamdani]

Current champion Matty Askin now making his way in. We'll have round by round coverage.

[22 September 2018 19:41 · Adam Hamdani]

The big man has arrived!