Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua retains world heavyweight boxing crown knocking out Alexander Povetkin in round seven

NIGERIAN-born world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Oluwafemi Joshua has added another feather to his cap by despatching Russian challenger Alexander Povetkin with a seventh round knock-out last night at Wembley.

Joshua, 28, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and WBO belts, has now won his last 22 fights. Last night's knock-out now brings to six the number of times Joshua has defended his title and sets him up for a unification fight with World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Deontay Wilder, which if he wins will make him the undisputed world champion.

Last night, Joshua knocked out Povetkin, 39, for the first time as the Russian had never previously been beaten inside the distance. After an early chess match in which Joshua suffered a bloodied nose before cutting his rival, he grew in confidence and a savage right hand followed by a left hook began an onslaught which would prove telling.

Eventually, another right-left combination downed Povetkin, who somehow made the count, only to stagger into a left hook which saw him slump into the ropes, leaving referee Steve Gray with no option but to intervene. Joshua's display showcased poise, intellect and power, sending a message to the heavyweight division that the champion will take some stopping.

Joshua said: "Povetkin is a very tough challenger, he proved that with good left hooks and counter punches. I came in here to have fun and give it my best.

"I knew he was strong to the head but weak to the body and I was just mixing it up. It could have been seven, maybe nine, maybe 12 rounds to get him out of there but the ultimate aim was to be victorious and I got my knockout streak back."

On December WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury will face each other, with winner likely to face Joshua next year. With 22 professional bouts under their belts, Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson were still chasing a world title but Joshua, by contrast, has now defended his six times.

Povetkin, who has lost just one of his 35 fights, a points defeat to the great Wladimir Klitschko in October 2013, is now expected to retire. Since that 2013 loss, he has won eight consecutive fights, including a knockout victory over David Price.