IBF, WBO, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has a lot of respect for division veteran Alexander Povetkin.
Joshua stopped Povetkin in seven rounds when they collided back in 2018.
But early on in their fight, Povetkin rocked Joshua and made it a competitive contest.
On Saturday night at Matchroom's Fight Camp on Brentwood, Povetkin will face another former Joshua opponent, Dillian Whyte.
Joshua stopped Whyte in seven rounds back in 2015.
Joshua does not expect a knockout ending for either boxer, and he views Povetkin as a very live dog.
"Everyone has issues in training, if he [Whyte] trained right, he will come through," Joshua told Sky Sports.
"He is a fighter, Dillian. But Povetkin is a seriously skilled heavyweight - an Olympic gold medallist, a world champion whose only losses were against [Wladimir] Klitschko and me.
"He's good, a good fighter who hasn't been on the losing end much so hasn't got used to that feeling. He still has the hunger and will go in against Dillian thinking he can win. It will go to a points decision."
Whyte has been pushing for a rematch with Joshua, but he turned down the opportunity to face him back in April of last year. Whyte felt the offer was too low, which made Joshua go in the direction of a June debut in the United States - which generated the upset loss to Andy Ruiz.
Whyte, who beat Joshua in the amateurs, is very interested in facing him for a second time in the pro ranks.
"If he wants it, he can get it," Whyte told Sky Sports.
"I've told him already before. I've told him many times. I'm not scared to fight him. I want to fight him. It's not like it's a secret."
