British boxer Anthony Joshua retains titles at Wembley Stadium in London

London: Britain's Anthony Joshua retained his world heavyweight titles by inflicting the first stoppage defeat of Alexander Povetkin's professional career with a ruthless seventh-round finish at Wembley Stadium.

A previously close contest turned in Joshua's favour decisively when he sent the Russian crashing to the canvas with a straight right hand and left hook on Saturday. 

Povetkin gamely beat the count but Joshua piled in before referee Steve Gray stopped the contest at one minute and 59 seconds of the seventh round. 

Victory saw Joshua extend his unbeaten professional record to 22 wins from 22 fights, with 21 knockouts, in front of a raucous home crowd.

"Povetkin is a very tough challenger and he proved it tonight," Joshua told Sky Sports. 

"I realised he was strong to the head but weak to the body. "I got my knockout streak back, I found my right hand again." 

Joshua was putting his IBF, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organisation belts on the line against 39-year-old Russian challenger Povetkin.