I was a security guard for Anthony Joshua’s legendary fight with Wladimir Klitschko… it helped inspire my MMA career

WHEN Simeon Powell rocked up to Anthony Joshua’s fight with Wladimir Klitschko, little did he know the effect it would have on his life.

The then-teenager – who had just started training in Muay Thai – arrived at the 90,000-seater to work a security shift.

What Powell did not know is that he would have a front row seat – for free – to watch one of the most dramatic and thrilling fights of recent years.

He told SunSport: “It was crazy! Definitely didn’t do my job properly that day.”

Joshua climbed up from the canvas to sensationally knock Klitschko into retirement after 11 classic rounds.

Powell – an MMA hopeful at the time – watched in amazement with the inspiration to one day follow in AJ’s heavyweight heroics.

He said: “It gave me chills, I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

“It was crazy, the production, the atmosphere, I was like, ‘This is what I want.’” 

Light-heavyweight Powell, now 24, made his professional MMA debut in 2021 and has since raced to an unbeaten 9-0 record.

He was last year signed to the Professional Fighters League, a rivalling promotion to the UFC.

And this year, he entered the three-stage knockout PFL Europe tournament and returns in the final this Friday in Dublin.

A win will bag him $100,000 and a spot in the PFL’s global season next year, where he can times his earnings by TEN in the $1m season.

Powell takes on Jakob Nedoh at Dublin’s 3Arena and does so with more than just money and a title awaiting him.

He said: “I feel like this is the fight which is going to elevate me. How I’m gonna get the job done, I feel like it’s my, ‘I’m him moment.’ 

“This fight will be what gives me that global respect in a sense.”

Impa Kasanganay, 29, took this year’s PFL light-heavyweight crown by winning his two qualifying bouts and the subseuqent semi and finale fights.

And Powell was a keen viewer with his eyes on the $1m world championship prize.

He said: “It was a great performance, Impa is a nice guy, nice story but I’m a competitor at the end of the day and I definitely feel like I can compete with them boys. 

“I feel like I definitely could have won it this year as well. It’s always been the dream since day one to be world champion.”