An fascinating slice of boxing history will be made this weekend when three Olympic super-heavyweight champions are in action simultaneously.

A fistful of dollars - 23 million in all - will be trousered in a world title fight on Saturday night when long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitscho faces the unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin in Moscow.

Meanwhile at London's O2 Arena, Britain's 2012 gold medallist Anthony Joshua will be stepping into the ring to make his pro debut around the time Klitschko (Atlanta 1996) and Povetkin (Athens 2004) contest the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts before a sell-out 35,000 crowd at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.

They've read the Last Rites over boxing as frequently as they've rung the last bell but as Floyd Mayweather jnr has masterfully demonstrated the rough old trade is still very much alive and punching.

Big fights remain big box office. And so do big fighters. Cut-up David Haye and peed-off Tyson Fury may be on the back burner until February but the heavyweight scene, traditionally the barometer of the sport's health, is about to be sustained, and hopefully enriched, by the shedding of headguard and vest by young Josh, the nation's most prized fighter.

Barring mishap or mismatch he, should keep boxing out of the gravediggers' clutches for the next decade.

Fourteen months after completing Britain's record Games medal haul the 23-year-old Londoner launches his pro career where he left off as an amateur by meeting a 32-year-old Italian. Victory over Roman policeman Roberto Cammarelle brought a gold medallion. Similar conquest of Puglia's Emanuele Leo, unbeaten in eight contests, all fought on home territory, could be the initial drilling into the sort of heavyweight gold mine goldmine from which Klitschko and Povetkin will be unearthing their 24-carat nuggets.

While Joshua's well-paid paid baptism on the same card that his gold medal mate from London 2012 Luke Campbell, has his second pro fight at lightweight, should be a formality, there is an disturbing cloud of intrigue hovering the Eastern blockbuster in Moscow.

Normally this should be another comfortable excursion for the 37-year-old Ukrainian, an overwhelming 1-12 on favourite, but after recent scoring curiousities intense spotlight will be on the ringside judges, two Americans and a Belgian, and Puerto Rican ref Luis Pablon.

Wladimir Klitscho and Alexander Povetkin, the Olympic super-heavyweight champions from Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004, prepare to face each other in a mega-dollars World Championship title fight in Moscow

The massive purse bid for the fight - to be screened live here on BoxNation was secured by Povetkin's billionaire promoter and whispers abound of heavy betting on the home fighter among the Russian mafia. The blond Povetin, 34, undeated in 26 contests, is a capable enough opponent but lacks "Dr Steelhammer's" class and clout.

Conspiracy theories are not uncommon in boxing - the latest being Fury's nonsensical allegation that Haye's cut-eyebrow was self-inflicted - but in his 64th contest -and 23rd title fight - Klitschko is canny enough to be aware of the old saying in the sport that sometimes in an opponent's backyard you have to knock 'em out to get a draw!

We shall be watching this one with interest and more than a little apprehension.

Back in London Joshua becomes the latest in an illustrious line of post-war Olympic heavyweight or super-heavyweight champions to set their horizons on what is still regarded as the ultimate prize in sport.

Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Klitschko and Povetkin all succeeded. Pete Rademacher, Ray Mercer, Tyrell Biggs and of course dear old Audley Harrison fought for it and lost, some more ignominously than others.

The fabulous Cuban Teofilo Stevenson, three times Olympic champion at heavyweight, and compatriots Felix Savon and Robert Balado are among others, including Camarelle, who never turned pro.

Have I missed out Muhammad Ali, the greatest of them all? It is a common misconception that the then Cassius Clay won the Olympic heavyweight title but it was actually the light-heavyweight gold at Rome 1960. And former world champ Evander Holyfield also won his Olympic bronze at light-heavyweight.

Similarly Floyd Patterson was a middleweight when he won his Oympic title, as was Michael Spinks, subsequently blitzed in seconds by Mike Tyson (who never boxed in the Games) when challenging for the heavyweight crown.

Britain's Anthony Joshua, the London 2012 super-heavyweight gold medallist, is making his professional debut on Saturday but claims he is not motivated by money

Now we have the exciting new Olympian in the pro corner - at last. Joshua has kept promoters worldwide on hold until finally securing a deal with Matchroom's Eddie Hearn. Why did he prevaricate so long? He says: "I needed to take time to sort out the best package for me, and not just financially because I had better offers."

While over lunch he smilingly informs insidethegames that his current reading material includes Napoleon Hill's "Think and Grow Rich" Josh insists it really isn't all about the dosh. "Money helps, but doesn't motivate me. Never has. I'm rich in spirit and in my heart. As long as I feel a million dollars that's what matters."

He claims to be unfazed by the constant reminder of how the pro career of super-heavyweight predecessor Harrison, embarrassingly went belly-up. While he declines to diss Harrison's obvious lack of hunger he maintains will not follow the same intransigently self-obsessed route.

Unlike the 2000 Olympic champion, Joshua is not demanding to be the main attraction either on his Sky Sports 2-televised debut or for some time hence. "Maybe that was his mistake. I want to work my way up the ranks against decent opposition.

"I believe I could have won the gold again in Rio but to be honest the Olympics didn't really satisfy me. I needed a new beginning.

"I know can become a great boxer, and ultimately a world champion. I just have to make sure I don't get lost in the hype."

Harrison was nudging 30 when he turned pro. In boxing terms, Big Josh is still a baby, but at 6ft 6in and a trim 16½ stone, he has vital commodities for greatness; good hand speed, a stunning punch, charm to match his Ali-like looks, a highly marketable personality and importantly a genuine feel for the game.

He can certainly dish it out but the multi-million dollar question is whether he can take it on the chin. A good whack on the whiskers has put paid to many a heavyweight hopeful's dream.

Ask David Price, the Beijing 2008 bronze medallist whose unblemished career as British champion was twice brutally derailed by the ancient American ex-contender Tony Thompson.

A pugilist from Puglia, not a noted puncher, is unlikely to provide an instant answer but seems a reasonable enough choice for openers in a scheduled six-rounder. Hearn says he had trouble finding someone suitable for the first of Joshua's four planned fights this year. "There were a few squeaky bums whenever we mentioned Josh's name."

The British-born son of Nigerian parents, as a kid Joshua was a talented footballer, and can still run 11 seconds for the 100 metres, a natural fleet-footedness which should help keep him out of harm's way.

With youthful gremlins out of the way - he once did community service for a minor drugs offence - Joshua says helping out the homeless in home town Watford mentally prepares him for battles in life and the ring.

Seoul 1988 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medallist and former World Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is helping advise Anthony Joshua ahead of his professional debut

Lewis, with whom he is regularly in touch, has reminded him that he may be a champion, but now has to be a contender again. He has also taught him how chess relates the ring. "In particular how to counter attack and think two steps ahead of your opponent."

Lewis may be his mentor, but his idol is Muhammad Ali. When Hearn signed him on a three-year deal Joshua's first request was "Can you arrange for me to meet Ali."

"Yeah, hang on a minute," said Hearn."I'll give him a buzz..."

But Josh hopes one day it will happen.