News: Dimitrenko Wants Povetkin Bout

By Erik Schmidt: Number #1 ranked IBF and WBO heavyweight contender Alexander Dimitrenko (29-0, 19 KOs) wasn’t the least impressed with former 2004 Olympic heavyweight Gold Medalist Alexander Povetkin’s (17-0, 12 KOs) recent 10-round unanimous decision victory over Jason Estrada last weekend and wants a fight with Povetkin with the winner to move forward for a fight against IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko.

Dimitrenko felt that Povetkin wasn’t in shape for his fight with Estrada and should have been able to take out a fighter like Estrada inside the distance. Based on how Povetkin looked against Estrada, Dimitrenko says that he’s not ready to face Wladimir Klitschko and needs to fight him instead.

If everything goes right, Dimitrenko could be Povetkin’s next opponent in June. Dimitrenko’s management is looking into making the fight happen, and Povetkin has a long wait for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko, who will be taking on British heavyweight David Haye on June 20th in Germany. Even if Wladimir does beat Haye, a fight against Povetkin still won’t happen until late 2009.

Dimitrenko, 6’7″ 250 pounds, originally from Ukraine and now living in Germany, has thus far in his career mowed down his opposition in Germany. At 26, Dimitrenko has been brought up slowly and has mostly lesser B class opponents to date. He recently has defeated Timo Hoffmann, Derric Rossy and Luan Krasniqi in his last three bouts, all by knockouts. Dimitrenko’s power isn’t on the level of Vitali or Wladimir Klitschko, but his overall skills are better.

Dimitrenko has a more versatile offense showing the ability to fight on the inside with uppercuts, short hooks as well as the ability to fight on the outside with his powerful jabs, left hooks and straight right hands. Dimitrenko’s ability to move is like a fast moving light heavyweight rather than a much bigger heavyweight.

Dimitrenko leaps around the ring with excellent athleticism and shows multiple looks. Dimitrenko hasn’t shown stamina issues like other larger heavyweights like the Klitschko brothers, and tends to fight well for the duration of his fights. His one problem may be his tendency to go to war with his opponents on the inside where he gives up his height and fights out of anger when hit hard. However, Dimitrenko has an excellent uppercut which reminds one of a younger Lennox Lewis and Riddick Bowe.

Dimitrenko looked impressive taking out Krasniqi in a 3rd round stoppage in November 2008, blasting him out with a huge body shot that left Krasniqi too hurt to get up and continue fighting.

Right now, I’d pick Dimitrenko easily defeat a fighter like Haye, who would be too small to land anything against the huge Ukrainian. Dimitrenko has an excellent chin and took the best shots from then hard hitting Ross Puritty, in an 8-round decision win over Puritty five years ago in 2004. Puritty previously stopped Wladimir Klitschko in a 11th round TKO in 1998.

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