By Eric Thomas: WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17 KO’s) has decided to slip in a stay busy tune-up fight against little known fringe contender Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-0, 13 KO’s) this Friday night at the Crocus City Hall, in Moscow, Russia.
This is a fight that is supposed to get the 6’2” Povetkin ready for a huge money showdown against the 6’6” IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko this summer, but it’s doubtful that the 6’5” Wawrzyk will be any kind of preparation for what Povetkin will be facing this summer when he gets in the ring with Wladimir.
Povetkin and Wladimir will be facing each other on August 31st, and Povetkin will receive a big payday of $5,833,333, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN, while Wladimir received a career-high payday of $17,499, 997.
Wladimir already had his easy tune-up this month in destroying the 6’5” Francesco Pianeta, who has a fighting style nothing like Povetkin. Neither of these tune-ups opponents is really helping either of these guys.
Wawrzyk is tall like Wladimir, but he’s slow, weak and he doesn’t move well. He’s arguably a step down from Pianeta, but Povetkin would be making a mistake if he were to face anyone talented because the risk would be too high of him losing because he’s not a great champion.
Povetkin should be able to destroy Wawrzyk fairly easily. Wawrzyk tends to cover up like a sparring partner when he’s met with any kind of aggression from his opponents.
Wawrzyk’s got an unbeaten record because he’s never faced anyone remotely good. His best win was over Denis Bakhtov last June in a 10 round unanimous decision in a fight that was more competitive than the judges scores.
Povetkin can’t blow in this fight because he’ll lose out on the big payday against Wladimir. He’s had opportunities in the past to fight the tall Ukrainian but he’s failed to take them. This one he won’t pass up. This is going to be a huge fight no matter where it’s staged. They can put this fight in Russia, and it’ll be huge, but it’ll likely end up taking place in Germany.
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