Klitschko vs. Povetkin

By Eric Thomas: IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) is looking forward to handing unbeaten WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) his first loss this Saturday in their huge Eastern European showdown at the Olimpiyskiy, in Moscow, Russia.

Both fighters are former super heavyweight Olympic Gold medalists. Wladimir won his gold medal in the 1996 Olympics for Ukraine, and Povetkin got his in the 2004 Olympics for Russia.

Wladimir, 6’6”, is the much taller, quicker, stronger and more experienced fighter than the 6’2” Povetkin. That doesn’t mean that Wladimir will win the fight, because he’s had problems in the past in facing pressure fighters like Ross Puritty, Lamon Brewster and Samuel Peter.

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By Dan Ambrose: Next Saturday night in Moscow, Russia, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) has a decent test in WBA champion Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) on October 5th. For Wladimir, this could a really easy fight because Povetkin is small, slow, not powerful and he lacks stamina to fight hard without gasping for breath.

Povetkin has never been in with anyone half as good as Wladimir, and this is going to be a huge step up for the 34-year-old Povetkin. He probably would have been beaten long ago had he fought good opponents.

It’s really been a long time since Povetkin was in with a good opponent because the last 5 years, Povetkin’s promoters have been taking it easy on him by putting him in with weak opposition.

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(Photo credit: KMG) By Allan Fox: IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) doesn’t want to let WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) hang around too long next month in their fight on October 5th at the Olimpiyskiy, in Moscow, Russia. Wladimir has a history of chin problems when facing an opponent with good power and an ability to apply a lot of pressure on him. Povetkin has good power and he’s very good at pressuring his opponents.

Wladimir said “He [Povetkin] is the best opponent I’ve ever had. My goal is to win the fight by KO.”

It’s tough to make an argument that Povetkin is better than past Wladimir opponents like Corrie Sanders, David Haye or Tony Thompson. All three of those guys would have been favored against Povetkin had they fought him. Even some of Wladimir’s past opponents like Samuel Peter, Ross Puritty, and Lamon Brewster would have been very tough outs for Povetkin.

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By Eric Thomas: HBO has decided that the October 5th fight between IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) and WBA heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) is worthy enough to be televised live in the United States.

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By Rusty Nate: The 10th of April 2004 was the date that Wladimir Klitschko last tasted the bitterness of defeat by way of a 5th round KO to Lamon Brewster in the bright lights of Las Vegas.

That was nearly 10 years ago now. Since that faithful night, when Wladimir was apparently advised by big brother Vitali to quit the sport because “your career is over”, Wladimir has amassed a long list of 18 uninterrupted victories over every fighter that has had the guts to stand in the ring with him. He has rarely been in a fight that looked like he could even come close to losing.

Every “big” fight he has had, usually billed as the next big test at heavyweight has simply drifted by him as another convincing victory with very little problems to the king of the division.

My questions are…

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By Eric Thomas: The Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) vs. Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) fight on October 5th has been officially confirmed for Moscow’s Olympic Stadium in Russia, according to Sky Sports. Wladimir,37, will be defending his IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight titles against WBA World heavyweight champion Povetkin.

This fight will see both fighters getting career high paydays. Wladimir has been making good money for many years with his various heavyweight titles, but nothing like the money he’ll be getting this fight. Wladimir will be getting $17,499,997, while Povetkin will receive $5,833,333.

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By Allan Fox: The October 5th heavyweight title clash between IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) and WBA champ Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) could wind up being televised live on HBO in the United States. The fight will be staged at Olimpiyskiy, in Moscow, Russia.

This means the Wladimir vs. Povetkin fight would end up being televised in the afternoon on HBO if it’s truly going to be televised live.

Dan Rafael of EPSN said on his twitter “I’m told HBO Boxing is in process of finalizing deal for US rights for Wladimir Klitschko-Alexander Povetkin on 10/5. Would air fight live.”

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By Eric Thomas: IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) and WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) have reportedly agreed to terms for a fight on October 5th at the Olimpiyskiy, in Moscow, Russia. The negotiations had dragged out for months before finally the two sides agreeing to make the fight happen. There was too much money on the table for the fight not to happen.

The fight will pit two former Olympic gold medalists, Wladimir, the Ukrainian gold medalist, and Povetkin, the Russian gold medalist, against each other in Moscow.

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By Eric Thomas: Bernd Boente, the manager for IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s), is reporting that they’ve agreed to contract terms with WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) for a fight on October 5th at the Olimpiyskiy, in Moscow, Russia, according to boxingnews.com.ua.

The only thing that they’re waiting for now is the approval from the World Boxing Association. However, if the WBA stalls in making a decision or if they say no to the fight, then Wladimir will go ahead and fight someone else in September.

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