Aleksandr Povetkin

Infobox Boxer


name = Aleksander Povetkin
realname = Александр Поветкин
nickname = Sasha/White Lion/Knight/Tsar (also spelled Zar)
weight = Heavyweight
height = height|ft=6|in=2
nationality = Russian
birth_date = Birth date and age|1979|9|2|mf=y
birth_place = Kursk, Russia
style = Orthodox
total = 16
wins = 16
KO = 12
losses = 0
draws = 0
no contests = 0

Aleksander Vladimirovich Povetkin ( _ru. Александр Владимирович Поветкин; born in Kursk, Soviet Union on September 2, 1979) is a Russian boxer. His height is 6' 2" (188 centimeters). Because of his amateur success, as well as his early pro accomplishments, he is seen as the leading contender in professional boxing's Heavyweight division.

Amateur

After a successful amateur kick boxing career that included winning World Junior championship in 1997, World title in 1999 and a European professional kickboxing title in 2000, Povetkin won his first major boxing tournament at the Russian Championships in 2000 at the age of 21. This would be the beginning of several major amateur tournaments Povetkin would go on to win including; the Good Will Games in Brisbane, Australia in 2001; the 34th European Championship in 2002; the XII World Championship in 2003 held in Thailand; and the 35th European Championship in 2004. His amateur success would culminate in winning the gold medal at super-heavyweight (>91 kg) boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, in a walkover match over Egyptian Mohamed Aly. After taking Olympic Gold, he concluded his amateur career with a record of 125-7, with all losses avenged. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3216321 Povetkin beats Chambers, earns shot at heavyweight title] ]

Amateur boxing competition record

Amateur Boxing Highlights

*2002 won the gold medal at the European Championships in Perm, Russia at Superheavyweight. Results were:
** Defeated Kurban Günebakan (Turkey) DISQ-2
** Defeated Bsisi Taufiq (Israel) RSCO-3
** Defeated Sebastian Kober (Germany) RSCH-4
** Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) PTS (20-16)

*2003 won the gold medal at the World Championships in Bangkok at Superheavyweight. Results were:
** Defeated Djamal Madjidov (Ukraine) KO-2
** Defeated Grzergorz Kielsa (Poland) PTS (20-9)
** Defeated Rustam Saidov (Uzbekistan) PTS (30-10)
** Defeated Pedro Carrion (Cuba) PTS (29-27)

*2004 won the gold medal at the European Championships in Pula, Croatia at Superheavyweight. Results were:
** Defeated Ivica Bacurin (Croatia) RSCO-3
** Defeated Vladimer Tchanturia (Georgia) WO
** Defeated Nikola Vujasinovic (Switzerland) RSCO-2 (21-0)
** Defeated Jaroslav Jaksto (Lithuania) RSCO-3
** Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) PTS (30-26)

*2004 won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens at Superheavyweight representing Russia. Results were:
** Defeated Sergey Rozhnov (Bulgaria) - RSC-4
** Defeated Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov (Kazakhstan) - PTS (31-15)
** Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) - PTS (31-19)
** Defeated Mohamed Aly (Egypt) - Aly retired in the match, due to an injured right hand.

Kickboxing competition record

Pro career

2005

After winning the gold medal, Povetkin took a year off before making the decision to turn pro. After meeting with several fight promoters, Povetkin signed a contract to fight for Sauerland Events. Unlike other promoters, Sauerland would allow Povetkin to train mainly in his native Russia, and fight primarily out of Germany. Povetkin made his professional debut in Germany June 11, 2005 by defeating German Muhammed Ali Durmaz by second round TKO. He followed that victory, in September, with a fourth round KO over Cerrone Fox and then by a first round KO over John Castle less than a month later. Although Castle was a last minute replacement for another fighter, who Povetkin did not know anything about, Povetkin was still able to defeat Castle in the first round. In November, Povetkin won a one-sided four round decision over Canadian Stephane Tessier and finished off the year by gaining a TKO in 5 win over American Willie Chapman in December.

2006

Povetkin stated early in the year that he wanted to fight five times in 2006. His first fight on his way of accomplishing this happened on March 4, 2006 when Povetkin scored a 2nd round TKO over Nigerian 1992 Olympic bronze medal winner Richard Bango. Though Bango had some success in the first round, Povetkin rallied, to not only win that round, but to knock out Bango in the next.

For his next fight, on April 22, Povetkin signed up for his most important fight up until that date by facing Friday Ahunanya. Povetkin vs. Ahunanya drew attention in the boxing community because Ahunanya was believed to be a tough opponent for someone with only six fights. Despite this, the fight was fairly one-sided and Povetkin won a by clear unanimous decision.

He followed up those wins with a third round KO in Hannover, Germany on June 3, 2006 against Ecuador's Livin Castillo, Povetkin's first south paw opponent, and a fifth round KO on September 23, 2006 against veteran American Ed Mahone in Wetzlar, Germany.

His final fight of the year was held on December 10 against ex-Cruiserweight title holder Imamu Mayfield. Mayfield became Povetkin's opponent after original opponent Ross Purrity was injured before the fight. It was Povetkin's first pro fight in his native Russia and was held on the undercard of Oleg Maskaev's first WBC title defense; the first time a heavyweight championship bout was held in Russia. Povetkin won this fight by way of a KO in the third round, bringing his total record to 10 wins in 10 fights by the end of the year.

2007

On March 3, 2007 Povetkin scored another TKO, this time over experienced American, David Bostice. The fight ended in the second round. Following that fight, Povetkin had a more of a stay busy fight, winning for the fifth straight time by KO, this time in the second round over Canada's Patrice L'Heureux.

Alexander Povetkin's next fight June 30 2007, was against experienced American contender, Larry Donald. Donald held victories over such illustrious figures as ex-champion Evander Holyfield as well narrowly losing his last fight prior to Povetkin, in a close decision to former belt holder Nicolay Valuev. Donald was considered, by many, to be a very good test for a prospect such as Povetkin, a test that Povetkin passed decisively, winning every round of the ten round confrontation (unanimous decision win).

This was the first time that Povetkin had gone the full distance of ten rounds in a professional boxing fight, though he did go ten rounds as a pro kick-boxer. The win over Donald was considered very solid and Povetkin continued his emergence as a promising heavyweight boxing contender.

IBF Tournament

In July, the International Boxing Federation (IBF) announced it had created a four person tournament to create a challenger for current IBF (and WBO) champion Wladimir Klitschko.

On October 27, 2007 Povetkin met former title holder Chris Byrd, who had lost his title to Klitschko the year before. Povetkin won the fight by way of an 11th round TKO victory. Byrd put up more resistance than Donald, but ultimately, was overwhelmed and his corner threw in the towel. Less than a week later, Eddie Chambers won a split decision victory over former title challenger Calvin Brock. This advanced both Povetkin and Chambers to the final round of the tournament. On January 26, 2008, Povetkin defeated Chambers by unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Klitschko, whom he will fight in light of Klitschko's victory over Thompson on July 12, 2008. On July 19, 2008, Povetkin defeated Taurus Sykes by knockout in the fourth round.

He will fight the WBO, IBF, and IBO Heavyweight Champion of the World, Wladimir Klitschko, on December, 13th.

Personal life

Povetkin has a wife, Irina, and a four-year old daughter named Arina. He also has a brother, Vladimir, who fights as a professional light heavyweight. Both fighters are trained by Valery Belov.

External links

* [http://alexander-povetkin.com/ The offical web site]
* [http://www.boxrec.com/record318081.html Boxing record]
* [http://www.povetkin.ru/index_e.html Personal page]

References