He was never THE CHAMPION but he picked up a WBA belt at some point. Probably means more to him than us fans though.
A good but not great boxer who never came close to winning a world title. LOL at the mugs in here thinking that the WBA (regular) is a world title. How many times have we been over this? He was battered by Wladimir Klitschko who also held, pushed and used the referee to his advantage. He was then pummelled and outclassed by Anthony Joshua. I have a lot of respect for Povetkin because he was a blatant hot sauce user and didn't give monkeys. The reason all other boxers had so much respect for him is because they all are too. He knocked out Whyte in devastating fashion after looking like he was going to be the one knocked out. He wasn't at his best in that bout and he wasn't at his best in the second. Whyte got complacent and paid the price but is a much more formidable boxer than Povetkin ever was. Overrated, despite being my favourite boxer of all time alongside Vitali Klitschko.
Good. Like others said, he should have done it after the first fight, but I guess he wanted to toss the dice once more. Anyway, surefire HOFer, and one of the best non-champion HWs of the current age. Very exciting throwback style as well, and managed to keep himself relevant in the scene for over a decade despite often being oversized by his opponents. Yes, the shadow of PEDs will always taint his career, but frankly that's just a reality in today's day and age and not something to be dwelled on. Hope he saved enough money for his retirement, and didn't take too many bad knocks that will affect him in later years.
Definitely looked vulnerable since his fight vs Price, after suffering Covid and with his age, there is nothing to prove anymore. Smart decision.
This content is protected Amateur record 125-7 all 7 losses avenged August 2004 Olympic games Athens 1st place February 2004 European championship Pula 1st place November 2003 24th Copenhagen cup Copenhagen 1st place July 2003 World amateur championships Banghok 1st place May 2003 Russian championship Ulyanovsk 2nd place April 2003 22nd Gee Bee tournament Helsinki 1st place March 2003 International competition Warsaw 1st place February 2003 54th Strandja Cup Plovdiv 1st place November 2002 Russian championship Vladivostok 1st place October 2002 International tournament Warsaw 1st place July 2002 European championship Perm 1st place May 2002 Russian championship Rostov 1st place March 2002 International tournament Rome 1st place February 2002 53rd Strandja Cup Plovdiv 1st place November 2001 Oil cup Nizhne-Vartovsk 1st place October 2001 International tournament "Gold Ring" Podolsk 1st place September 2001 Goodwill games Brisbane 1st place June 2001 World amateur championships Belfast 5th place March 2001 Russian championship Saratov 1st place March 2001 International tournament Halle 2nd place November 2000 Russian championship Samara 1st place March 2000 Russian Cup Perm 3rd place Before that he enjoyed a successful kickboxing career too. Kickboxing competition record June 2000 European championships (professional) Nicosia 1st place November 1999 W.A.K.O. World Championships 1999 Caorle 1st place May 1998 Baltic countries cup Kaliningrad 1st place September 1997 World Junior championship (under 19) Moscow 1st place Povekin has stepped foot into a boxing ring a combined 172 times amateur and pro and prior to Whyte who he obviously beat in their first fight only 2 of his 9 losses had gone unavenged and both of them were against fellow Olympic gold medalists who were way bigger, longer and heavier than him and were three-belt unified champions and the #1 ranked HWs in the world. And only Wlad beat him in his prime and he was allowed to get away with a scandalous amount of holding and mauling and he was 39 y/o and way past his best albeit still formidable when he lost to the much younger AJ in his backyard. Wlad and AJ are the only two fighters he ever fought in a boxing ring amateur and pro who he doesn't hold a win over himself vs Wlad Povetkin 225¾ - Wlad 241¾ Povetkin 6'2'' - Wlad 6'6'' Povetkin 75'' reach - Wlad 81'' Povetkin - 34 - Wlad 37 vs AJ Povetkin 222 - AJ 245¼ Povetkin 6'2'' - AJ 6'6'' Povetkin 75'' reach - AJ 82'' reach Povetkin 39 - AJ 28 Whyte had a lot of weight and reach on him too (Whyte's listed reach is nonsense) 28 and 19 pounds respectively and obviously he was way younger and in his prime too whereas Povektin was shot to bits. His last six fights Price in the UK AJ in England Hughie Fury in England Michael ''The Bounty'' Hunter in Saudi Whyte in England Whyte in Gibraltar *Povetkin agreed to rematch Whyte in the UK but the fight got switched to Gibraltar due to Covid* Fantastic career and fighter and a certified warrior
Might be the most watchable HW of last 20 years or so. Aside from the fights against Wlad, Firtha and Hughie Fury, I’d be okay with rewatching any one of his fights during a free time. Him having a much better combination punching and countering skills than your average HW contender, in addition to having a great punch variety and being easy to hit almost always delivered good scraps. Not sure about HOF though, not when guys like Chris Byrd, Jerry Quarry, David Tua, Shavers, Mercer aren’t in either. All the best for the future, in any case.
Great breakdown of the man, Serge. I never really paid too much attention to him and always felt that he allowed Teddy Atlas to emasculate him, but your post shines a completely different light on Sasha. Hopefully he has saved his hard earned money and can enjoy his retirement gracefully.
You think differently because you value professional boxing belts very highly, at HW this sadly is thing where these champs fights at the best 2 times per 1 year, sometimes 1 fight per 1 calendar year and pro boxing does have xx orgs and 4 from them are more well known. Each from them does have their champs and belts and ranking. While Olympic champ is 1 alone for 4 year cycle and am world champ is 1 alone in this ONE year. Nobody ELSE. Without clauses, months longs negotiations and things like this. He does have value for achievements like Foreman. Both of them more values their Olympic Gold medals. This is what this is here. In so called " amateurs " you fight every one put in the front of you and everywhere you should to fight with them.
yeah, some 3 fights before his fight vs AJ he looked over the hill for sure. If bear in mind that he had competed at world elite level since late teen years, this already was Father Time here. I think he should had retired at least after fight vs Price.
He has been on the slide for the last couple of years so a pretty good decision. He should be happy with his career. Olympic medalist, World Champion and plenty of pay days. Hopefully though history doesn't forget his failed drug tests.