Prime Povetkin vs Zhang

This subject was done a week ago but Povetkin by late stoppage or UD after getting up off the deck once or twice. Zhang would be eating some NASTY combos all fight

 

I don't understand how Zhang destroyed The Juggernaut twice but lost to Parker.

 

Povetkin would KO any version of Zhang that we have seen so far

 

Styles make fights. Any fighter with good movement and stamina will cause Zhang problems after round 4. Joyce was a nice stationary target, perfect for Zhang.

 

Emperor Zang crushes Povetkin in under 3 rounds.

 

Really not that hard to put the pieces together. One moves his head and feet, the other doesn't.

 

This. And to my mind Povetkin is better an inside boxer than Parker. I wouldn't write Zhang off because he's actually a pretty good boxer with good timing and surprisingly fast for such a big man. But Povetkin was excellent at sucking up space and slipping punches up close. However, if Zhang takes a leaf out of Wlad's playbook and hugs Sasha to death I might favour him instead.

 

Parker could move and box, Joyce was unable to get out of the way.

Zhang could drop Parker whenever he landed he just couldn’t land often enough. Parker also had faster hands than Joyce and landed enough overhand rights to discourage Zhang from just running him over

 

This is an interesting matchup because I think both have a lot of good solid attributes, but also have their share of weaknesses

While I hate to be a chin guy and only analyze things based on that, I never really was quite sold on Povetkin and his ability to take a punch at the highest level. His defense is also leaky and he marks up

that said, he always had great stamina, despite being flabby and could have a high work rate and a good punch variety and plenty of power. I feel like smart money would be on Povetkin in this fight given his wealth of experience and that he’s more proven I think he would’ve beaten Parker and Hrgovic

Zhang seems to be the flavor of the month right now as far as heavyweights, and he fits the part. He has fast hands he is tall he is huge. He is an accurate puncher with plenty of power. My problem with him stems from the fact that he can’t fight 12 rounds hard. while I think his stamina was over exaggerated as an issue in the Parker fight. I feel like it is a major problem and he fights to conserve energy. I also think he has a hard time leading and that even if boxed intelligently he will always be dangerous, but can be severely limited and his punch output and thus outboxed . Almost reminds me of a bigger and more polished Corrie sanders. Dangerous for 5 rounds and then the risk factor falls off considerably

I think saying is completely capable of knocking Povetkin out I just don’t know if I would bet on it

 

Wlad didn't beat Povetkin because he hugged him. Wlad was simply better than him.

 

So I tend to agree with that. However Povetkin couldn't deal with the tying up very well and I see it as a bit of a hole in his game. Of course Zhang doesn't have a history of being a hugger; I'm theorizing as to how Zhang could slow the busy Povetkin down and wear him out.

 

Povetkin UD but remember he was a 6 round fighter before he started taking questionable stuff

 

It is hard to imagine Povetkin losing this. He is faster, more skilled, with a better gas tank. The only advantage Zhang has is power. But, he is too ponderous to land on Povetkin. If Parker can beat Zhang, Povetkin can box circles around him. I saw no evidence of a bad chin on Povetkin until he was way past prime.

 

Without the hugging I guess Povetkin.
But Zhang is massive compared so maybe he connects and finishes the job. Povetkin is tough though and he took some clean hits from Wlad and wobbled his way out of it.
I'm not sure Povetkin could KO him though.

It's a pretty interesting fight but Zhang was too busy avoiding all the challengers until 40, so it never happened. They're basically the same age.