Atlas cancelled the fight because his giant ego could never handle his boy getting crushed by Wlad. That's all their is to it. Atlas is only concerned about Atlas.
So I wonder if this was really Teddy backing out, after all the times he talked about how beatable the K bros are. He perped like he knew their every weakness, and could almost beat them himself.( if you only heard him talk.atsch) Well, I never believed Povetkin was all that anyway, and his record is evidence of such. He doesnt fight much, and when he does it's rarely with a top guy. His win over Byrd was unexpected, but Byrd himself was half the fighter he was a year prior. Styles make fights, and Chambers style just doesn't beat Povetkin. They guy could do himself and his career a great favor by fighting Dimtrenko, Solis, Adamek, and Valuev. If he win those 4 fights next, perhaps he could get in there with a K bro and compete. But we'll never know since he's not gonna fight more than once every 18 months, or at least so it seems.
No one is really ready for a Klitschko. Those guys are heads and shoulders above the rest. Povetkin has been the #1 contender for years now.
Povetkin ducked Dimitrenko (would've served as good experience preparing for Wlad). Povetkin ducks Wlad now because he's not ready. Gee I wonder why? Fighting Leo Nolan, Taurus Sykes and the like (and not even beating them in spectacular fashion) hasn't prepared him for anything. Teddy may have saved him from the slaughterhouse, but his reputation as a live prospect/contender is shot at this point. What a waste.
You make a great point, but Wlad will be retired before all that happens. Povetkin can just wait around until Wlad retires. I doubt Vitali will be fighting much longer. The Klitschko's won't be like Holmes, Tyson, or Holyfield when it comes to fighting on much longer than they should. They don't need the money. They can quit whenever they feel like it and be financially set. Povetkin can sit on an "heir apparent" title until some new face comes along who can challenge him for it. He'll never be ready for a Klitschko. I agree. Deep down inside, Teddy Atlas knows he ain't ready yet. It took honesty to admit that. To be honest, Atlas hasn't had that much time with Povetkin. Let's just hope he gets in there with Wlad someday. Heavyweight boxing will need someone to take over by beating the man on top before he retires.
Flyin Ryan said it best especialy 1-6. : 1. Then why enter the eliminator tournament to begin with 3 years ago? 2. Why did he sign once to fight in December 2008 only to get injured running? Was that a fake injury to get out of the fight you're insinuating? 3. Why didn't he face competition over the past two and a half years that could better prepare for him for his title shot? 4. Why did he even bother going through pre-fight negotiations if he intended to not fight? 5. Why did he ask Wlad he wanted Olympic drug testing? 6. Why did his side go through with a purse bid? 7. Why didn't they cancel prior to the presser announcing the fight officially? 8. Why didn't he call the IBF and said "take away my mandatory challenger status" at some point in the last two and a half years"? 9. If he's not ready to fight now, when will he ever be? After Wlad retires? 10. Since he's not fighting Wlad, who's he going to fight next?
Atlas is not good for Povetkin. Povetkin is too old to change. Povetkin lost his confidence with Atlas.
then he shouldnt have went theough the motions with letting his people set up press conferences and setting dates for venues...thats why...sinus infection....my ass....he deserves everyhing hes getting....let him go fight javier mora in a rematch in 8 months.....and see how he uses the extra time to get ready atsch
Superb amateur career, golden medal, and then 5 years as a pro. I do not think ge will get any better (and, judging by his last performances, he stopped improving). I agree he has almost no chance against Wlad, but it has nothing to do with "being ready", rather with his style and so on. Taking challenges is important part of boxing... and this may be something Povetkin is indeed not ready for.
Its not about Povetking being ready because this as best as he is going to get. Its about Klitschko not in decline yet.