POVETKIN by stoppage or unanimous decision?

would like to see povetkin prevail - but at the same time find it funny to see the forums tomorrow if old man byrd pulls it off

 

Povetkin by TKO ref mercy stoppage in the 8th round.

 

It could happen & it wouldn't be too shocking since Byrd has the clear advantage in experience.

 

Povetkin isn't exactly a big puncher and considering Byrd has a decent chin UD is a safe bet. Povetkin would only stop Byrd if he is really past it.

 

Povetkin would have a near 100% KO percentage if he fought easy fights like most fighters do for their first 20 or so fights! Povetkin didnt take the Sam Peter route knocking out micky mouse, glass chinned fighters, and building an impressive KO record against poor opposition. It really built Peter's power hype up that he has yet to ever match against a real opponent yet. And it was just that hype, Peter has power no doubt , but it was vastly over-exagerated.

Larry Donald is very difficult to KO, it has been done only once and took Vitali Klitschko 11 rounds! Stopping a durable fighter like Friday Ahunaya in only a 6 round fight is very difficult to achieve. Povetkin can punch, I ensure you.

 

this is the truth. A knowledgeable post.

 

weigh in weights since I didn't see it mentioned.

Byrd at about 211. He is a couple of lbs lighter than recent outings, not a big deal.
Povetkin the usual 226 or so. Both seem to be in good shape.

 

You don't need to waste your time trying to convince me. I've followed Povetkin's career for years since his rise through the amateur ranks long before 99% of the people on this board ever heard about him. I know what he is and I know what he isn't. Of course he can punch, nobody on this kind of level can get that far without a punch. But it doesn't change the fact that he isn't a big puncher in terms of raw power compared to others.

 

I do not think he does.

 

Povetkin by UD!! Byrd hasn't won a fight convincibly in a long time and has got sum *gift decisions* he should step down to cruiserwieght he's too small.

WHERE can we WATCH THE FIGHT?? anyone know?

 

My feelings exactly. :nod

Most likely Povetkin wins a clear, but competitive, decision - but if Byrd is as "shot" as some allege, a stoppage is not out of the question.

 

Povetkin will do what a true young impressive HW should do and what someone like Ibragimov didn't do against an old fighter. He will dispose of Byrd in the mid-late rounds and maybe even earlier than the 6th.

I would be shocked if this went the full 12 and Byrd survived the consistent punishment. I wasn't very surprised that Donald went the full 12, mostly because his style is harder for Povetkin to work against, his chin is very good, and he was in full survivalist mode. Byrd has a solid chin, but Povetkin has Cotto-like power where he breaks fighters down and doesn't rely on single powershots. The very faded Byrd (who doesn't run and fights to win even when he's losing badly) will get broken down badly before the late rounds. I hope Byrd comes back and gets a few wins against someone like the loser of Brock/Chambers or Thompson, so the win on Povetkin's resume wasn't over a completely shot, inactive Byrd.

 

Motivation doesn't mean much when you're an old fighter against a young, hungry, skilled fighter with stylistic advantages over you. Look at Holyfield a few weeks ago. I don't think there's anyone more motivated than Holyfield and inside his head, he still thinks he's the best.. but look what happened to him. He was outclassed by a B/B+ level HW.

 

Povetkin by UD.