He and/or his team ducked the fight against Wlad Klit for more than a year. He is still fighting the kind of opposition of his 5-10th fight what was good at the time but brings him nothing today. What is next for the former golden medal winner?
It's too bad these up and comers don't have many challenges that prepare you for a Klit size and skill. They can only come up on guys similar in size to them.
But there are a lot of fighters who could fight Povetkin to prepare him for such a fight or for a titleshot. He is fighting B or B+fighters now but someone as McCline, Valuev, Solis could teach him a thing or two.
Atlas will continue to tell Povetkin to take certain fights until Atlas feels he is ready for the next level.... problem is Atlas will quit or be fired before the plan is finished
As long as they are honest about reasons to duck Wlad, I don't see a problem in doing so.. i respect it, but he has to step up. His last four fights dosen't do anything good for him... I hoped for him to fight Peter, but now when it won´t happend, I hope for Valuev, Chagaev or Adamek... In a few years, I hope to see Povetkin vs Solis, but not now, they both need to be bigger names in the sport...
If Peter pulls off the major upset, I can totally see Povetkin's dumbass demanding to be reinstated as the mandatory again.
He should fight Haye or Adamek. Povetkin, Adamek and Haye are probably the 3 best HWs in the world not named Klitschko, there is no reason they shouldn't be fighting each other.
He could fight for the Heavyweight Championship of the world. And Atlas said "he is not ready"? Povetkin is 31 years old, he should reitre from professional boxing. Two time he had the greatest chance a professional boxer can have and Povetkin said "no". Retire.