How would Povetkin do in the 90's?

At his juiced up peak, destroys:
Morrison
Jorge Luis Gonzales
Botha
Golota
Briggs
Bruno
Seldon

Probably beats:
99 Tyson
Ruddock
Foreman
Tua
Byrd
Mercer
Tucker
Witherspoon (90s)

Toss up:
Ike
Moorer
Sanders

Probably loses:
Holyfield
Bowe
91 Tyson

Loses wide:
Vitali
Late 90s Lewis

 

Unpopular opinion but i think Ruddock before the Lewis fight goes 50/50 against Povetkin. he went to war with Tyson who can be seen as a better version of Povetkin in every way and lost to pre Emanuel Steward Lewis who even then is a level or 2 above Povetkin

 

Not very well.

Ray Mercer dominates him.

 

He lasted against Tyson and landed a few shots lets not pretend Ruddock pushed Mike at all or went on a rampage like Mercer.

 

It wasn't him boxing Tyson and going the distance he swapped hands with Tyson and even stunned him a few times. Landed a "few shots" ? No

 

I like Povetkin but that is utter BS. He would not have a 50/50 chance against those 3. Lewis beats him comfortably

 

Neither really put the foot on the gas. He traded hands and was dropped and had his jaw broken he had a good chin no doubt but Mike worked him over easy from what I saw taking a few good shots from a big puncher on the way, but none the less it was a workman effort and he did what he had to do with only a bit of trouble.

 

On one hand, the PED market has become much more sophisticated in recent years than it was in the 1990s with more ‘designer’ steroids with more specific enhancements than just ‘pump-you-up’ muscle mass substances. So he wouldn’t have access to the kind of things he’s been taking his whole career.

On the other hand, testing wasn’t as sophisticated so he might not get caught.

But some people were caught, so there’s always that chance.

I see him getting a big WBO win over someone but it being overturned and changed to a no contest.

Then he probably gets disappeared by the Russian mafia for letting them down.

 

I don’t think he does well in the 90s - razor ruddock - ray mercer - tim Witherspoon - mike Tyson - riddick bowe - lennox Lewis - Michael moorer - I don’t think povetkin beats any of. The above / probably a top 5 fighter in the 90s but never winning a belt

 

You sure about ruddock v povetkin ?

 

All I care about are the beautiful wars he'd have against Holyfield and Tyson.

Who he beats? Depends on the timing. The 90s was an erratic decade, and Povetkin was a super consistent steady fighter into his late 30s. He could very well beat Bowe, Lewis, Holyfield, and Tyson if he catches them on the right night. Or very well lose to all four of he catches them at the wrong time.

How he does in the 90s in an overall sense? Very well. He wouldn't dominate but he would do very well, would certainly capture an ABC title or two, maybe could briefly be the top dog before someone flares up. He's in the mix with the best.

 

He would do pretty well.
1. I pick him over all WBO belt holders except Mercer and Bowe (which means he beats Morrison, Akiwande, Bent, Hide).
2. Moorer is 50/50 but Moorer probably wins a decision.
3. Outbox Foreman.
4. Lost to Holyfield and Lewis but beat post-Holyfield Tyson.
5. The new blood: beat Golota, Maskaev, Rahman,Tua, Sanders. Ibeabuchi I'm not sure. Prime Byrd probably win a decision (the version Povetkin beat is ruined by Wlad).

 

I rate Povetkin I think he'd be competitive in any era. His technique and skill set is problematic, the way he drops the left shoulder and then from that position can fire off a variety of punches from that same position makes it hard to defend against him as it could be a arcing right over your jab, a left hook to head or body or that uppercut that KO'ed Whyte. You have to either have the size and reach to keep him at a distance or the speed get off first and then get out of the way as you don't want to fight inside with him.

Lewis beats him barring Lewis taking him lightly. He tended to do well vs shorter fighters and can see Lewis' uppercut being Povetkin's undoing. He controls him with the left hand using jabs, collar ties, stiff arming him and pulls him into his uppercut for the KO.

Holyfield as is his tendency gets into a war with Povetkin. I favour Evander with his speed, footwork and work rate to come out on top but it's a close fight where he struggles at times but he beats Povetkin to the punch too often and wins a decision.

Tyson is one of the only guys who could trade with Povetkin. I think Povetkin gives him a tough fight but Tyson is just a little bit better at everything, a bit faster, hits harder, better defence, etc. Technically on par at least if we're talking early 90's Tyson, that version probably beats Povetkin by KO but if were talking mid 90's Tyson or late 90's Tyson his technique had declined enough that Povetkin could take him.

Bowe I think has the most trouble out of the big 4, despite being a super heavy with the size to keep Povetkin at range, he'd give up his size and trade too often with Povetkin. His lack of defence, his slow feet, he's exactly the type of opponent that Povetkin's style was designed to cut down, I think Bowe would get hit a lot in this fight, probably hurt more than once, maybe even goes down. But Bowe at his best was formidable and his heart was immense as the Golota and Holyfield fights showed, he would hang tough and could out work Povetkin. Bowe might have enough to out tough Povetkin if were talking Bowe from Holyfield 1 but any other version probably loses a close fight.

Moorer obviously a good fighter but we know he blows hot and cold mid fight. That would be costly vs Povetkin and I think Moorer's susceptible chin gets exposed again some time during the fight and Povetkin KO's him.

Mercer is a 50/50 fight for me. Mercer is so damn tough, has a great jab but always fought in spurts but Povetkin probably lacks the consistent work rate himself to out work him. Close fight goes to the cards, hard to pick a winner but Mercer probably loses a decision in a close fight.

Ruddock from the Tyson fights would be a tough fight any other later version gets KO'ed. But I give the edge to Povetkin vs the Tyson version, his tendency to drop to his left to set up most of his attacks takes him away from the smash and I think his counters will eventually break Ruddock down.

Bruno gets KO'ed would be like Tyson 1 all over again, he's too slow, too easy to get too.

Morrison gives it a go but he of course gets caught and KO'ed brutally.

Foreman if were talking the one Holyfield fought would be a tough proposition. Povetkin isn't Holyfield doesn't have the speed of hand and foot and would go right at Foreman, I could see Foreman manhandling Povetkin. But as long as Povetkin doesn't walk into a bomb he should be able to win a decision but this is a very dangerous fight for Povetkin from a style perspective, wouldn't shock me if Foreman hung in there and slowly but surely turned things around and scored a shocking late round KO upset.

 

He'd be a step behind the top four, giving the three Americans relatively better, more competitive fights. Holyfield, I feel, was a tad too fast with his combinations, and would win a battle of attrition. Bowe could put forth an improved performance opposite a fighter in the same mold of the Holyfield he faced in '92, but then again, might struggle with Sasha's greater bulk and punching power. It would be hard-going for Tyson on the inside for a while, but he eventually scores the stoppage, hurting Povetkin to the body. While I see the case for Lennox winning by knockout, I think it's likelier Lewis boxes to a decision victory.

He's on the level of Tua and Ibeabuchi. Those two fights could have been as fun to watch as their fight with each other.

On the rung below that, he's a half-step ahead of Rahman and Mercer, in my estimation. Both might belong with Tua and Ike, come to think of it, but I think they've got less of a chance against Povetkin head-to-head.