It would be a very bad idea for Povetkin. Right now, Povetkin has a title shot locked up. Arreola would be a huge risk for Povetkin. There's really no point in Povetkin fighting Arreola now. For the time being, Povetkin needs two good tune-ups, then he should move directly into the title fight. If Povetkin loses the title fight, then he should fight Arreola...but not before then.
The problem Povetkin has right now apart from inactivity (that can be solved) is finding the right opponents to help prepare him. He's fought a lot of smaller men, similar size to himself, that are very athletic and fast. Eddie Chambers, Chris Byrd, Jason Estrada, Larry Donald. Never has he fought a truely big puncher, or a much taller opponent.
I'm thinking the same thing. Most of the fighters he's fought as far as I know have been short fat guys like Chambers, Estrada ect. That doesn't prepare him for Klitschko well. I also would like to see him fight a tall, athletic HW, but who other than Vitaly or Wlad fits that description?
I'm unsure. A big brute that punches hard would be a start, even if he's not very good. Maybe Rahman or Maskaev who is highly rated by a certain organisation, they can both punch hard but don't offer too much else at this stage. Tony Thompson is a tall guy that likes to use the jab. Being southpaw isn't much of a help but he at least poses a few of the problems.
I would pick chambers in the rematch against povetkin....plus, I have a feeling povetkin is "chinny" at this point if he faces a big puncher...
Why do you have that feeling? My concern is the fact he always gets hit with right hands, rather than being chinny. Being easily hit is not good in the heavyweight division. Povetkin beat Chambers easy IMO. I had it to him by 8 rounds to 4. The only way I could see that being reversed is if Povetkin jumped straight into it without getting a few fights beforehand. It's okay looking good against a guy like Sam Peter that can't box and Dimitrenko who was unproven and turned out to be a *****, but Povetkin is a lot better.
I had it 116-112 povetkin as well aginst chambers.....but chambers had success early....chambers to me has shown significant improvement since that fight, along with a beter work ethic....I dont know if anybody has noticed, but povetkin's face swells bad, like a bruised banana....thats why I have a hunch against either Klitschko or a big puncher he could go down....
This is probably the answer right here. It's probably just a matter of sharpness and not eroded talent.
Exactly. He appears to have realized that he would have ZERO chance against Wlad if he fought like he did against Estrada and Chambers. Povetkin realized he needs to fight way above his current potential. I am curious what Atlas is trying to do with him.
that is what I meant by him being slower; his handspeed has greatly slowed down it seems. To me at least.
Dimitrenko is a good boxer and a tough opponent. On-topic, Povetkin is not slower he's just been inactive, also the leg injury has slowed him down a bit.
Just rewatched Estrada/Povetkin...granted this fight was not one to go by when determining Povetkin's handspeed, but still...I remember the fights between Povetkin and both Chambers and Sykes, and I must say I still think he has slowed down handspeed-wise.
He just looked slow and sluggish period, with the exception of his late round rally. However, it was enough to dispose of Estrada.
True enough. I have no quarrel with Povetkin. Good fighter in my eyes. Just had to bring up this observation.