http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3464731566923889550 For those that didn't see it this is the entire Povetkin vs Donald fight.
Povetkin won every round and I liked his speed and improved defense. However, what happened to the body-punching? I think in his previous fights going for the body worked quite well for him.
I think he let the moment get to him a bit and might have been aiming for the KO. He does do some good body work though, and he had Donald pretty hurt in the 8th.
Quality work. He felt him out in the first then turned up the heat. He made it a young mans fight and Donald couldn't hack it. That wasn't a young Donald though. Larry has greatly deterioated since his youth. He doesn't move much, I'm guessing to conserve energy. He probably doesn't feel as nimble as he used to. Nevertheless, right leads, leaping left hooks, good work downstairs, hands high, good pace, it was all there. Still, talent wise Povetkin doesn't present anything special. Maybe he has hidden talent in the form of intangiables i.e. strength and power. A great chin and excellent stamina would really assist him. You look at him and he appears small. He isn't but you do struggle to see him walking down Wlad like that. Nevertheless he just has to keep showing he has more in him. A bit like Cotto. His work is solid and think he has some hidden moves on the inside and downstairs. His amateur background speaks for itself. Like Audley said they don't give away gold medals. Though I don't remember Povetkins era being very tough, he did it for too long for his amateur legacy to be a fluke. Plus he was an offensive minded guy in an amateur era of human fencing. So for him to do what he has is impressive. It would be wise for Povetkin to moved smartly. I think his progress is great and Cotto like. He is fighting different styles and learning. It appears they want him to make that super jump soon. Given the division he probably could do it minus Wlad and Vitali. Outside of them everyone is pretty ordinary. Wlad and Vitali do make you think they have a shot at greatness. A Chagaev, Maskaev and Ibrag certainly don't seem unbeatable for a Povetkin.
All time, they are beatable. Today, they can be beaten but not by many. For example they can lose but they will always be top3. Generally I would expect Wlad to Vitali to dominate the heavyweight division. Vitali has always been quite injury prone, he has two losses via injury and has had to pull out of fights and have time off because of injury. Wlad will always be stoppable - three times ain't no lie. In saying this Vitali and Wlad know what they have now and they have nurtured it well. When they are 'on' I would expect them to beat everyone else in the division. I expect Vitali to beat McCline then Peter. I also expect Wlad to beat Brewster then Ibrag/Chagaev. They will then own the four major belts between them!
Povetkin is just a very good fighter. His workrate is very good and his work as a whole is top level i.e. offence and defence. I think his major issue is talent and assets i.e. height, reach, strength, speed, power etc I am hopeful that he will show us some hidden things in strength, power, chin etc I think he is smart and very strong mentally. He always fights clever and must be a confident guy to fight the guys he is at such an early stage.
