Alexander Povetkin
Alexander Povetkin (Russian Александр Владимирович Поветкин, born September 2, 1979 in Kursk, Soviet Union) is a Russian professional boxer in the heavyweight division and was (due to Wladimir Klitschko's WBA " super champion " status ) world champion on the version of the World Boxing Association.
Amateur
Even at the European Championship of Cadets ( ages U -17) Povetkin was antretend still in the light middleweight runner-up. Later he went on to the super heavyweight and was between 2001 and 2004 the world's most successful amateur boxer of this weight class. From 2000 to 2002, he was three times he lost consecutive Russian title in 2003 in the final Alexei Lesin.
Other achievements during this time were numerous international tournament winnings. He won, among others, two European Cup titles (2002 and 2004 in Perm in Pula), the World Championship title in 2003 in Bangkok, as well as the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. His record was depending on the source 125-7 or 125-20 with almost all the defeats at the beginning of the career.
Known opponents that he proposed, were Alexei Lesin, Roberto Cammarelle ( five wins), Muchtarchan Dildabekow, Sebastian Köber, Pedro Carrión, Islam Timursijew and Rustam Saidov.
Professional career
2005 Povetkin was taken in Germany by Wilfried Sauerland under contract, he was a great talent. His professional debut took place on 11 June 2005. After good performances in his first pro fight against little challenging construction opponents he defeated in his fifth fight Willie Chapman, who despite negative balance battle could produce notable knockout victories over DaVarryl Williamson and T. J. Wilson.
Powetkins next fight against Richard Bango, the Nigerian silver medalist of the Olympic Games in 1992, showed a boxe step further; Povetkin beat Bango in the second round knockout victory against The significant point Friday Ahunanya on 22 April 2006, which had directly fought before draw against Dominick Guinn and about 50 took place in the computer rankings, had to be arduously worked out.
In December 2006 he came to Moscow the American imamu Mayfield, former cruiserweight titlist who had defeated, among others, Peter Okhello 2002, the boxed at the same event against Oleg Maskajew for the WBC title. Then Povetkin boxed against the experienced American David Bostice, against Luan Krasniqi previously only a tedious point victory was well done and had gone with Calvin Brock about the distance, but was beaten by Wladimir Klitschko in two rounds. Povetkin made from the start pressure and won by technical knockout in the second round.
In his first appearance as the main fighter he won in June 2007 in Moscow a clear point decision against the 40-year veteran Larry Donald. Povetkin had to fight in his professional career over a distance of ten rounds in this duel for the first time. Povetkin won after winning a position in the top - 15 of the IBF Association, which enabled him to participate in an elimination tournament to determine the mandatory challenger of IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko. As part of this tournament, he defeated on 27 October 2007 in Erfurt, the former world champion Chris Byrd by technical knockout, as Byrd's father and trainer Joe Byrd had to cancel because of the lack of opportunity to fight in the eleventh round. Povetkin subsequently went on January 26, 2008 in Berlin against the unbeaten in previously thirty professional fights Eddie Chambers on, could also prevail against this by points and thus earned the top spot in the IBF world ranking and the right, the IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko allowed to challenge.
Since Wladimir Klitschko first nachkam a mandatory defense of his WBO title, the fight against the Ukrainians for December 13, 2008 in Mannheim was planned. In the meantime, Povetkin won in July 2008 in Chekhov another structure fight against Taurus Sykes in four rounds. In October 2008, Povetkin injured while preparing for the duel against Klitschko on his left ankle and had to cancel this appointment. He still retained his position as the mandatory challenger for the IBF title, and his rank and the right to be able to fight until 13 September 2009, at the IBF World Championship. This deadline was later extended after consultation with the IBF to 2010.
On April 4, 2009 Povetkin returned after injury and nine months of inactivity in the ring back and won in Dusseldorf against the U.S. American Jason Estrada, also Olympian in 2004 in the super heavyweight class, with some effort over ten rounds on points. He then joined the coach. The American Teddy Atlas, known as an ex- trainer of Mike Tyson and Michael Moorer, replaced Valeri Below.
As a result, Povetkin won two construction fights, against the Americans and the Mexicans Leo Nolan Javier Mora, in preparation for the World Championship fight against Klitschko each prematurely. End of March 2010, after a successful title defense Klitschko vs. Eddie Chambers, Povetkin and Klitschko were instructed by the IBF, to reach an agreement regarding the mandatory defense of the IBF title. After that did not work until the end of June, the battle was auctioned by the IBF. Klitschko's K2 Promotions earned this event the right with a bid of $ 8.3 million compared with a bid of $ 4.3 million by Sauerland Event; the fight should take place in the Frankfurt Commerzbank Arena on September 11. Since Povetkin, however, to a first official press conference announcing the title fight did not appear and the fight contract not signed on time, he was deprived of the status of the mandatory challenger to Klitschko's request; Povetkin was consequently demoted in the IBF world ranking. On October 16, 2010 Alexander Povetkin won Olimpijski Sports Palace in Chekhov against Nigerian Teke Oruh by knockout in the fifth round. His next fight, he won 18 December 2010 against the Americans Nicolai Firtha clearly on points.
After Wladimir Klitschko in July 2011, the WBA heavyweight champion David Haye defeated and thus the world title of the IBF, WBO and WBA had united, he was declared by the WBA, the so-called Super Champion. To the thus declared vacant regular WBA champion title should then the first and second place of the WBA rankings, ex- WBA champion Ruslan Tschagajew and Povetkin fight. This fight took place on 27 August 2011 in Erfurt and was won by Povetkin over twelve rounds clearly on points ( 116-112, 117-113, 117-113 ). In his first title defense Povetkin defeated the 42 -year-old American Cedric Boswell in December 2011 by technical knockout in the eighth round.
In January 2012, it came to the separation of trainer Teddy Atlas. Already in the preparation for the Tschagajew fight there had been first disagreement since Atlas parallel to his work as a trainer worked as a boxing commentator for the television networks ESPN and insisted that Povetkin should go for training in the U.S., while it comes to the team Povetkin preferred to prepare for a fight in Europe in the domestic Chekhov. New coach, Alexander Zimin, former coach of, among others, Juri Arbatschakow, Ursubek Nazarov or Nikolai Valuev. His second title defense against Marco Huck denied Povetkin. Huck, at that time the reigning WBO world cruiserweight champion, had previously denied yet no fight at heavyweight. But as he also stood by as Povetkin Sauerland boxing stable under contract, he got the chance to fight for the WBA heavyweight title may, without having to qualify for it before athletic. The fight took place on 25 February 2012 in the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart and was won by Povetkin just on points, although he was brought Huck repeatedly to the brink of a knock-out defeat. On September 28, 2012 Povetkin defended his WBA belt against the hapless former world champion Hasim Rahman by technical knockout in the second round.
In May 2013 he won early against Andrzej Wawrzyk ( 27-0 ).
In October 2013, he lost the IBF / WBO / WBA / IBO title fight by unanimous decision against Wladimir Klitschko. There was criticism that Klitschko quite often clung to the beginning of the fight and lay down with his elbows on his opponent. Povetkin was therefore exhausted after only a few laps and went in the 7th round three times to the ground. The victory earned Klitschko to his four world titles also to the WBA.
After Povetkins contract with Sauerland Event expired in late 2013, he signed up for a period of three years the Russian promoter Andrej Ryabinsky.
Others
Povetkin trains and lives in Chekhov (Russia). During his time as an amateur boxer, he was also a successful kick boxer and has been in this sport in 1997 World Junior Champion, 1999 World Champion and 2000 European Champion. His younger brother Vladimir ( b. 1980 ) played between 2007-2008 cruiserweight six pro fights.
Alexander Povetkin is since July 6, 2013 in second marriage with the Russian model and "Miss Kursk 2008," Yevgenia Merkulowa (* 1988), married. From his first marriage he has a daughter named Arina (* 2003).
Alexander Povetkin is an avowed Christian and supporter of the Russian Orthodox Church. Since 26 July 2010 he is a member of the Patriarchal Cultural Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Povetkin wears on his left arm a tattoo of Svarog, a figure from Slavic mythology.
Povetkin is active in Russian politics. He is a member of the Kremlin United Russia party and has one representative office in the territory parliament of Kursk Oblast.