Alexander Povetkin—Don’t Believe the Hype
Why was the camp was in Russia for this fight and how much time did Atlas have to work with Povetkin to get him ready for the biggest challenge of his career…
With the Klitschko brothers occupying the top of the heavyweight food chain, the winner of Saturday’s fight for what the WBA has designated its “regular” title—a meaningless “title” that brings sanctioning fees to the WBA and disrepute to the sport of boxing—will not be called Champion by any true fan of the sweet science. But that doesn’t stop the bout between WBA #1 rated Ruslan Chagaev and WBA #2 rated Alexander Povetkin from being a significant heavyweight fight and one that may produce a worthy challenger for the real championship.
Word is that the oddsmakers favor the WBA’s #2 over its #1, but perhaps they should be paying more attention to the order in which Chagaev and Povetkin are ranked and less attention to the hype coming out of the Povetkin camp. Povetkin’s manager, Vladimir Hryunov, is quoted as saying that “Alexander is in the best shape since he’s been a professional,” the mantra that fighters and their managers seem to repeat with each new fight. But the facts tell a different story.
Povetkin has been out of action for more than eight months, the second longest hiatus (and only by a little) of his career. And despite claims from fighter and manager that training camp has lasted three or even four months, trainer Teddy Atlas was seen at his day job, calling the Friday Night Fights on ESPN2, on July 29, less than a month before Saturday’s fight—and even a WBA representative could tell you that if you are calling a fight in Las Vegas, you are not in Russia training your fighter.
Atlas has trained Povetkin in Russia before, but camp was always in New Jersey when Atlas was working the Friday Night Fights, which beggars the questions: Why was the camp was in Russia for this fight and how much time did Atlas have to work with Povetkin to get him ready for the biggest challenge of his career? Add to that Hryunov’s coyness in refusing to reveal the names of Povetkin’s sparring partners, and you have to wonder if Povetkin has had a proper camp at all.
Hryunov’s hype seems to be at odds with the facts—and all his talk won’t help Povetkin if he hasn’t had the proper time or resources to prepare for Saturday’s fight with Chagaev.
