Povetkin
Alexander Povetkin (1979-2020)
Alexander "Sasha" Povetkin was a Russian professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2020. He held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title from 2011 to 2013 and challenged for the unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles in 2013. He was known for his aggressive, come-forward style and powerful punching.
Early Life and Amateur Career:
Povetkin was born in Kursk, Russia. Before transitioning to boxing, he excelled in kickboxing, winning a European championship and two world championships. He then focused on amateur boxing, winning a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, as well as gold at the 2002 European Championships and the 2003 World Championships.
Professional Career:
Povetkin turned professional in 2005. He quickly rose through the rankings, accumulating a significant number of victories against credible opponents. His notable wins include victories against Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev (for the WBA "Regular" title), Marco Huck, Carlos Takam, and Dillian Whyte (twice). His losses were against Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua, and Michael Hunter.
Major Fights and Legacy:
- Wladimir Klitschko vs. Alexander Povetkin (2013): This was Povetkin's first attempt at unifying the heavyweight titles. He lost by unanimous decision.
- Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin (2018): Povetkin challenged Joshua for the unified heavyweight titles but lost by technical knockout in the seventh round.
- Alexander Povetkin vs. Dillian Whyte (2020 & 2021): Povetkin scored a stunning upset knockout victory over Whyte in their first fight, but Whyte avenged the loss in their rematch.
Povetkin retired from boxing in 2021, citing lingering health issues. He is remembered as a tough and skilled competitor who faced some of the best heavyweight boxers of his era. While his professional career was marked by some controversies related to failed drug tests, he remained a popular figure in Russia and a respected competitor within the boxing community. He passed away in December 2020 from complications related to COVID-19.