IS POVETKIN A EUROPEAN GODSEND?
San Mateo, CA- 2004 Olympic champ Alexander Povetkin is just one fight away from a world heavyweight title shot when he takes on Eddie Chambers this Saturday in Berlin, Germany. Do not let the light record of 14-0 (11 KOs) fool you; Povetkin, at 28, is the most experienced fighter in boxing with 14 scraps. Ever since Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs) reigned in the late 90s, the class of heavyweight division has been tall, if not huge fighters. Vitali (35-2, 34 KOs) and Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs), Nicolay Valuev (47-1, 34 KOs) , Michael Grant (42-3, 32 KOs) , Jameel McCline (38-3, 25 KOs) and Shannon Briggs (48-5, 42 KOs) are a few standout ?super? heavyweights that have been part of the mix for several years. That has not resulted into entertaining fights but has resulted into the boring and uninteresting division it is now. Therefore, it?s important for the upstart Povetkin to build steam and possible carry the division by year?s end.
DOES A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING GOOD
One of the undersized heavyweights that suffered from the ?big man? syndrome was Chris Byrd, a master boxer who held a heavyweight title. Byrd (40-4, 21 KOs) was beaten badly by Wladimir Klitschko, who was simply way too big and strong for Chris. However, in last fight in October, he was soundly out boxed, punched, and beaten into submission over 11 rounds by Povetkin. Although Byrd was pushing 37 and way past his prime, he had never been outdueled in a boxing match until he ran into the ultra skillful Povetkin. The upstart tagged Byrd with numerous sharp jabs, as well dominating Byrd on the inside and outside. It is those skills (not the jab-right hand combination broken record we see) that the division needs more of. Watching the fight, I was more focused on the punching action in the ring not whether the opponent should be given a tennis racket in order to land a solid shot to the chin
MAYBE HEAVYS JUST NEED MORE HEART?
Maybe what the heavyweight division needs are guys willing to stand toe-to-toe and trade punches. Maybe undefeated Eddie Chambers is that answer? All fighters that come out of Philadelphia possess heart and the willingness to take a punch to give one. Chambers, 30-0 (16 KOs), is not a big man at 6?1. Chambers got this match by besting Calvin Brock over 12 rounds via split decision. Povetkin is supposed to face his sternest challenge yet against a young rising fighter in Chambers.
WINNER WILL TAKE ON IBF CHAMP
The winner of Povetkin-Chambers will challenge the winner of the Wladimir Klitschko-Sultan Ibragimov (22-0, 17 KOs) unification (IBF/WBO) bout in February. Ibragimov is another undersized heavyweight who relies on boxing more than size and power. Klitschko has been the closest big man to demonstrate boxing skill, fundamental and sometimes crude as it may be. Wladimir still relies on his size and power to score victories. Should Ibragimov pull off an upset, a bout with either Povetkin or Chambers could be electric and pleasing to the eye, seeing two heavyweights of similar size and skill battle.
QUICK NOTES:
Roy Jones (52-3, 38 KOs) exhibited his speed and skills, out boxing Felix Trinidad (43-3, 35 KOs) over 12 better than expected rounds. Around my radar (the S.F. Bay Area) no one really cares about Bernard Hopkins(48-4-1, 32 KOs), or even what he plans to do with the ?Ring Magazine light heavyweight title he holds. However, there?s still some hype with Roy Jones because him when they met at 160. Maybe Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) will have second thoughts of making his American debut against a guy who will hold and use rough tactics while on the inside (see: head butts)? Manny Pacquiao (45-3-2, 35 KOs) plans to release a new single titled ?Ala Nabang Pag Asa.? Expect it to be his entrance song for his March 15th rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez (48-3-1, 35 KOs). There may also be plans for a press conference in San Francisco to boost up PPV buys? Last week, I wrote a piece on what fighters, aspiring to be the ?pound for pound? champion should do. Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25 KOs) will likely face (and smoke) Alfonzo Gomez of The Contender fame in his next bout, something I failed to mention last time out. After Gomez (18-3-2, 8 KOs) retired Arturo Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) last summer, he was poised to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (34-0-1, 27 KOs) in Chavez?s first real test. Now, he?ll go from Chavez to one of the best welterweights (147) today in Cotto. PAC JOKE OF THE WEEK: Paclanders looking for a ?Ricky Hatton? like anthem to chant during the next Pacquiao fight need look no longer. Filipino Renaldo Lapuz?s audition on American Idol is causing waves on YouTube. There are numerous covers to his ?hit? song ?We?re Brothers Forever.? Check his hilarious (and catchy) audition here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwSOx_FYZkc or search Renaldo Lapuz on YouTube!
