Ibragimov's Ex-Manager: Atlas Saved Povetkin from Defeat

By Ruslan Chikov

Boris Grinberg, the ex-manager of former world champion Sultan Ibragimov, says trainer Teddy Atlas made the right decision by pulling Alexander Povetkin from a scheduled fight with WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Povetkin was going to face Klitschko in September, but was later replaced by Samuel Peter.

"Nobody wanted to talk, nobody wanted to take responsibility. Many of them are far from boxing people and think that it is so simple - to just go out there and fight. What could he do against Klitschko with his 15 fights? Nothing," Grinberg told Allboxing.ru.

"Boxers are not cowards. If you're boxing, you're not a coward. This is reasonable caution, but it has nothing to do with cowardice. By and large, Povetkin would like to meet with Klitschko, but the team had not found a single person, except Atlas, who would say: 'You're not ready yet, Sasha, to fight with Klitschko.'"