Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia - WBA #5 Russian heavweight powerhouse Alexander Povetkin (27-1, 19 KOs) made a stellar comeback to the ring - for the first time since his loss to Wladimir Klitschko - and stopped rugged WBC #7 contender Manuel Charr in seven to acquire a vacant WBC International title.
Fighters spent little time finding weaknesses of each other. Charr seemingly could not miss with his jab but was hit time and time again with Povetkin's uppercut.
The first was even. Povetkin rocked Charr twice in the second and was also rocked once. Charr got better with his jab in the third, and Povetkin took the fourth on power punching. Scores were 40-36, 40-36 and 39-37 - after the fourth.
Povetkin got bigger in the fifth round, landing major left hooks, uppercuts and right hands. He continued to dominate in the sixth despite problems with Charr's jab. Finally, early into the seventh, Poverkin caught Charr with a sensational right-left-right combo to send Charr down on his back and put an ending stamp to the fight. Referee Massimo Barrovecchio didn't even bother to count.
Official time of stoppage was 1:09. Charr is now 26-2, 15 KOs.
