Povetkin's Trainer: Klitschko's Opponents Do Nothing

By Rick Reeno

Heavyweight Alexander Povetkin, and his trainer Teddy Atlas, are sitting back and waiting for Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF/IBO/WBO champion, to make a decision on his next move. Last weekend in Germany, Klitschko knocked out his WBO mandatory Eddie Chambers in the twelfth round. At the post-fight press conference, Klitschko told BoxingScene.com his next opponent will likely be Povetkin, who is the mandatory under the IBF. Klitschko's personal preference is a unification fight with WBA champion David Haye.

Atlas has thoroughly examined a number of Klitschko's fights. He gives Wladimir a lot respect for his boxing ability, but he doesn't respect the way his opponents are performing in the ring. For the last two years, criticism has showered Klitschko's title defenses.

The majority of Wladimir's critics are voicing the same complaint - that his victories lack excitement. The major cable networks in America, HBO and Showtime, are among those critics. Both of them passed on televising his last two title defenses. Atlas disagrees with the critics who blame Klitschko. He blames the opponents. Atlas believes Klitschko's opponents are mentally shook before the fight even starts. He doesn't believe the majority of them are even trying to win once they get in the ring.

"They do nothing. They just stand in front of him, throw a little bit and play right into the strengths of Wladimir Klitschko, to where he controls you with the jab, to where he hits you with the right hand, to where he controls the distance, and he has his comfort level. They just stand there and posture. There is no consistent effort. There is no consistent aggression in any educated way. At the end of the day they do nothing. It's like they are killing time, waiting for something to just happen, but they do nothing," Atlas told BoxingScene.com.

"And you have to give Klitschko credit because he consistently uses his size and physical dimensions. He does it consistently well by staying on the outside with the jab and using the right hand. And if you get close, then he grabs you. They do nothing to prevent him from grabbing. They just stand there and allow him to control the entire fight with his jab."

Instead of fighting Klitschko immediately, Atlas feels more comfortable with Povetkin taking an additional tune-up fight, or two. He wants to properly develop Povetkin's skills before a showdown with Klitschko takes place.

"My concern is not about getting him to the biggest money fight as soon as possible. My concern is to develop him as a fighter and to make him a more complete fighter, a better fighter, and a more effective fighter. The more time we get to do that, the better it is for us. My biggest concern is to get him more of the things he needs and to develop him in the areas where I need to develop him. You take of that and everything else takes care of itself," Atlas said.

According to Atlas, Sauerland Event, who promote Povetkin, have an early June TV date in Germany. If the Klitschko fights falls through, Povetkin may see action on that date.