13 Days Until Klitschko-Povetkin

Jab + Grab x 12 = Wlad UD. You, you're good.

- Will Povetkin have the confidence? - Will Povetkin have the stamina to go 12 rounds with Klitschko?

Not sure if it will be exciting because both fighters will fight cautiously but it is one of the best heavyweight matchups in recent history. Too bad EPIX won't be airing it.

Haye can't fight going forward, can't fight on the inside and isn't a combination puncher. Basically the opposite of Povetkin who is the best inside fighter in the division and possibly the best combination puncher. You're not alone Cliff some of these bozos either don't know what they're watching or hate Povetkin too much to be objective. The Huck fight was an aberration that horrible conditioning and a brawler opponent can make happen (Soliman-Winky, Mayorga-Forrest). Povetkin uses a terrific variety of feints, angle changes, level changes and head movement all of which make him more capable than any Wlad opponent to date of getting inside. I do expect Sasha to make it a entertaining fight and land on Wlad more than we've seen in a long time. Huck was also completely different than most of Heavyweight. He's quick and fights at what used to be a more standard Heavy pace. More top Cruisers should be at Heavy. The K's are the only reason not to be. Most "Super" Heavys aren't so super at all. A lot will come down to shape and mindset. If Povetkin is in in shape, and he thinks he can win, we have at least a fun fight. I mean, when he was coming up, he looked like a comer. His deceleration fairly decreased interest but he has gotten better, against lesser fare like Wawrzyk to be sure, at slipping etc. We will see. My interest is way up. At the least this could be one of Wlad's best fights since Brock, an underrated win where the challenger showed up to try and win and forced the best out of the champ.

I appreciate the breakdown and agree with it all the way. Povetkin is intelligent and puts his punches together nicely, but I don't see him being able to land anything on Wladimir. The reach isn't there, and while everyone thinks they're going to be able to get through and work on the inside, come fight night it's a completely different story. I agree with Cliff that Sasha is one of if not best inside fighter today at heavyweight. Unfortunately that isn't saying much and I really don't think he possesses the skills nor determination to get inside of Wlads jab. Someone mentioned its his intention to get underneath Wlads jab. While I don't think that's a bad strategy it will be an exhausting and difficult one where Povetkin will need to work the body with 2 or 3 punches every time before Wlad wraps him up and leans un him. I just don't see it happening. Its going to tale a lot more intelligent or talented fighter than Povetkin to beat Wlad right now.

If Povetkin was cautious against a fat, slow Rahman you can believe he'll be even more cautious against Wlad. The first couple of rounds will start out slow with lots of jabs until Wlad feels comfortable dropping the right hand. By the fourth round Wlad will have found his range and be comfortable enough throwing the right more often and leaning on Sasha to wear him out. By the seventh or eighth Povetkin will be feeling the effects of this and start getting desperate leaving himself more open. By the ninth or tenth his corner will have stopped it between rounds or he'll be tko'd. This will not be a difficult fight for Wlad and it won't be exciting either. But it will be a good win for him to have on his record. I appreciate the breakdown and agree with it all the way. Povetkin is intelligent and puts his punches together nicely, but I don't see him being able to land anything on Wladimir. The reach isn't there, and while everyone thinks they're going to be able to get through and work on the inside, come fight night it's a completely different story.

If Povetkin was cautious against a fat, slow Rahman you can believe he'll be even more cautious against Wlad. The first couple of rounds will start out slow with lots of jabs until Wlad feels comfortable dropping the right hand. By the fourth round Wlad will have found his range and be comfortable enough throwing the right more often and leaning on Sasha to wear him out. By the seventh or eighth Povetkin will be feeling the effects of this and start getting desperate leaving himself more open. By the ninth or tenth his corner will have stopped it between rounds or he'll be tko'd. This will not be a difficult fight for Wlad and it won't be exciting either. But it will be a good win for him to have on his record.

What's the odds on Wlad getting DQ for hugging? didnt see much clinching in his last couple fights so hopefully hes done with that since losing steward as his trainer

What's the odds on Wlad getting DQ for hugging?

Yes, it's a good fight that finally happens. Good for Wlad's resume as well.

Then he is in a lot of trouble. Wladimir can tie him up when he goes in if he wants, that's what Haye's whole "flop to the floor" thing was about; he was trying to get Wlad to be hesitant to tie up on the inside after being deducted a point, so that he(Haye) would be able to tee off once he got in. Didn't ****ing happen. I'm expecting a glorious and long overdue beatdown. Haye can't fight going forward, can't fight on the inside and isn't a combination puncher. Basically the opposite of Povetkin who is the best inside fighter in the division and possibly the best combination puncher. You're not alone Cliff some of these bozos either don't know what they're watching or hate Povetkin too much to be objective. The Huck fight was an aberration that horrible conditioning and a brawler opponent can make happen (Soliman-Winky, Mayorga-Forrest). Povetkin uses a terrific variety of feints, angle changes, level changes and head movement all of which make him more capable than any Wlad opponent to date of getting inside. I do expect Sasha to make it a entertaining fight and land on Wlad more than we've seen in a long time.

meh, Povetkin wont do better than say, Chagaev. I like the Klitschko's, but I cant get over Wlad's hugging...HW boxing is a joke TBH...

What makes the fight interesting isn't the style matchup. But the fact that terms of the fight, venue, judges, ref etc. Aren't being dictacted by K2 for the 1st time in a loooooong time. Povetkin's promoter overbidding by several millions for this fight surely raises some eyebrows. And i'm sure in the back of Wlad's mind, if he doesn't emphatically dominate every round or score a KO, he'll get job'd on the cards. I don't think he could fight the same way he fought against Ibragimov or Haye and come away with a victory, given the strange circumstances of the purse bid. This might lead to Wlad fighting a much more aggressive fight than usual, which increases the susceptibility of Wlad getting clip'd with a shot he normally wouldn't get hit with and put away. But stylistically, this is a mismatch of the highest order. Povetkin is about as tailor made as they come for Wlad. Povetkin has terrible defense, no head/upper body movement whatsoever, probably has never successfully slipped a punch in his entire career, :lol1: and has dodgy punch resistance. If Wlad fights his typical Wlad fight, he shouldn't drop no more than a round at best and score a stoppage somewhere in the vacinity of the 6th-9th rd. Although i will say, i don't think Wlad has fought anybody that commits to the body as much as Povetkin or works on the inside as well Povetkin. But he'll likely be stopped in his tracks by Wlad's jab and his clinching/wrasslin/spoiler tactics. And Cliff, i've never seen this exceptional hand and footspeed from Povetkin that you're describing. Are we talking about the same fighter? Povetkin is a face first plodder with slow hands and feet and slightly above average power. I have my doubts that he would even be able to hurt Wlad unless he catches him with a perfect Roy/Tarver Pacquiao/Marquez esque shot or somehow manages to land in accumulation. Povetkin has never proven he possesses the ability to KO or even hurt a world class Heavyweight or even Cruiserweight for that matter! Who said exceptional...I said underrated. He's not plodding (depending on the shape he's in). Power is okay but he is a good combination puncher, particularly inside. Not saying he wins by any stretch. Just think he can make for a scrap.

Povetkin said that his who.e preparation will be based on how to go under Wlad's jab. I wonder if he can do it. But I definitely agree that this might beba hard challenge for Wlad. Then he is in a lot of trouble. Wladimir can tie him up when he goes in if he wants, that's what Haye's whole "flop to the floor" thing was about; he was trying to get Wlad to be hesitant to tie up on the inside after being deducted a point, so that he(Haye) would be able to tee off once he got in. Didn't ****ing happen. I'm expecting a glorious and long overdue beatdown.

Can't say the same. Don't really care much for this fight.

Luis Pabon as ref made this suck a little. Why that guy? Uugh.

If Wlad pushed it, he could get rid of Povetkin in one round. How come a journalist can write so much crap in only one sentence?

I'm looking forward to this one as well. First real challenge Wlad has been able to find since Haye. Sasha is quick but has no pop and is not hard to hit. I dont know if he can get past the jab and I don't think Wlad wants this to go to the cards (have to avoid that shady business) and I think he wants to make a statement. This makes him more exciting but more vulnerable. Povetkin said that his who.e preparation will be based on how to go under Wlad's jab. I wonder if he can do it. But I definitely agree that this might beba hard challenge for Wlad.

If Wlad pushed it, he could get rid of Povetkin in one round. I pretty much doubt it. Sasha is a very good fighter. He knows how to dodge an excellent jab. It will be a competitive fight. Wouldn't be surprised if Povetkin takes early rounds.

Wlad knows he can't let this go to the scorecards. The Russians are out to rob him. Yep. Wlad will go for the KO. You just know that when some promotor is willing to pay 3 times of what is needed to win the pursebid, and in the proces making this the largest purse since Wynn lost a fortune on Holyfield-Douglas, that chances of corruption is high.