Comments Thread For: Povetkin Should Have Taken a Chance, Fought Klitschko

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Keith Idec - With Tomasz Adamek seated beside him, Teddy Atlas announced during ESPN2’s “Friday Night Fights” broadcast from Newark, N.J., a week ago that “a little birdie” told him that Michael Grant would withdraw from his Aug. 21 fight against Adamek at Prudential Center.

Grant, whom Atlas once trained, hasn’t pulled out of the fight. The 6-foot-7, 250-pound former contender is expected to attend a press conference to officially announce his 12-round bout against the popular Polish contender on Tuesday in North Bergen, N.J.

What Atlas failed to mention during the telecast was that Alexander Povetkin, the heavyweight he currently trains, had no intention of boarding a plane bound for Frankfurt, Germany, a couple days later. A representative for Povetkin, who seemed fine when Atlas and Joe Tessitore interviewed him during that same broadcast last week, claimed a sinus infection prevented Povetkin from attending a press conference Monday in Frankfurt to officially announce his long-overdue mandatory match against Wladimir Klitschko. [Click Here To Read More]

[Ravens Fan]

I think there is a more sinister reason why Atlas will not allow his fighter to fight one of the Klit brothers. I believe it is simply because Atlas hates the brothers so much that his ego will not allow a fighter of his to lose to one them. And he knows that is exactly what would happen regardless of how many more tune up fights Povetkin might have. I would bet good money that there would be no hesitation on the part of Atlas if Povetkin was in line to fight Haye for the WBA belt instead of Wlad or Vitali. And I use to like Atlas but in my opinion he has become rather bizarre.

[PittyPat]

Y'know what I'd really like? Grant pulls of his fight, Peter steps aside somehow, and Wladimir-Adamek is made for September! :box2:

[Jim Jeffries]

Povetkin and Haye ought to fight each other, since they both clearly have no intention of ever fighting Wladimir.

[Clegg]

Cliff (or anyone else) do you have any details on the mandatory-challenger rules when it comes to things like purse splits and rematch clauses?

There is all this talk of a 'slave contract' (which I consider to be nonsense anyway) but I was under the impression that there are rules on mandatory challenger fights which set out what % of the purse each fighter gets, and that rematch clauses aren't allowed. With that in mind, there can't have been too much for the two sides to disagree on financially.

I know it's a different org, but IIRC, there was some disagreement over the WBO rules a while back when it seemed that Peterson might actually be entitled 60% of the purse as Bradley's mandatory. I'm not sure if this was a weird one-off or if every such WBO title fight is governed by the same rules. I've no idea what the IBF rules are.

[Tiozzo]

I think there is a more sinister reason why Atlas will not allow his fighter to fight one of the Klit brothers. I believe it is simply because Atlas hates the brothers so much that his ego will not allow a fighter of his to lose to one them. And he knows that is exactly what would happen regardless of how many more tune up fights Povetkin might have. I would bet good money that there would be no hesitation on the part of Atlas if Povetkin was in line to fight Haye for the WBA belt instead of Wlad or Vitali. And I use to like Atlas but in my opinion he has become rather bizarre.

what a load of bullcrap

[Tiozzo]

Y'know what I'd really like? Grant pulls of his fight, Peter steps aside somehow, and Wladimir-Adamek is made for September! :box2:

that would be a horrible mismatch
worse than Povetkin - Wladimir

[yessuh]

[The Hammer]

This is a very good article.

Povetkin has gained nothing and made himself look foolish and cowardly for backing out of the fight several weeks after it went to purse bid, with the venue and date already set up.

He'll probably need to defeat a top contender in order to receive another title shot now. It may not be so easy.

[The Hammer]

I think there is a more sinister reason why Atlas will not allow his fighter to fight one of the Klit brothers. I believe it is simply because Atlas hates the brothers so much that his ego will not allow a fighter of his to lose to one them. And he knows that is exactly what would happen regardless of how many more tune up fights Povetkin might have. I would bet good money that there would be no hesitation on the part of Atlas if Povetkin was in line to fight Haye for the WBA belt instead of Wlad or Vitali. And I use to like Atlas but in my opinion he has become rather bizarre.

You nailed it.

When Teddy started training Povetkin, my first thought is that he'll ruin him.

Teddy pretends to look out for the best interests of a fighter, but the truth is he's nutcase who only wants to satisfy his own false pride and ego.