Tweet
Rumours abound of heavy betting on Povetkin.
Awfully suspect. They're going to try and rob Wlad.
Awfully suspect. They're going to try and rob Wlad.
Article by R. Hubbard.
Another fistful of dollars – 23 million in all – will be trousered in a world-title fight next Saturday when long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko faces the unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin in Moscow.
Curiously, this means that three Olympic super-heavyweight champions will be in action simultaneously. Britain's 2012 gold medallist, Anthony Joshua, makes his pro debut in London around the time Klitschko (Atlanta 1996) and Povetkin (Athens 2004) contest the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts before a sell-out 35,000 crowd at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
Normally this should be another comfortable excursion for the 37-year-old Ukrainian, an overwhelming 1-12 favourite, but after recent scoring curiosities an intense spotlight will be on the ringside judges, two Americans and a Belgian, and the Puerto Rican ref, Luis Pablon. The massive purse bid for the fight – to be screened live here on BoxNation (www.boxnation.com) – was secured by Povetkin's billionaire manager, and whispers abound of heavy betting on the home fighter among the Russian mafia. Povetkin, 34, is a capable enough opponent but lacks Klitschko's class and clout.
Conspiracy theories are not uncommon in boxing, but in his 61st contest Klitschko is canny enough to be aware of the old saying that sometimes in an opponent's backyard you have to knock 'em out to get a draw.
Another fistful of dollars – 23 million in all – will be trousered in a world-title fight next Saturday when long-reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko faces the unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin in Moscow.
Curiously, this means that three Olympic super-heavyweight champions will be in action simultaneously. Britain's 2012 gold medallist, Anthony Joshua, makes his pro debut in London around the time Klitschko (Atlanta 1996) and Povetkin (Athens 2004) contest the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts before a sell-out 35,000 crowd at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
Normally this should be another comfortable excursion for the 37-year-old Ukrainian, an overwhelming 1-12 favourite, but after recent scoring curiosities an intense spotlight will be on the ringside judges, two Americans and a Belgian, and the Puerto Rican ref, Luis Pablon. The massive purse bid for the fight – to be screened live here on BoxNation (www.boxnation.com) – was secured by Povetkin's billionaire manager, and whispers abound of heavy betting on the home fighter among the Russian mafia. Povetkin, 34, is a capable enough opponent but lacks Klitschko's class and clout.
Conspiracy theories are not uncommon in boxing, but in his 61st contest Klitschko is canny enough to be aware of the old saying that sometimes in an opponent's backyard you have to knock 'em out to get a draw.
Comment