Do you think Povetkin is on PEDs?

[Humean]

He certainly looks like all muscle these days whereas in the past he looked a little fleshier with some fat. However no more su****ion should be on him than almost every other figher. PED use is probably extremely widespread in the sport.

[PainfromUkraine]

dan_cov has some very good points here:

I think Mike was in rubbish shape and just got caught cold with a good counter he didn't see, I even noted he looked dry & didn't look like he'd warmed up but yh it does make me wonder, even thought it myself. Something doesn't seem right.
Povetkin was never a huge puncher, he'd wear you down via accumulation all of a sudden he is knocking proven granite chinned opposition senseless.
It doesn't add up at his age.

Even still its mightily su****ious to me how he couldn't even stop the likes of Firtha and much lesser and lesser durable fighters he hit with everything but the kitchen sink. He couldn't put a dent in a cruiserweight (I know Hucks tough but still) now all of a sudden he is flattening opponents.

I'm a fan I've followed his career for years but IMO its real su****ious. He was never a big puncher by any stretch all of a sudden he is a one punch knockout artist getting highlight reel K.O after highlight reel K.O at the age of 35? Hmm.

To top it he comes in weighing the heaviest of his career yet looks lean as hell?

Goes from a soft, doughy 225lbs with love handles to a lean 233lb.

Sorry something doesn't add up.

[Tom Cruise]

Very difficult to say because we dont know anything about how his camp was before his loss. He could have been doing everything wrong for all we know.

Maybe he is eating better now and training with heavier weights? That could account for how he has put on weight while losing fat.

one feature of all his recent KO's is how accurate he was. All his punches were right on the button. Not sure there is a PED for that.

So for me he's still on the same amount of su****ion that I have for every top athlete, 'he's probably juicing, but im not going to make a fuss over it unless he gets caught.'

[Weebler I]

No one is claiming he was on PED's his entire career. This topic is regarding the period since his loss to Wlad (last 3 fights). Before that Povetkin was never seen as a offensive beast.

He knocked out 2 guys before Wlad, and knocked out 3 guys after Wlad. I don't really see the disparity.

Charr is useless, and Povetkin was losing against Takam on my card until he dropped him.

His power today was surprizing no doubt, but then Perez hadn't really been in with a big puncher apart from Mago who got hurt early in the bout.

[PainfromUkraine]

Very difficult to say because we dont know anything about how his camp was before his loss. He could have been doing everything wrong for all we know.

Maybe he is eating better now and training with heavier weights? That could account for how he has put on weight while losing fat.

one feature of all his recent KO's is how accurate he was. All his punches were right on the button. Not sure there is a PED for that.

So for me he's still on the same amount of su****ion that I have for every top athlete, 'he's probably juicing, but im not going to make a fuss over it unless he gets caught.'

As I say, he is innocent until proven guilty, but it just seems weird to me. I wouldn't even particularly think this if it wasn't happening immediately in the aftermath of the Wlad loss and needing to rebuild his career with some impressive performances.

[#1Assassin]

Why does this happen after every dominating KO? Can't we simply enjoy the sport anymore without doubting everything that happens? IF someone fails a test, then we can discuss it. But it is time this crap stops and if you have doubts, then go follow some other sport that you know is perfectly above board and clean like baseball or cycling.

it doent happen after every dominting KO at all. this isnt just one fight either, like OP said he knocked out three solid fighters known for their durability with a single punch. povetkin has never been a one punch guy, now all of a sudden he is knocking down walls with single shots?

russia is known for being corrupt, there is no doubt they would let him get away with **** like that. russian athletes are also notorious for steroid abuse. povetkins body is clearly different and so are the results. he never one punched a top notch fighter before. chagaev, chambers and huck were all decisions. even the guys he stopped like byrd were by accumulation.

now he is looking physically like a different man and scoring one KO of the year contender after the next against very durable guys all in his backyard which just happens to be russia? im not going to say he is guilty until there is something definitive, but to not be su****ious would be downright ignorant.

lastly, we should express concern when something looks fishy. we want fairness not to mention to keep the fighters safe. nobody should say poetkin is guilty unless something definitive happens, for now he deserves the benefit of the doubt. but the fans and fighters deserve clean competition, we have to question things when there is a reason to do so for the good of the sport. not saying povetkin is one, but your attitude is enabling cheaters to get away with it and people to get hurt.

[PainfromUkraine]

He knocked out 2 guys before Wlad, and knocked out 3 guys after Wlad. I don't really see the disparity.

Charr is useless, and he was losing against Takam on my card until he dropped him.

His power today was surprizing no doubt, but then Perez hadn't really been in with a big puncher apart from Mago who got hurt early in the bout.

Rahman and Wawrzyk were the prior fights...Rahman had no business there at all, he could have been KO'd by anyone that night...and Wawrzyk was a bum who got systematically broken down. Charr is useless now as we can see, but at that time people were actually giving him a chance v Povetkin. With your Takam point, that reinforces what I'm saying - he suddenly has this fight ending power which even carries in the late rounds v highly durable opponents who are giving him problems or even winning the fight.

[The Gambler1981]

He does look shredded now compared to how he looked earlier. Who knows, it is always possible especially for a vet that is getting on in years and came up short in a big spot.

Lots of athletes look for that edge so no athlete (especially boxer) is really beyond su****ion. It is all circumstantial though, but with the current circumstances I would say better than average chance.

[Tom Cruise]

As I say, he is innocent until proven guilty, but it just seems weird to me. I wouldn't even particularly think this if it wasn't happening immediately in the aftermath of the Wlad loss and needing to rebuild his career with some impressive performances.

Hopefully it is just a case of him dedicating himself to the sport after losing

[Accountoffline]

Wouldnt be surprised if he is, but then saying that so is Wlad, Joshua and Briggs. Okay forget Briggs but Joshua easily juices, there has got to be a few more HWs that do too but I think they use more HGH than steroids per say.

These guys however do train extremely hard I almost died running 4 miles let alone the 8-12 miles pro boxers do.

I am not going to suggest he is on the gear but its su****ious how all of a sudden he is KO'ing people who were simply at the least very durable.