By Alexey Sukachev

The recent events, promoted by “World of Boxing”, a new stalwart of Russian boxing community, were marked with major fights packed in with few mediocre undercard contests, which could barely bring any attention of casual fans as well as some hardcore junkies either (due to an average mix of styles in some of them). The same cannot be said of an upcoming showdown, which will feature no less than nine scheduled, more or less well-matched clashes with a great main event and a series of meaningful collisions.

On paper, however, the fight of the night is clearly set in a battle between ex-WBA “regular” heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin and once-defeated Cameroonian contender Carlos Takam. Both boxers aren’t only high with the alphabets (Povetkin – WBC #3 and WBO #12, Takam – WBC #5 and IBF #9) but also TBRB-rated (Povetkin - #2, Takam - #5). From the strap standpoint the battle is meaningful for the World Boxing Council particularly, as both fighters are highly ranked by this sanctioning body and are in line for an occasional title shot at the green belt. In the meantime, fighters will contest the WBC Silver heavyweight title, which was acquired by Takam this June.

Both teams were presented during the Wednesday weigh-in at the Renaissance hotel in Moscow, Russia, as were participants of a cruiserweight co-main event between Rakhim Chakhkiev and Giacobbe Fragomeni.

Alexander Povetkin, “I have a good, strong, durable fighter ahead of me, so the fight will be very exciting at least for me, but I hope for the fans too”.

About exclusion from the latest WBA ranks, “It doesn’t mean anything to me. My goal is to move forward to my goal, and to achieve it. I pay no attention to the ranks”.

About sparring partners, “I don’t think I need to name them. They were quality, solid guys, which helped me much in my preparations”.

About his trainer Ivan Kirpa, “First of all, it was one of rare choices, made by me personally. Then we have mutual understanding, and we discuss mistakes and successes, sparring sessions and gym work – all of those I have never spoken with my previous coaches about”.

Carlos Takam, “In my opinion, Alexander is a very good boxer. I’m really buzzed with this opportunity, it’s an invaluable chance. I’ve been preparing for the bout for three months. It’s understandable that fans will support Povetkin all the way, but I came here to win this fight”.

About #1 in the heavyweight division, ‘Wladimir Klitschko is the man to beat”.

About Klitschko’s fight versus Povetkin, “Yes, I have seen this fight. I consider it too be very hard for both boxers. Wladimir used his stature and physicality to impose his will on Povetkin and to negate his strengths, to prevent him from showing his best”.

Ivan Kirpa, Povetkin’s trainer, “Alexander is at that stage of a professional boxer’s career that he has no option to be not at his best. Conditioning is crucial in prizefighting. Otherwise, you will be stopped like a card without gasoline. There was no euphoria following the Charr win. We worked hard, and now Alexander is in top shape”.

Rakhim Chakhkiev, “Every title means something for a boxer. We’ve been preparing long for this fight. I have a very experienced opponent ahead of me. He fought with Krzysztof Wlodarczyk and other top fighters of the division. He is a pressure fighter, very aggressive, but his defense is also superb. I’ll do everything to win this bout”.

Giacobbe Fragomeni, “Experience means something. I have been boxing for a quarter of century, 15 years in professional boxing. I know the fight will be very intensive, very hard, as my opponent is very aggressive and very strong, which he showed in Wlodarczyk fight. On the other hand, I’m supremely conditioned and ready for the test’.

Andrey Ryabinskiy, “We’re planning several events in spring and in autumn. Summer and winter will be our rest periods. Our aim is still the same – to bring the best boxing to Russian fans”.

Regarding Povetkin’s next fight and a fight against Bermane Stiverne, “Let’s not predict what will be next. Sasha is fully concentrated on his next fight. If he’s victorious, we have some plans for him. But I’m not ruling out a title collision. Regarding its possible location, it’s a matter of principles to stage it in Moscow, which we aim to transform into one of the international boxing capitals”.

Regarding a rematch against Wladimir Klitschko, “Yes, we surely consider such an option but it’s too early to speak about it. I wish Sasha to be prepared entirely different for such a fight, as it’s the fight of his life. I don’t think it’ll occur the next year but who knows”.

Regarding international sanctions against Russia, “Surely they affected us… in a positive way. Our economics is being oriented to the local market. However, all these politics has nothing to do with the sport of boxing. We’re treated well, we’re considered to be a part of international boxing fraternity. Agreements are signed to be either followed to or to be misplayed. It has nothing to do with sanctions”. 

LINE-UP

The event will take place at GCKZ “Russia” in Luzhniki, Moscow, Russia. Doors are opened at 5 PM LT. The broadcast via Russia 2 channel starts at 7:20 PM LT. Legendary Michael Buffer will announce the main event.

Main Event

Alexander Povetkin (27-1, 19 KOs) vs. Carlos Takam (30-1-1, 23 KOs) – 12 rounds for the WBC Silver heavyweight title. Povetkin (Russia) is 35 years old and 229.7 lbs; Takam (Cameroon/France) is 33 years old and 252 lbs. Referee is Kenny Bayless of the USA. Judges are: Mauro Di Fiore (Italy), Omar Mintun (Mexico), Predrag Alksic (Montenegro).

Co-Main Event

TBRB #10 and WBC #1 / IBF #5 / WBA #11 Rakhim Chakhkiev (19-1, 14 KOs) vs. IBF #15 Giacobbe Fragomeni (32-4-2, 13 KOs) – 12 rounds for a vacant EBU cruiserweight title. Chakhkiev (Russia) is 31 years old and 198.8 pounds; Fragomeni (Italy) is 45 years old and 199.2 pounds. Referee is Ian John-Lewis of the UK.

Top Undercard

1. WBA #4 Eduard Troyanovskiy (18-0, 15 KOs) vs. Jose Alfaro (27-8-1, 23 KOs) – 12 rounds for the WBA International lightweight title. Alfaro is a former WBA lightweight champion. Weights: Troyanovskiy (Russia) – 134 lbs, Alfaro (Nicaragua) – 134 lbs.

2. WBA #4 and WBC #14 Arif Magomedov (12-0, 8 KOs) vs Michael Zerafa (15-0, 7 KOs) – 12 rounds for vacant WBO Youth and WBO Asia Pacific middleweight titles. Magomedov is 2013 debutant. Weights: Magomedov (Russia) – 159.8 lbs, Zerafa (Australia) – 159.6 lbs.

3. WBC #15 Manuel Charr (26-2, 15 KOs) vs. Michael Grant (48-5, 36 KOs) – 10 rounds in the heavyweight division. Weights: Charr (Germany) – 250.8; Grant (USA) – 252.2.

4. Sergey Ekimov (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Miguel Velozo (17-2-2, 5 KOs) – 10 rounds in the light heavyweight division. Weights: Ekimov – 174.6 lbs, Velozo – to weigh-in later.

Deep undercard

5. Umar Salamov (11-0, 10 KOs, Russia) vs. Patrick Bois (12-3-1, 2 KOs, France) – 10 rounds in the light heavyweight division.

6. Murad Khalidov (10-0, 5 KOs, Russia) vs. Vladimir Goncharov (3-0, 2 KOs, Russia) – 8 rounds, heavyweights.

7. Evgueny Smirnov (3-0, 1 KO, Russia) vs. Michael Nyawade (12-2-2, 8 KOs, Kenya) – 6 rounds, featherweights.