Povetkin/Donald (6/30)

[a87star]

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=11412&more=1

Unbeaten heavyweight hopeful Alexander Povetkin and American veteran Larry Donald visited Red Square yesterday following their official press conference in Moscow. The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner is looking forward to the biggest challenge of his career: "I am excited to fight a strong man such as Donald in front of my home fans," the 27-year-old said ahead of the clash on June 30..

Povetkin (12-0, 10 KOs) has set his sights on the 13th win in as many fights, while 40-year-old Donald (42-4, 24 KOs) is eager to put himself back in line for a shot at the world title. The American last fought in October 2005 when he lost a WBA title eliminator against Nikolai Valuev.

The fight will be televised in over 25 countries.

[Mr Big]

Assuming the fight is scheduled for 10 rounds, I'll go with Povetkin via UD. Donald is an experienced veteran, and has only been stopped once in 49 fights, and that was by knockout artist, Vitali Klitschko. If it were a 12 rounder, I could almost see Alexander having time to end things late.

Povetkin is a future world champion, and Larry is a solid fighter who, in truth, beat former WBA titlist Nikolay Valuev in his last outing nearly two years ago. He didn't get the nod then, and he certainly won't this time around. Should be a good fight.

[Dave1877]

I will go for an undeserved points defeat for Donald, he will get robbed again

[a87star]

Larry Donald is a solid veteran fighter with a good chin. I give him a lot of credit for going over to Moscow as an "opponent" against a prized prospect in Povetkin considering he was inactive for the last two years. Donald will probably lose a decision but he'll give 100% in trying to pull off a big upset. This fight is scheduled for ten rounds.

It was a shame that Larry got robbed in the Valuev fight because he seems like a humble and standup guy who always tries to defy the odds stacked against him.

[a87star]

Alexander Povetkin won an easy UD over veteran Larry Donald. All scorecards were 100-90 in favor of Povetkin. Donald didn't look in prime shape and was there just to survive. He was passive during the whole fight. Excellent win for Povetkin at this stage of his career.

[Mr Big]

Originally Posted by a87star

Alexander Povetkin won an easy UD over veteran Larry Donald. All scorecards were 100-90 in favor of Povetkin. Donald didn't look in prime shape and was there just to survive. He was passive during the whole fight. Excellent win for Povetkin at this stage of his career.

Read on fightnews yesterday that Povetkin is now wanting a title shot. Think this might be a bit premature, but I believe we are definitely seeing the emergence of a future world champion. (And I'm not talking about the WBE!)

[a87star]

Originally Posted by Mr Big

Read on fightnews yesterday that Povetkin is now wanting a title shot. Think this might be a bit premature, but I believe we are definitely seeing the emergence of a future world champion. (And I'm not talking about the WBE!)

I agree that Povetkin is a future world champ but he should take it slow. There's no doubt that beating Larry Donald is a great accomplishment considering it was only his thirteenth pro fight. His management should still pursue a fight with Monte Barrett or a marginal prospect like Malik Scott. By then, Povetkin will certantly have an EBU title shot awaiting him.

[Mr Big]

Povetkin will continue the current trend of Russian domination of the heavyweight division, and will have a long and prosperous reign as heavyweight champion of the world IMO. Very solid fighter, and I don't see any serious American heavyweight prospects on the horizon to challenge his forthcoming status.

[Mr Big]

Am I the only one that follows my own posts? (LOL!)

Anyway, speaking of American heavyweights, I was looking at boxrec's (whose overall ratings have vastly improved as of late IMO) list, and it reads as follows:

John Ruiz #9 in the world
Eddie Chambers #10
Chris Byrd #11
Tony Thompson #13
Hasim Rahman #14
Calvin Brock #16
Oliver McCall #17
Chris Arreola #21
James Toney #23
Shannon Briggs #24

These are, according to boxrec, Americas top ten heavyweights, and the fact that John Ruiz heads the group, doesn't look promising. The only ray of hope might be Chambers or Arreola, but I don't perceive them as being future world champions. (Unless you count Eddie's IBU crown, which has since been vacated). No disrespect for Mr. Chambers or IceTea, just callin' em' like I see 'em.

Hey guys, I am an American, and I bleed red, white and blue. But, gone are the days of Louis, Marciano, Ali, Liston, Frazier and Foreman. Our best athletes are being taken by the NBA and NFL, where you can make a fast buck, and not get hit in the face (much), doing so.

Growing up, I could have never imagined saying this, but: "Hats off to the guys from Russia." Apparently, they're doing something right.

[a87star]

As of right now, Eddie Chambers is the best American heavyweight IMO. That speaks volumes on how far boxing has fallen in this country. Povetkin would walk right through that top ten list. Let's face it, most European (notably Eastern Europe) are well schooled boxers and become real students of the fight game. You'll never seen an American heavyweight (or any fighter from here) participate in over 250 amateur fights and win multiple international tournaments......well, not in this lifetime. Povetkin won twelve amateur tournaments in a row before turning pro. Being the best they can be comes before getting a easy paycheck.

[IceTea]

I also believe that Chambers is currently the best American heavyweight. Oliver McCall can give anyone trouble on any given night but he can be outworked as long as you can take his punch. Tony Thompson is a dark horse in the division.

As an amateur boxing coach, I can say that most kids today are pulled in many different directions. There are a lot more sports today than when I was a kid and the internet/video games are also a factor. It is too easy to say that America's dominate heavyweight is playing small forward for the Cavaliers. Basketball also stinks in the US. Why do you think that an ever growing percentage of the NBA is from somewhere else.

Athletic ability isn't a factor to becoming a great or even good boxer. If it were, Carl Lewis would have been a cruiserweight champion. Fighters are born, not made. It is just the case that too many would be fighters aren't joining boxing gyms but are sitting at home in front of a computer screen or screwing off doing something else unproductive. I will also add that many parents today live vicariously through their children allowing them to only concentrate on one sport instead of playing them all. That has also injured the quality of amateur and professional boxing.