Photos by Photo Wende: There were two special visitors at the Max-Schmeling-Gym this week when unbeaten heavyweight star Alexander Povetkin (14-0, 11 KOs) presented his new fightname. The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner will now be known as “The White Lion”. Between two practice sessions, he took time out to meet two exotic talismans, Amir and Nell..
24The four-month-old baby lions from the Safaripark Stukenbrock certainly enjoyed playing with the Russian star. It was Wilfried Sauerland´s idea to give Povetkin the new nickname. “I´ve been living in Africa for a long time and that´s why I have a soft spot in my heart for lions,” the promoter said. “The lion is the king of the animals, and Alexander fights like a lion. When a good friend of mine adopted the two babies from the Safaripark, the idea came up.”
White lions, a very rare form, owe their coloring to a recessive gene. There are just 100 left worldwide. Because they would not survive own their own, they exclusively live in zoological gardens. Legendary German magicians Siegfried and Roy made them famous. “I know Siegfried and Roy
and once saw white lions at their home in Las Vegas,” Sauerland said. “White lions are very, very special and beautiful.”
Povetkin certainly enjoyed his time with the two babies. “They are wonderful. At first they were a little shy but then they got used to me really quick.” Fritz Wurms, managing director of the popular Safaripark in Stukenbrock, gave the Russian star a stuffed lion as a souvenir. “It´s a special talisman and will help you to become the king of the heavyweight,” Wurms said.
Povetkin will have to fight like a lion when he battles out the final IBF eliminator with top-ranked American Eddie Chambers (30-0, 16 KOs) on Saturday. “I´ll prove my lion heart,” Povetkin claimed.