Alexander Povetkin has vowed to take one step at a time as he prepares for Saturday´s showdown with Jason Estrada. The White Lion is eager to return to the ring following his ankle injury which forced him to postpone his hotly-anticipated clash with heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Today Povetkin (16-0, 12 KOs) gave the fans a first taste of his class during a public work-out session in Dusseldorf. “When I twisted my ankle back in October, I didn´t think it was a big issue at first. But the doctor´s diagnosis then was a huge blow for me,” he recalled. “However, I have put the injury past me. I am back at 100 percent and don’t have any problems with my left foot any more..”
Even though the showdown with Klitschko is on the horizon, the top-ranked IBF challenger claimed he will shift his full focus to Estrada. “I am only thinking about Saturday,” Povetkin said. “Estrada is on my mind. Once I have beaten him, I want to fight Wladimir Klitschko.”
While Povetkin only did some light shadow boxing and skipping during the work-out, Estrada (15-1, 3 KOs) also worked the pads with assistant coach Ernest Shelton, firing quick series of hooks. Just like Povetkin, the American also took time to speak to the on-site media members. Asked about his ‘lights out tattoo’, he replied: “Povetkin will see what that means.”
In the co-featured main event, EU heavyweight champion Francesco Pianeta (18-0, 11 KOs) will make a third defence of the title he won last August. It will be a special fight for the 24-year-old who was born in Italy and raised in Gelsenkirchen, which is just 30 miles away from Dusseldorf. “My coach Ulli Wegner has prepared me very well,” he said.
“I am in top shape and will leave the ring as the winner.” His opponent, experienced Albert Sosnowski (44-2, 27 KOs), is also confident of success. “He is a big guy but he has only limited boxing abilities,” the challenger said. “I will win the fight in the last couple of rounds.”
Also in action will be local hero Nadia Raoui (9-0, 3 KOs). The 23-year-old will clash with Maria Rosa Tabbuso (12-1, 3 KOs) for the WIBA Flyweight Title. Raoui came to fame last December when she fascinated a sell-out crowd of 12.000 fans in Zurich on the Valuev-Holyfield undercard. The fans reacted with shock and disbelief when the judges scored the fight a draw which allowed Eileen Olszewski to keep her title. “I am so close of accomplishing my goal and win the world title,” the ‘Beauty Beast’ said. “I have trained very hard with my coach Dietmar Berg and I am well prepared.”
Raoui will count on the fan support from her nearby home city Herne. Last night she played tour guide for Alexander Povetkin, giving him a brief tour of Dusseldorf. “I am really looking forward to Saturday night,” she added.
Estrada Ready For Povetkin
PROVIDENCE (March 27, 2009) – 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason “Big Six” Estrada held an open media workout today at his ”Big Six Academy” in Providence before he departs Sunday for Germany to fight Alexander Povetkin, 2004 Olympic gold medalist and the IBF’s No. 1 contender, April 4 in Dusseldorf, Germany. Estrada (15-1, 3 KOs) and Povetkin (16-0, 12 KOs) nearly fought several times as amateurs but it never materialized, due to their contrasting schedules, until now as professionals. Povetkin, who has a mandated title shot this fall against IBF heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, signed to fight Estrada because, according to reports from his camp, he wants a test not a tune-up.
“Training has gone well and my body is good,” Estrada said today. “I’m going over there to whoop his butt. He’s going to be out of his league. He’s not used to fighting somebody like me. This isn’t going to be cute; it’s going to be a real fight. The only real fight he’s been in was against Eddie Chambers (WDEC12). I thought he (Povetkin) lost but they gave it to him. He’d throw five slaps but only two would be what I call clean. I’m a lot more aggressive and mean than Eddie Chambers.”
Providence-native Estrada was one of the most highly decorated American amateur boxers ever, compiling an amazing 261-14 record in U.S. competition. He was the first boxer to win both the U.S. Nationals and U.S. Challenge three years (2001-2003) in a row.
For more information about Estrada go to his promoter’s (Jimmy Burchfield’s Classic Entertainment and Sports, Inc.) web site at www.cesboxing.com.
Boxing meets hockey
Alexander Povetkin caught up with fellow Olympic gold medal winners Timo Wess, Christopher Zeller und Max Weinhold on Wednesday afternoon when they met for a special training session. The White Lion, a gold medallist at Athens, received a thorough introduction by the German field hockey trio that led their country to fame at the 2008 Olympics in Peking. “Ice-hockey is very popular in Russia,” said Povetkin, who was surprised to find out that the sport could also be played on an artificial grass pitch. “A comedy-show host in Russia once said that the Germans only invented field hockey for them to finally win a medal,” he joked.
Povetkin learned how to stop the ball, pass and shoot before challenging legendary German keeper Weinhold in a shootout. The German goalie had saved no less than three of six penalties in an epic showdown with arch-rivals Holland in the Olympic semi-final. He was at his best again, diverting all of Povetkin´s promising attempts until the Russian found a way past him.
The heavyweight star then impressed his training partners during the boxing work-out. “I cannot believe how powerful he punches,” Zeller said after working the pads with him. “His punching power is incredible.” Replied Povetkin: “I was just at 20 percent.” Said Zeller: “Poor Wladimir Klitschko.”