by James Slater – Unbeaten 30-year-old Russian heavyweight Alexander Povetkin won an IBF final eliminator and with it a shot at Ring magazine, IBF and WBO heavyweight ruler Wladimir Klitschko back in January of this year, when he out-pointed “Fast” Eddie Chambers. However, due to an injury, Povetkin had to withdraw from a fight with “Dr. Steel Hammer” and now, almost a year later, his title assault is still awaited.
Now being trained by Teddy Atlas, the 17-0(12) contender has recently had his name connected with a possible interim IBF title fight with Samuel Peter, the former WBC champ.. The reason is because Wladimir is currently out with an injury and may not be able to fight again until March or so of next year. However, according to BoxRec, Povetkin, inactive since his April points win over Jason Estrada, will box another tune-up fight in December, on the under-card of the Marco Huck-Ola Afolabi WBO cruiserweight title fight in Germany.
If this listing by the usually reliable BoxRec is correct, it would indicate how Povetkin and his team feel he is in need of further action before going for the interim version of the belt against Peter. The Povetkin-Peter fight may still happen, but first it looks like Povetkin will face former WBA world title challenger Owen “What The Heck” Beck.
Having the look of a most winnable fight for Povetkin, his clash with Beck could nonetheless be an interesting fight. Now aged 33 and with a good 29-3(20) record, Beck has won four in a row against so-so opposition since the fight he is probably most well know for; his 3rd-round stoppage loss to then WBA heavyweight boss Nikolai Valuev, back in June of 2006. 4-0(2) since suffering what to date is only his second inside the distance loss (Monte Barrett having stopped Beck in the 9th-round in early 2005), Beck just might be hungry again. If he is, the fight with Povetkin could be somewhat lively.
A lot may depend on what kind of shape Beck is in on December 5th. He weighed a hefty 258 for his last fight, a points win over Jermell Barnes in August of this year, and in a fight before that Beck weighed 262. For the Valuev fight he weighed a much trimmer 242, and the increased weight may suggest a lack of discipline in the gym. Giving Beck the benefit of the doubt and trusting him to come into the Povetkin fight in shape, he could perhaps have a puncher’s chance.
With 20 KO’s to his name, Beck can bang a little, and Povetkin isn’t the hardest guy in the world to catch. And Povetkin has been inactive as of late – just that one fight with Estrada so far this year. If Beck comes in with real desire, he could make things hot for the top contender; for a while.
Povetkin will almost certainly get the win, though, and then hopefully he will get in there and fight for a world title – either an interim version against Peter, or the real thing against Klitschko. Otherwise, the exciting Russian hope will begin to see rival fighters take over him as he himself loses momentum. Let’s hope the Beck fight will be Povetkin’s final tune-up.
According to BoxRec, the fight is scheduled for eight-rounds.