Alexander Povetkin (22-0, 15 KOs) is the new World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight Champion after clinching a unanimous points victory over Ruslan Chagaev (27-2-1, 17 KOs). The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner was ahead 117-113, 117-113 and 116-112 after twelve hard-fought rounds. “It was a very tough fight,” Povetkin said afterwards. “I am very happy that I won. This is for my father, who died last year and always wanted me to be world champion.”
Povetkin was off to the better start, dominating the early rounds when he used his quickness to land strong combinations. But Chagaev, the first man ever to defeat the Russian Giant Nikolai Valuev, turned it on in the fifth and sixth. He rocked his opponent with huge southpaw lefts. Teddy Atlas then said some inspirational words to Povetkin during the break. “I told him that the feeling of exhaustion would not last forever, only for 18 minutes at most,” he stated. “I told him he was about to write history. He could become heavyweight champion of the world and win the title for his father.” Povetkin survived the scare and fought back, hitting Chagaev with strong combinations. In the later rounds, he would regain control, cleverly firing in series of hooks and uppercuts. “Povetkin was better and deserved to win,” Chagaev said. “I´m very disappointed. It was not my day.”
Povetkin´s promoter Kalle Sauerland praised the Russian warrior´s skills and will. “He really showed he wanted to win the title. He hung in there when things got rough in the sixth round. I am very happy for Alexander that all his hard work has finally paid off. He´s been an Olympic champion and now he has fulfilled his dream of becoming heavyweight champion as a professional.”
Among the 4,500 spectators in Erfurt, Germany was four-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. The Real Deal liked what he saw. “It was a great fight,” he said. “Povetkin and Chagaev fought like middleweights, they were very fast and threw a lot of punches. Povetkin was better. He deserves to be world champion. It was a strong performance.”
In the co-featured main event, Robert Helenius (16-0, 11 KOs) continued his impressive rise to stardom with another KO victory over an ex-world champion. After knocking out Lamon Brewster and Sam Peter, the Nordic Nightmare stopped a battered Siarhei Liakhovich (25-4, 16 KOs) in the ninth round. It was an entertaining fight, with both men trading punches and landing clear shots. Helenius, 27, bruised his opponent´s face early and broke his nose in the second round but it was not before the eighth stanza that he exploded and knocked Liakhovich down with a powerful combination. The bell saved the White Wolf, but after 19 seconds of round 9 and another knock-down following a combination, the referee waved the fight off. “This is another big win for me,” Helenius said. “I started a little slowly but my coach Mr Wegner woke me up and then I did the right things. Liakhovich was very tough but I was the better man tonight and that´s why I won.”
Liakhovich gave Helenius, who defended his WBA/WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Titles, credit: “He is very strong,” the White Wolf stated. “I don´t want to make any excuses or take anything away from him, but I broke my nose in the second round and had trouble to breathe. But he fought a great fight and deserved to win.”
Hall of Fame Promoter Wilfried Sauerland was full of praise for the hard-hitting Scandinavian. “That was another fantastic win,” he stated. “Robert has now knocked out three former world champions, which is amazing given his young age of just 27 years. His power is incredible and he has the potential to be world champion in the future. It was a great evening of heavyweight boxing.”
Undefeated Thompson defeats Takehara at Battle at the Boat 83
TACOMA, Wash. – Heavyweight Vincent Thompson remained undefeated with an 8-round unanimous decision over Masataka Takehara in the main event of Battle at the Boat 83 at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma.
Establishing his jab early and often, Thompson improved to 9-0 with the victory over Takehara, the top-ranked heavyweight in Japan.
Thompson appeared as the 80-72 winner on all three judge’s scorecards.
To prepare for the bout Thompson spent the last week training in Moscow, Russia under the watch of Teddy Atlas, who conditioned Michael Moorer to the world heavyweight title in 1994.
Thompson spend time sparring with Alexander Provetkin (22-0), who defeated Ruslan Chagaev for the vacant WBA world heavyweight title on Aug. 27.
“It was an incredible experience getting to work with Teddy and sparring with Provetkin,” said Thompson, who at 235 pounds was five pounds lighter than Takehara. “All the training in Russia really paid off tonight. I felt really strong in there.”
Light welterweight Oscar Andrade also remained unbeaten, improving to 7-0 with a win over Michael Lucero (60-53, 59-54, 59-54).
Also on the undercard, cruiserweight Tommy Davis defeated Jose Rico by second-round KO, Randell Corpuz notched his first career victory by defeating Nalo Leal by unanimous decision in a battle of welterweights, super middleweight Mike Gavronski improved to 3-0 with a fourth-round KO of Darren Anzai and Aaron Schupp and Edgar Zubia fought to a draw in a clash of light welterweights.
Professional boxing returns to the Emerald Queen Casino on Nov. 5 with Battle at the Boat 84.
Dusty Harrison Off, Local WBC Middleweight Champ Tori Nelson Added to Sept 10 Jimmy Lange Boxing Card
FAIRFAX, VA (August 29, 2011) – After further discussion and consideration between Jimmy Lange Boxing officials and Dusty Harrison’s team, it has been decided that the promising D.C. welterweight prospect will not fight on the September 10 show at the Patriot Center, as previously announced. Both groups expressed their interest and intention for the rising local fighter to participate on a future Jimmy Lange Boxing show in front of his hometown fans.
In other news, Jimmy Lange Boxing officials are pleased to announce that Tori Nelson (4-0-1) of Ashburn, VA, who captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title with an upset over Lorissa Rivas on July 29 in Trinidad and Tobago, will fight on the card. Nelson will challenge former National Golden Gloves champion Michelle Garland (1-1-1) of Philadelphia, PA in a four-round, non-title contest.
Nelson, a three-time Washington, D.C. Golden Gloves champion, is a single mother with two children who juggles numerous jobs while pursuing a career inside the ring. She drives a school bus and works in the cafeteria for the Loudoun County School system and also waitresses at an area IHOP restaurant.
In the evening’s Main Event, hometown fan favorite and former star of the boxing reality TV show The Contender Jimmy Lange (Great Falls, VA) will fight for a world title, taking on Raul “El Toro” Munoz (Topeka, KS) for the World Boxing Union (WBU) 154-lb Championship. The card will also feature Lange’s Contender teammate Jonathan “Reid Dawg” Reid facing George “Wartime” Rivera in the co-Main Event plus another Contender participant (Season 2) Michael “No Joke” Stewart. Todd “White Lightning” Wilson (Fairfax) will battle former world champion Eric “Mighty Mouse” Aiken (Washington, DC), while Zain Shah (Chantilly), Lawrence Jones (Reston) and Scott Sigmon (Lynchburg) will also be showcased.
Tickets, priced at $35, $50, $75, $125, $200, $300 and $500 (plus applicable service charges), can be bought through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com/ and via Phonecharge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035.
Doors will open at 6:00 pm, with the first fight scheduled to begin promptly at 7:00 pm. All bouts are subject to change. Jackie “First Lady of Boxing” Kallen serves as promoter with matchmaking duties handled by J.D. Brown.