B-Scene Staff Predictions: Klitschko vs. Povetkin

By Jake Donovan

The lineal heavyweight championship is at stake when Wladimir Klitschko collides with Alexander Povetkin in a rare matchup of Olympic Gold medalists. The bout takes place Saturday evening (local time) in Moscow, Russia.

Klitschko has run the tables at heavyweight, holding at least one alphabet belt for 7 ½ years. Many view Povetkin as his toughest test to date; adding to the dynamic of the fight is the anticipation factor, as the fight was scheduled and canceled twice in the past.

Cutting right to the chase, here is how the Boxingscene.com staff believes the action will go down.

“Klitschko in ten.”

- Damien Acevedo (Klitschko TKO10)

“I think Povetkin has the size and talent to make the fight competitive but I also think his lack of experience against elite competition will play a big factor. I see the fight being fought on even terms for 5-6 rounds and then Klitschko taking over down the stretch. Klitschko TKO 10.”

- Ryan Burton (Klitschko TKO10)

“It’s been a year of horrific officiating on both sides of the ropes. Povetkin has home court advantage. There is a massive investment in this fight and the “challenger” has already been bet all the way down from 10-1 to nearly 5-2 odds. Something smells rotten here; I will overplay my hand and predict that Wlad’s dominance from rounds 1-12 is negated by a blatant robbery in the end.”

- Jake Donovan (Povetkin SD)

“Sure, Wlad is 37 years old and meeting an unbeaten foe in that foe’s Moscow backyard, but he’s also among the best five heavyweights since Ali. He’ll show that here, big.”

- Lyle Fitzsimmons (Klitschko TKO10)

“This fight will solely hinge on Povetkin's belief that he can not only get inside of Wladimir's punch range but attack while in there.  He does that we have a fight as Povetkin is a skilled sturdy heavyweight who can bang a little. If not then it will be like the endless amount of Wladimir foes sitting at the end of his punches hoping to land the one money punch that gets them the victory.  I vote for the latter and a stoppage.”

- Ernest Gabion (Klitschko TKO9)

“Klitschko long-ago proved himself as the best heavyweight in the post-Lennox Lewis era. Povetkin's time in this division has been disappointing after all the hullaballoo that came out of his performances at the end of 2007 and beginning of 2008. Unless Povetkin suddenly makes a leap and fulfills all of his otherwise-wasted potential, Wladimir Klitschko adds another name as a notch on his belt.”

- David P. Greisman (Klitschko late TKO or decision)

“Wladimir Klitschko is traveling to Alexander Povetkin's hometurf in Moscow, and given the downright scandalous scorecards we've seen lately, no one is impervious to the judges.  However, I think their pencils will be rendered useless this weekend.  I like the reigning champ to figure Povetkin out by the middle rounds, blunt his offense and ability to string together combinations, and land his own power jab and right cross with increasing effectiveness toward a late stoppage.”

- Ryan Maquinana (Klitschko TKO10)

“The only thing that's really impressed me about Povetkin is how publicly and blatantly he has avoided Vlad over the years.  He will attempt to do that in the ring, too.  As with most Vlad victims, the laser left jab will find a continued home on Povetkin's right eye and eventually Vlad will open up with overhand rights and left hooks.   Povetkin may win one or two rounds along the way, but somewhere between round 7-10, he goes down for the count.”

- Richard Nadjowski (Klitschko TKO 7-10)

“Three things really stand out in this fight.  1) Referee Luis Pabon can sometimes forget that no one paid to see him and can be way over officious; 2) the fight is on Pvetkin's turf in Moscow; and, 3) the styles of the fighters could mesh quite well.  Assuming neither 1 or 2 is any sort of factor, Povetkin's underrated hand and foot speed, and combination punchers, could make for some entertaining rounds.  In the end, the challenger lacks the firepower to keep the champion down and will fall to the big power of Wlad.”

- Cliff Rold (Klitschko TKO)

“Povetkin may be undefeated but he's also never fought a Klitschko. I expect a vintage jab dominated start for Wlad who finally starts dropping the right hand hammer by the mid rounds. Povetkin will only be able to eat a few of those before he goes down for good.”

- Luis Sandoval (Klitschko TKO9)

“In a fight with so many aspects, with politics involved and with a colossal sum of $23 million at stake anything can happen. Yet, I suppose the the support system of Wladimir ensures that the outcome will be defined in the ring, not outside him. And from a sportive standpoint, Alexander comes short in almost every department except for the chin and will. It can be enough to last the distance (which can be a case) but it won't help getting through Wladimir's hard jab and occasional right crosses to the middle distance, where Povetkin's chances are the highest.  In any case, the Russian's chances are slim - yet the fight can be explosive in the first three or four round before the dust will settle down, and Wladimir begins his inevitable but slow grinding.”

- Alexey Sukachev (Klitschko TKO 7-10)

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board, Yahoo Boxing Ratings Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox