Alexander Povetkin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander Povetkin Алекса́ндр Пове́ткин
Povetkin in 2015
Statistics
Nickname(s)	Sasha Russian Vityaz White Lion
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	1.88 m
Reach	190 cm
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1979-09-02) 2 September 1979 (age 45) Kursk, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	40
Wins	36
Wins by KO	25
Losses	3
Draws	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  Russia Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Super-heavyweight World Championships Gold 2003 Bangkok Super-heavyweight European Championships Gold 2002 Perm Super-heavyweight Gold 2004 Pula Super-heavyweight European Junior Championships Gold 2002 Perm Super-heavyweight Strandzha Cup Gold 2002 Bulgaria Super-heavyweight Gold 2003 Bulgaria Super-heavyweight

Alexander Vladimirovich Povetkin (born 2 September 1979) is a Russian former professional boxer. He competed from 2005 to 2021. He held the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title from 2011 to 2013. He also held the World Boxing Council (WBC) interim heavyweight title from 2020 to 2021.

As an amateur, Povetkin won gold medals in the super-heavyweight division. These included wins at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships. He also won gold at the 2003 World Championships and the 2004 Olympics. After becoming a professional in 2005, he won the WBA title in 2011. He defended this title five times. He later challenged for the unified heavyweight championship in 2013 and 2018.

Povetkin was often ranked among the top heavyweights by BoxRec. He also won the WBC Knockout of the Year award in 2020.

Amateur Boxing Success

Alexander Povetkin started his fighting career in kickboxing. He won a World Junior championship in 1997. He also won a World title in 1999 and a European professional kickboxing title in 2000.

In 2000, at age 21, Povetkin won his first major boxing tournament. This was at the Russian Championships. He then won several other big amateur tournaments. These included the Good Will Games in Australia in 2001. He also won the European Championship in 2002 and 2004. In 2003, he won the World Championship in Thailand.

His biggest amateur success was winning the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He won in the super-heavyweight division. He finished his amateur career with a record of 125 wins and 7 losses. He later got revenge for all his losses.

Professional Boxing Journey

Alexander Povetkin became a professional boxer in 2005. He quickly built an undefeated record.

Early Career Wins (2005-2007)

Povetkin started his professional career with many wins. He gained attention after winning his 13th fight. He defeated experienced boxer Larry Donald in 2007. This win was by a unanimous decision.

Path to a Title Shot (2007-2011)

After beating Donald, Povetkin became a rising star in the heavyweight division. In 2007, he fought Chris Byrd, a former champion. Povetkin won by TKO in the 11th round. Byrd's team stopped the fight.

In 2008, Povetkin defeated Eddie Chambers by unanimous decision. This made him the mandatory challenger for the IBF title. He continued to win, including a knockout against Taurus Sykes in 2008.

Becoming a World Champion (2011-2013)

In 2011, the WBA "Regular Champion" title became available. Povetkin fought Ruslan Chagaev for this title. Povetkin won by unanimous decision. This made him the WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion.

His first defense was against Cedric Boswell in December 2011. Povetkin won by knockout in the 8th round. His next defense was against Marco Huck in 2012. This was a very tough fight for Povetkin. He won by a majority decision, meaning two judges scored it for him, and one scored it a draw.

Povetkin then defended his title against Hasim Rahman in 2012. He won by TKO in the 2nd round. In 2013, he fought Andrzej Wawrzyk. Povetkin won by TKO in the 3rd round.

Challenging for Unified Titles (2013)

In October 2013, Povetkin faced Wladimir Klitschko. Klitschko held several major heavyweight titles. This was a huge fight, with many viewers in Europe. Klitschko won by unanimous decision. Povetkin suffered his first professional loss.

Returning to Victory (2014-2015)

After his loss, Povetkin changed his training. In 2014, he fought Manuel Charr. Povetkin won by knockout in the 7th round, winning the WBC International title.

He then fought Carlos Takam in October 2014. This was a back-and-forth fight. Povetkin won by knockout in the 10th round, earning the WBC Silver title. This knockout was considered one of the best of 2014.

In 2015, Povetkin fought Mike Perez. This was a fight to decide who would challenge for the WBC heavyweight title. Povetkin won by knockout in the first round. He then defended his WBC Silver title against Mariusz Wach in November 2015. Povetkin won by TKO in the 12th round.

Challenges and Comebacks (2016-2018)

Povetkin was set to fight Deontay Wilder for the WBC World Championship in 2016. However, the fight was postponed due to a failed drug test. Povetkin's team stated he had stopped taking the substance before it was banned. Later tests showed no traces of the substance.

He was then scheduled to fight Bermane Stiverne for an interim WBC title. This fight was also canceled due to another failed drug test by Povetkin. Povetkin's team again claimed the traces were very small. He then fought Johann Duhaupas on short notice and won by knockout in the 6th round.

In March 2017, Povetkin was fined and banned by the WBC. However, the ban was lifted in December 2017. He was allowed back into the WBC rankings in 2018.

Povetkin returned to the ring in July 2017. He fought Andriy Rudenko and won by unanimous decision. He won the WBA Continental and WBO International titles. In December 2017, he fought Christian Hammer. Povetkin won by unanimous decision, keeping his WBO International title. He also won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental title.

In March 2018, Povetkin fought David Price. Povetkin won by knockout in the 5th round. This win made him a mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua's WBA and WBO titles.

Unified Title Challenge (2018)

On 22 September 2018, Povetkin challenged Anthony Joshua for his WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles. The fight took place at Wembley Stadium in London. Joshua won by TKO in the 7th round. Povetkin showed great skill early in the fight, but Joshua eventually took control.

Later Career and Retirement (2019-2021)

After his loss to Joshua, Povetkin had elbow operations. He returned to the ring in August 2019. He won a unanimous decision against Hughie Fury in London.

In December 2019, Povetkin fought Michael Hunter. The fight ended in a split decision draw, meaning the judges had different opinions, and neither fighter won. Both boxers wanted a rematch.

In August 2020, Povetkin faced Dillian Whyte for the WBC interim heavyweight title. Whyte knocked Povetkin down twice in the 4th round. However, Povetkin landed a powerful uppercut in the 5th round. This knocked Whyte out, and Povetkin won the WBC interim title. This knockout was a contender for "Knockout of the Year."

Povetkin's first defense of his WBC interim title was a rematch against Dillian Whyte in March 2021. The fight was in Gibraltar. Povetkin lost by TKO in the 4th round. Whyte regained the WBC interim title.

On 13 June 2021, Alexander Povetkin announced his retirement from boxing. He was 41 years old. He said that years of boxing had taken a toll on his body, and he needed to treat his injuries.

Personal Life

Alexander Povetkin has a daughter named Arina from his first marriage. In July 2013, he married Yevgenia Merkulova. His brother, Vladimir Povetkin, is also a professional boxer. Both brothers were trained by Valery Belov.

Povetkin follows a traditional Slavic faith called Rodnovery. He wears a necklace shaped like Perun's Axe. He also has a tattoo of the Star of Rus on his left arm.

In May 2024, Povetkin was appointed Deputy Governor of Vologda Oblast in Russia.

Professional Boxing Record

Boxing Titles Held

Alexander Povetkin held several important boxing titles during his career:

Major World Titles

• WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion

Interim and Silver World Titles

• WBC interim heavyweight champion
• WBC Silver heavyweight champion

Regional and International Titles

• WBA International heavyweight champion
• WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion
• WBA Continental heavyweight champion
• WBC International heavyweight champion
• WBO International heavyweight champion

Honorary Titles

• WBC Diamond heavyweight champion

Viewership Numbers

Many people watched Alexander Povetkin's fights, especially in Germany, Russia, and Ukraine.

Germany

Russia

Ukraine

UK Pay-Per-View Fights

See also

In Spanish: Aleksandr Povetkin para niños

• List of world heavyweight boxing champions
• List of WBA world champions
• List of Olympics medalists in boxing
• Boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics