By Alexey Sukachev and Dmitry Vasiliev, June, 25, 2007

Is the heavyweight division so weak nowadays, as it seems to be? Although skeptics keep proving the state of the most prestigious category to be poor and awful in their pessimistic reports, new faces here do appear regularly; the fact experts can hardly avoid in their analyses. The ethnic map, however, has changed a lot in recent years. While America possesses no champions in the elite weight class, fighters from the former USSR have accomplished a clean sweep of major titles for the second straight year, making the statement, too strong to be ignored even overseas.

Alexander Povetkin is neither a titlist nor even a contender right now. Despite of that he is a figure to be remembered in every deep boxing overview. It took Alexander only two years at pro ranks to establish himself as probably the hottest young gun in heavyweight. He is already the biggest boxing attraction in Russia as well. Why so?

“He is the man, capable to elevate Russian boxing from its present semi-marginal state to the elite status”, explains Alexander’s co-promoter Vladimir Hrunov. “Sasha has already done it once as an amateur. He has earned something special – an Olympic gold super heavyweight medal in 2004; nobody had ever reached it before in our country. There were all-time amateur heavyweight greats in Soviet boxing: Nikolay Korolev, Ionas Chepulis, Igor Vysotsky. Due to different reasons they had never won Olympic gold medals in the most prestigious weight division. Povetkin was the first Russian to capture this unique title, the biggest in amateur boxing. And let’s not forget that it was no fluke. Alexander took the world (2003) and European (2002) top honors on his way as well”.

“We all hope he will do the same as a pro”, continues Hrunov. “That’s why we spend no time to rush bums. That’s needless for the best amateur heavyweight. I recognize it’s a risky method to make so huge steps in the very beginning of his career. But we are sure in Alexander, though only the future will tell us were we wrong or not”.

Povetkin turned pro in June 2005. He is 12-0 since that with ten wins coming by the way of kayo. Fellow Olympian Richard Bango, Nigerian die-hard Friday Ahunanya, the former world title challenger Ed Mahone, and the IBF cruiserweight ex-champion Imamu Mayfield are the headliners of his victim list. The next name, Alexander will try to add there on June 30, is of totally different kind of magnitude. Larry Donald, 42-4-3, 24 KOs, is probably the toughest possible test for Povetkin, who is rated #10 by the WBC and now #13 by the IBF. Prior the most important fight in his short pro career Alexander took a few minutes to speak with the Fightnews.

- Alexander, you seemed to be extremely calm and confident during the presser. Is it your inner feeling or did you just try to hide your emotions?

- Surely, I’m worried a bit with the fight coming. Donald is a strong and experienced opponent, maybe the toughest for me on this stage of career. But there’s no place for fear in my soul. I can’t even say I’m all that nervous. Of course I’m not a robot but I consider this fight as just another work, which I must accomplish the best possible way.

- How does your training do? Were there any problems during your training camp?

- No, not at all. I feel myself strong and prepared; however, only the fight will tell was my preparation correct or not. As for me I’m very glad to be back to Chekhov, where I feel myself extremely comfortable. That’s very important for me to train in my Motherhood and not abroad. It’s the inner feeling, something strange that makes me stronger and doubles my power and confidence. I hope it’ll help me much on June 30.

- Are there any injuries, making you worry?

- No, thanks God. I feel myself strong and ready.

- You’re fighting for the second time in just a month. Isn’t it a bit too intensive schedule for you?

- No, that’s not a problem. I can’t say that guy, Patrice L’Hereux, was a bum, but he did me no harm at all. I was glad to finish that bout in just two rounds. That gave me an extra confidence and allowed me to try some new technical moments for the next fight.

- You were first scheduled to take on two-time world title challenger Monte Barrett, but then that fight was scratched for good. And here’s Larry Donald coming in. Was it difficult for you to change your training regimen and to start preparing for the different type of fighter?

- Actually, no. I don’t worry about that change at all. I can’t even say there’s a big difference between Barrett and Donald. They are both big, strong heavyweights with their strong sides and weaknesses. However, I don’t care about them. I do care about me and not about my opponents. I’m trying to get ready for anybody in the squared circle.

- Larry Donald looked extremely strong and hard to beat during his last fight with Nikolay Valuev. A huge number of boxing fans, and some Russian fans are among them, think that Valuev was lucky to get the decision in his favor. Have you watched that collision?

- Surely, I have. I consider Nikolay, whom I respect very much, a winner. His hand was raised by the referee at the end and that’s all that counts.

- How do you think Larry will fight the next Saturday? Will he try to chase you or to spend his time jabbing and running?

- He is an awkward fighter, and I feel the fight itself will be extremely awkward and sticky as well. I don’t think he will try to engage me in toe-to-toe two-way action. He will try to overjab me and to run his way to the victory. But Valery Ivanovich Belov (Povetkin’s coach) has developed a special plan to avoid that. I’m sure it’ll work well with Donald.

- You’re not only calm and quite, you do no trash-talking as well….

- I don’t need any of that. They talk the talk, and I do the do. Surely, I can say some F-words; chase my foe mentally and so on. But for what? That doesn’t help much to overcome your opponent in the ring. It’s a lot easier to respect your foe than to make each fight personal.

- Your younger brother Vladimir is also a pro since this March. Tell us more about him.

- Vladimir is an extremely talented fighter. Unfortunately, he had some medical problems in the past, which have been keeping him from the training for six years. Now he is back. Of course he can’t be thrown to the deep waters instantly, so he will try his skills on the fighters of lesser caliber. If he is successful, he will continue to fight under the Sauerland Event aegis. If not, he can easily quit boxing and start his post-boxing life.

- Some daredevils even compare your duet with Klitschko brothers. What do you think about that?

- I think it’s totally incorrect. First of all, we are Povetkins, not Klitschkos. Then we are competing in different weight divisions. And finally we are at the very beginning of our pro careers, especially Vladimir. Klitschkos, on the other hand, are accomplished and strong fighters.

- You are walking to the ring under the special song, which is very popular among Russian fans. Tell us more about it.

- This song, ‘Rus’’ (Rus’ is an old name for Russia), was composed by Russian musician Nikolay Emelin and was presented us as his gift. It means a lot for me and Vladimir. ‘Rus’’ remembers us about our Motherhood in the trying times, gives us more confidence and makes us strong and undefeated. It’s very beautiful, patriotic song, and I’m extremely pleasured to make my walk to the ring under its sounding.

- Back to Donald, what is your prediction about the upcoming fight?

- I don’t like predictions. I’ll do my best to win it, but only the ring will prove who the better fighter is.

- Closing the interview, what can you address your fans and Fightnews readers?

- I wish them all the best and I want to ensure them that I’ll do as much as I can to live up to their hopes and to show boxing at its best on June 30.

Alexander Povetkin will face Larry Donald in ten-rounder on June 30, at Olympiyski Sports Arena in Moscow. Povetkin-Donald collision is the co-featured fight of the ‘Boxing Show #2’, promoted by Yuri Fedorov Sports Lab in association with the Sauerland Event and Seminole Warriors Boxing and with the help of Putinka Boxing Stars.