BoxRec

Seen that Povetkin v Monte Barrett is on for 30th of June. There not hanging around with Povetkin are they, whats everyone make of him?

Saw his last few fights and he looks to have improved as he's gone on, very fast hands and puts his combinations together well.

At this rate he's got to be fighting for a title soon

The kid has cojones, there is no doubt about that.

I really like that his people have so much faith in his abilities too.

Really looking forward to this MAJOR test (considering his relative inexperince in the pro ring.)

Its nice to see a heavy who is built along normal lines aswell. No 6'7" failed basketball player or out and out freak of nature here - just an exceptionally well schooled and moderately built heavyweight boxer.

I think he looks very good: quick hands, varies his attacks well, decent power. I expect him to see off Barrett easily enough. Hopefully he's kept busy. Christ knows the heavyweight division needs someone prepared to at least try and blow through it.

He looks good, but he reminds me a bit of Vassily Jirov. He doesn't have much of a jab either. I think he'll do well because the heavyweight division is so weak, but he's not as good as past Olympic champs who have gone into the pro's ie Audley Harrison.

Good fight, Barrett is solid if unspectacular. Not sure what he really has that could trouble a geniune prospect - however, Barrett is fringe top ten and given Valuev and Rahman some cause for concern. I think its an excellent match by the match maker - Barrett would probably lose to many in the top 20 - so its good that Povetkin gets him now when his stock is at his highest.

ArtOfWar wrote:He looks good, but he reminds me a bit of Vassily Jirov. He doesn't have much of a jab either. I think he'll do well because the heavyweight division is so weak, but he's not as good as past Olympic champs who have gone into the pro's ie Audley Harrison.

He may resemble Jirov somewhat facially (and with that standard Soviet 'pudding bowl' haircut..) but I think he has far better variety and handspeed than the former Val Baker trophy winner.

Povetkin has the skills and drive to clean up for my money. Just a question of when, not if, IMO.

ArtOfWar wrote:He looks good, but he reminds me a bit of Vassily Jirov. He doesn't have much of a jab either. I think he'll do well because the heavyweight division is so weak, but he's not as good as past Olympic champs who have gone into the pro's ie Audley Harrison.

I actually said the same thing when Povetkin was an amateur on the boxingranks forum.

Well the comparison with Jirov (not Harrison being better than him). I think they fight very similar.

TerribleTerry wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:He looks good, but he reminds me a bit of Vassily Jirov. He doesn't have much of a jab either. I think he'll do well because the heavyweight division is so weak, but he's not as good as past Olympic champs who have gone into the pro's ie Audley Harrison.

He may resemble Jirov somewhat facially (and with that standard Soviet 'pudding bowl' haircut..) but I think he has far better variety and handspeed than the former Val Baker trophy winner.

Povetkin has the skills and drive to clean up for my money. Just a question of when, not if, IMO.

Yeah, his hands are a bit faster and he's got a bit more variety, but he definitely resembles Jirov. He has that same walk you down style with his face out front. I can just imagine a big strong heavyweight with some skill slamming him with jabs and right crosses all night long. Lucky for Povetkin there is no big strong heavyweight to do that to him except Wlad, and he's always gonna be an accident waiting to happen.

Stu agrees with me as well, so we must be onto something. The resemblance is there.

barret is a bit of a gatekeeper of the heavyweight division....monte flutters around the top 20 and does not seem to beat any of the top notch guys, if you are really special you will stop him...

im looking forward to this one...

I think Povetkin will stop him, he'll overwhelm Barrett. Barrett is your typical modern day American heavyweight. His skills are ok, but nothing special and his desire doesn't seem to be all that great. Povetkin will out work him, out man him and stop him in 6 or 7 rounds.

Damn good fight. Barrett is a guy I would like to see Haye fight too.

I think its the speed of Povetkin that suprises alot of his opponents, they think they have him at a safe distance and he then catches em' with shots they don't see.
Also he moves them into position on the inside to get his shots off.

big ballsy test ......Kudos from everyone it seems


its interesting when u concider Francois Bergaron (somthing like 29-0 against tom cans) has seen just about enough boxers outpoint Robert Hawkins for him to be considered for his next decent fight :P

fading Hawkins will beat the pussy bergaron...infact i'll wager everyone of povetkins victims could beat bergaron ?????

I see that Bergaron is going to fight Valuev if he beats Hawkins, must be time to cash in for his managment.

ArtOfWar wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:

ArtOfWar wrote:He looks good, but he reminds me a bit of Vassily Jirov. He doesn't have much of a jab either. I think he'll do well because the heavyweight division is so weak, but he's not as good as past Olympic champs who have gone into the pro's ie Audley Harrison.

He may resemble Jirov somewhat facially (and with that standard Soviet 'pudding bowl' haircut..) but I think he has far better variety and handspeed than the former Val Baker trophy winner.

Povetkin has the skills and drive to clean up for my money. Just a question of when, not if, IMO.

Yeah, his hands are a bit faster and he's got a bit more variety, but he definitely resembles Jirov. He has that same walk you down style with his face out front. I can just imagine a big strong heavyweight with some skill slamming him with jabs and right crosses all night long. Lucky for Povetkin there is no big strong heavyweight to do that to him except Wlad, and he's always gonna be an accident waiting to happen.

Stu agrees with me as well, so we must be onto something. The resemblance is there.

I think Jirov was a guy who threw much wider shots. It looks like Povetkin has tightened up his punching and found a fluid rhythm. Something he did not have a year or 2 ago. I like his killer instinct. There's an urgency about Povetkin. Though I won't push the comparison too far as I've only seen Povetkin in prospect fights whereas all the Jirov fights I've seen were championship level.

Barrett is a very good choice by whoever the matchmaker is. He is a live fighter who will most certainly come to win, and, if Povetkin excels, the path to the title will really be wide open for him.

Anyone thinking of travelling to my home town to see this one?

Nice to see they have such faith in Povetkin. While I can see the comparisons made with Jirov a little I think Povetkin has more variety and is a natural Heavyweight. Jirov wasn't a bad Cruiser at all either!

US heavy Kevin Johnson had a similar 'brave novice in at the deep end' thing going on some months back.........but has now shrivelled up and joined David 'el nipple' rodriquez at that far end of the scale where no natural light can penetrate.

Hearing rumours that it's Povekin v Larry Donald now.

christ i hope not

another wading thru glue King HW

If Barrett is still in it's a great test, Povetkin has all the variety, great hooks and solid right hand. He does tend to neglect the jab and can cop a few but he overwhelms opponents with his skills, did a good job after some tricky early moments dispatching David Bostice last time out. Sticking him in with Richard Bango and Friday Ahunanya already shows Sauerland has the confidence in Povetkin to go far.

And i hope Povetkin does go far, i'm fed up with the American commentators reading the last rites on the Heavyweight division simply because the power has shifted to the Eastern Bloc. Okay so we know the Heavies are in a dire state at the moment but these overhyped athletic American heavies who cant fight are no closer to winning a world crown let alone dominating the division. Long may the Russians rule!!!