ALEXANDER POVETKIN

updated January 25, 2008

Alexander Povetkin is a man on a mission. After winning absolutely everything as an amateur, he is now eager to continue his success in the world of professional boxing. And once again, there seems to be no stopping him.

It took the charismatic Russian just two years to march up the rankings and put himself in a position for a world title shot. "Things are not going too fast," he said. "I am just sticking to our plan. There is only one goal left in my athletic career and that is becoming world champion."

After all, Povetkin is used to winning. As an amateur, he was as dominant as one could be, winning two European titles (2002, 2004), one world title (2003) and also the Olympic gold medal in Athens. "Finishing first at the Olympics was the greatest moment of my career," he stated. "There is nothing quite like it."

Famed and feared long before he made his first professional fight, Povetkin found himself on the wish list of every high-profile promoter between Moscow and Las Vegas. But thanks to the tireless efforts of Kalle Sauerland, the Russian star eventually decided to join Sauerland Event. "Their offer was the best by far," Povetkin explained. "I did not want to train in America but stay in Europe. And the most important condition was to keep working with my coach Valery Belov. Only Sauerland made it possible - and above that, everything else I could have asked for."

Trained by Belov and jointly managed by Wilfried Sauerland and Vlad Hrunov, Povetkin spends most of the time in his home city of Tschechow. If there is one thing even he will find hard to accomplish, it is becoming the city's most popular son. Tschechow is the place where world famous Russian author Alexander Pushkin lived and worked. It is not seldom that Povetkin pays the local Pushkin museum a visit. Ironically, Pushkin died after a duel. "He would have better left the fighting to me," Povetkin said. "He was such a great author - and I will be a great boxer. But I will not meet the same fate. I will never lose a duel."

In his new life as a professional, Povetkin is still unbeaten. He made his highly-anticipated - and certainly a very stylish - professional debut in June 2005, stopping Muhammed Ali Durmaz in the second round. Povetkin never looked back, defeating the likes of Friday Ahunanya, Ed Mahone and Imamu Mayfield in the following. In his 11th fight, he destroyed David Bostice (37-12, 15 KOs) inside two rounds. Sauerland had encountered difficulties in finding opponents for the former Olympic gold medal winner, and the impressive performance in Rostock told why. With Russian TV broadcasting live, Povetkin was off to a flying start, landing big hands from the first bell on. When he pinned Bostice to the ropes at the end of the second by firing in perfectly-placed bombs, the bout was halted. Two months later, Canada's Patrice L' Heureux became the next victim. He, too, did not last two rounds.

Then came the biggest test of his young career, a showdown with accomplished U.S. veteran Larry Donald. Fighting in front of a ferocious home crowd in Moscow, Povetkin confirmed his status as the hottest heavyweight prospect by winning every single round. "It was a tough fight against a very experienced opponent but I am pleased with my performance," Povetkin said after the shutout decision. "I am ready for a world title shot."

Co-manager Wilfried Sauerland was full of praise for his up-and-coming star. "That was a great performance by Alexander," he lauded. "He absolutely dominated his experienced opponent. He also showed that he is capable of going the full ten rounds even though it was an exhausting battle. He did not take many shots but hit Donald very often."

It was not long and the IBF decided to include Povetkin in their four-way box-off to determine Wladimir Klitschko's next mandatory challenger. Povetkin was pitted against former champion Chris Byrd. Again, he would prevail. When the Russian trapped Byrd in his corner in the penultimate round to launch yet another furious assault, coach Joe Byrd threw the towel. "This was a big win for me," Povetkin said. "Byrd was a strong and very experienced opponent. He defended well but I kept trying. The victory was a giant stride towards my ultimate goal."

From the first bell on, Povetkin had stamped his authority on the bout. Constantly marching forward, he was best when he pinned Byrd in the corner and pelted him with heavy combinations. "I have never seen my son take so many shots," Joe Byrd admitted afterwards. "I take my hat off to Povetkin. He will be the next champion." The Russian star, a major fan darling in his home country, used a deadly mixture of explosiveness and punching power to wear the 37-year-old down. "He was more determined and deserved to win," Byrd (40-4, 21 KOs) praised afterwards. "He is like a young tiger and reminds me of the fighter I was when I was 13-0. He will go a long way from here and win the title."

The 4.000 fans in Erfurt roared every time the former world amateur champion fired in his heavy hands. With 68 seconds remaining in the penultimate round and Povetkin about to go for the kill, Byrd's corner decided their fighter had taken enough punishment. "Today Alexander proved why we hold him in such high esteem," manager Wilfried Sauerland lauded. "That was a great performance and a spectacular fight which fascinated the crowd."

On January 26, Povetkin will be looking to "take the next step" when he battles out the final eliminator with unbeaten American Eddie Chambers (30-0, 16 KOs). "He is a young gun just like me but I have not wasted a single thought about losing," Povetkin said. "I am just one win away from a world title fight and I will allow nobody to take this chance away from me. I was a champion as an amateur and soon I will be a champion as a professional."