Povetkin 'Hammers' Christian Over 12 Rounds

By Derek Bonnett

Alexander Povetkin, 33-1-(23), scored a 12 round unanimous decision win over Christian Hammer, 22-5,(12),at the DIVS, Ekaterinburg, Russia on Friday.

Povetkin reminded fans that he still has the best hands at heavyweight in terms of producing educated combinations. Hammer, a stalwart contender, was never able to get into the fight.

Povetkin, 38, boxed effectively behind the jab from the opening seconds of the bout while Hammer remained overly patient throughout. Povetkin fired his jab to the body and shifted to heavy-handed hooks to the torso by round three. The Russian even worked his uppercut inside the guard of his heavyweight opponent, who only offered his durability in return. Povetkin continued to box, forcing Hammer to move off his back foot. Hammer game plan could not even be called "fighting" off the backfoot because he was so inactive and inaccurate. Povetkin landed a nice overhand right in the fourth and began landing more squarely as he hunted for the stoppage. The constant pressure kept Hammer at bay and a tired look came upon his countenance by round five. A big left hook broke Hammer’s guard, but, to his credit, he took everything Povetkin had to throw. As Povetkin piled up the points, he began to throw more punches in rapid succession, such as his left hook which he tripled at time in the fifth in sixth. After six rounds, the only way to see the contest was a shutout for the Russian contender.

Hammer, 30, was deducted a point for holding in round seven. Povetkin’s punch selected remained varied and the top-rated heavyweight never lost a step over the second half of the bout, which saw the same hailstorm of jabs and left hooks land and sometimes putting the Romanian boxer back on his heels. Povetkin was always in control as the scores of 120-107, 120-108 and 118-108, indicated.

Povetkin, of Chekhov, Russia won the WBO International and WBA Intercontinental titles. Povetkin’s promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy said afterwards, “I have confirmation from the WBA that Anthony Joshua(champion) must fight the Povetkin-Hammer winner.”