Michael Hunter and Alexander Povetkin battle to spirited split draw

Michael Hunter and Alexander Povetkin battled to 12 rounds draw Saturday night at Diriyah Arena in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The fight was a see-saw battle with both heavyweights having their moments.

The scores were 115-113 Povetkin, 115-113 Hunter and 114-114.

Neither fighter complained about the verdict.

In round one, Hunter, 31, nine years younger than Povetkin, surprised the old pro by unloading a number of combinations. Povetkin absorbed the shots and held his own. He connected with a left hook at the minute mark of the round. Hunter worked his educated jab in round two. He knocked Povetkin back a step with a solid right. He worked the body. Povetkin shook Hunter up with a hard right to the jaw.

Hunter (18-1-1, 12 KOs) moved and boxed in rounds three and four. Both fighters went to the body. Hunter worked his right while Povetkin (35-2-1, 24 KOs) countered with hooks and an uppercut.

The first four rounds had been close. Hunter did well in the first minute in round five, but a wicked left hook sent Hunter falling into the ropes. The old lion was manhandling the younger man.

Hunter went back to jabbing in round six. Povetkin stalked but didn’t do much. Was he taking the round off? Hunter connected with a hard combination, but Povetkin clipped him with a hook.

Povetkin came back with an overhand right in round seven. Hunter circled to his left. A body shot seemed to bother Povetkin. He countered with a right.

Entering round eight, Povetkin looked a little gassed. Hunter kept working his best friend, his jab. Povetkin walked forward. He jumped in with a right. Hunter landed a check hook.

The fight was close. Povetkin, who had found his second, dug to the belly in round nine. The shot had to hurt. Hunter moved to his left and right. He connected with an uppercut. He hurt Povetkin with a shot to the sternum.

Povetkin upped the ante in round 10. He worked downstairs. Hunter stuck out his left, but the round went to the busier Povetkin.

Who wants it more?

Hunter dipped down and landed to the gut. A few seconds later he wobbled Povetkin with a number of punches. Povetkin took the shots, but an uppercut shook his relatives in Russia.

The last round could tell the story. Hunter connected with a couple of hard rights in the opening seconds of the stanza, but he looked like the more tired fighter. Povetkin fired some wicked hooks. One seemed to buzz Hunter