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Wladimir CLINCHko Retains
Titles By Allowing
To Hold, Push Down And Lean On Povetkin
Wladimir Klitschko (now 61-3, 52 KO's) won in disgraceful
fashion over previously unbeaten Alexander Povetkin by way
of unanimous decision after being allowed to hold for 12
rounds, non-stop. Remember when Henry Akinwande was
disqualified against Lennox Lewis for excessive holding?
Think of that, with more leaning on and push downs, yet only
one point deduction late in the fight and you have
Wladimir's win tonight. It was not as if Wladimir was hurt
or even in trouble, it was his strategy. What's more
frustrating is referee Luis Pabon allowed it to take place,
and ruled two to three push-downs as actual knockdowns. A
huge mockery of a heavyweight title fight.
From the first round Povetkin came out swinging. Povetkin
looked to have the right fight plan to win, but all that
would become defunct when Wlad's holding came into play
midway into the round. Wlad would score his first push down
of many to come in the very first round. In round 2, a short left hook to the
top of the head sent Povetkin down for the first time in his
career. This was a legit knockdown, but Povetkin rose
quickly. From that point on Wlad literally leaned on the
back of Povetkin's neck and forced him downwards with all
his own weight, over and over and over, even mixing in some
sneaky uppercuts while holding Povetkin in a headlock.
Povetkin's stamina drained quickly from all the leaning-on
and had very little snap to his rhythm midway into the
fight. Wlad even made Povetkin's legs buckle from leaning on
him once and not from a punch.
In round 7, a nice right hand followed by a push down from
Wlad was ruled a knockdown. Wladimir got a bit wild and
started pushing while punching, scoring another questionable
knockdown. Wlad did not let up the roughhousing, landing an
elbow to the throat which resulted in a third knockdown in
the round, fourth in the fight.
In round 9, Wlad started with another clear and blatant push
down, yet received no warning despite not being scored with
a knockdown this time. In round 11, another push down
occurred, this time actually resulting in a point deduction
from Wlad.
Wladimir closed the 12th round with a final push down, but
was not deducted a point. Final scores were 119-104 on all
three cards. Povetkin drops to 26-1 with 18 KO's.
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