Alexander Povetkin

Alexander Povetkin
Алекса́ндр Пове́ткин
Povetkin in 2015
Born (1979-09-02) 2 September 1979
NationalityRussian
Other names
  • Sasha
  • Russian Vityaz
  • White Lion
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Reach190 cm (75 in)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights40
Wins36
Wins by KO25
Losses3
Draws1
Medal record
Men's amateur boxing
Representing  Russia
Olympic Games
2004 AthensSuper-heavyweight
World Championships
2003 BangkokSuper-heavyweight
European Championships
2002 PermSuper-heavyweight
2004 PulaSuper-heavyweight
European Junior Championships
2002 PermSuper-heavyweight
Strandzha Cup
2002 BulgariaSuper-heavyweight
2003 BulgariaSuper-heavyweight

Alexander Vladimirovich Povetkin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Влади́мирович Пове́ткин; born 2 September 1979) is a Russian former professional boxer who competed from 2005 to 2021. He held the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Regular version) heavyweight title from 2011 to 2013; the World Boxing Council (WBC) (Interim version) heavyweight title from 2020 to 2021; and challenged twice for the unified heavyweight championship in 2013 and 2018.

As an amateur, Povetkin won gold medals in the super-heavyweight division at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships, 2003 World Championships, and 2004 Olympics. After turning professional in 2005, he defeated Ruslan Chagaev to claim the inaugural WBA (Regular) title in 2011. After performing five consecutive defenses, he challenged Klitschko for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring titles in 2013, suffering his first professional career loss by unanimous decision. In 2018, Povetkin would challenge again for the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles, this time against Joshua, and suffered a seventh-round technical knockout loss.

He was rated in the top ten annual heavyweights by BoxRec from 2006 to 2020, and rated in the top five annual heavyweights from 2007 to 2020, except for 2019. He is a one-time winner of the WBC KO of the Year (2020) and Premier Boxing Champions Knockout of the Year (2020).