by James Slater – Unbeaten, Teddy Atlas-trained IBF mandatory challenger for world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin is set to return to action next month. Keeping himself active as he awaits his eventual shot at “Dr. Steel Hammer,” the Russian contender will, according to BoxRec, face former top contender Dominick Guinn on the Marco Huck-Adam Richards card in Germany on march 13th..
Now 18-0(13) and three wins and over two years removed from his IBF number-one position-earning victory over “Fast” Eddie Chambers (who, of course, has beaten Povetkin to it, and faces Wladimir on March 20th) the 30-year-old has a potentially long night ahead of him against the never stopped Guinn. Set for ten rounds, this fight has a real possibility of going all the way.
Guinn, known as “The Southern Disaster,” burst onto the world stage way back in 2003, when he scored a devastating KO over “Big” Michael Grant. Unfortunately, the 34-year-old saw his days as a genuine contender for a world title fade away with losses to Monte Barrett, Sergey Lyakhovich, James Toney and Tony Thompson – losing all four bouts by decision. Falling into “journeyman” mode, the currently 32-6-1(21) managed a dreadfully dull points win over Britain’s Audley Harrison around this time, but soon after this win further losses occurred, to Eddie Chambers and then, most disappointingly, to Robert Hawkins.
Seen as a fighter who was unable to make the most of his skills, Guinn pretty much fell off the radar; especially as a fighter worth watching. Getting a little devil back, the Texan got himself a decent stoppage win over Jean Francois Bergeron in October of 2008, looking like the aggressive heavyweight who halted Grant in such style all those years ago. But then, falling back into his old, “unable-to-let-his-hands-go” fighter, Guinn won dull decisions over Gabe Brown and Charles Davis (to be fair, sandwiched in-between was a 1st-round KO of the 21-0 Johnnie White).
So, unbeaten in his last four, Guinn now (apparently) gets Povetkin. Though the still-improving Russian starts favourite, there is a chance things will not go all his own way on March 13th. It all depends on which Guinn shows up, but if he fights to his full ability, and if he realises that this fight will surely be his last chance at fulfilling his early promise, the older man could conceivably even score an upset.
Povetkin has been far from active in the two years since he beat Chambers, but he did fight as recently as December (as did Guinn). If he sees this as the potentially tough night’s work it could be and not merely a workout-type affair, Povetkin figures to win on points. But if the Russian star comes in in less than top shape, there could be problems for him.
In a way, Guinn is a strange choice of opponent for Povetkin at this stage. Hard to look good against, yet also potentially dangerous, Guinn is very much a no-win foe for the former amateur standout. Povetkin will be expected to win, yet if he does so, fans will say he should have done so anyway – yet if he loses it will be a disaster.
I go for Povetkin to hammer out the points win. If, however, he does manage to become the first man to KO Guinn, his team’s decision in taking this awkward-looking match-up will have been more than justified.