Atlas and Hrunov on Povetkin's Development
Brendan Galbraith in Helsinki: Moments before the weigh in yesterday at the Helsinki Casino, legendary trainer Teddy Atlas shared his pre-fight views with BoxRec News on the challenges that lie ahead this evening for his fighter Alexander Povetkin against Cedric Boswell.
Although there has been talk about potential big fights down the line for Povetkin, Atlas was unequivocal about the serious danger ahead with experienced and ‘fresh’ opponent Cedric Boswell.
“I know I have a guy at 42 years of age – that is very misleading (his age). He might as well be 32 because he is fresh athletic and he has no miles on him. And also a guy that at 42 – it serves him – as he knows this is his one chance to make all of those years of boxing worthwhile. There is urgency and a motivation for him.
“I know he is an athlete; he is a big guy with long arms. I know his best skill sets and physical abilities are his speed, he has quick hands – he is technically good. If you lay off on front of him, he is going to set off to beat you to the punch, he is going to try and control the centre of the ring. He likes to fight at a distance.
“And if you can just walk and put pressure on him, he can change the distance a little bit and create a gap and he is good at counter punching with the left hook or the right hand. So you have to be aware of these things – you can't just walk in like a bull in a china shop – you cant just go and break things – it is like in a china shop – someone is going to charge you for those things.
“We know we have to press the fight, we know we have to be the boss and we have to do it the right way.”
Atlas travelled to Russia for Povetkin’s training camp and is satisfied with the preparation ahead of tonight’s clash with Boswell.
“The camp has gone well, I came over (to Russia) six weeks ahead of time because that is what I thought was required. In a place where we had no distractions, we got everything done that I wanted to get done.
“We got in good shape. Technically we got things in place that I wanted for a strategy and a fight plan. I feel very good about his condition; his mental condition and I feel good about the fight plan that I have got in place for him.
“Now it is a matter of the most difficult part. The last couple of days, the last couple of hours – keeping yourself together emotionally and mentally and executing that fight plan. You can put one together – but you have to execute it. I feel confident, I know what I have in front of me.”
Atlas learned under Cus D’Amato that “you never really know a guy until he has been tested”. I asked Atlas, if he was satisfied that Povetkin has passed ‘a test’ under his tutelage. “When a guy has had as many amateur fights and he has won a gold medal – in some dimensions he has been tested – to journey that far in that role and those kind of circumstances. I think that through all of those years, in war times, he was tested to overcome things when they weren’t perfect. I think he has been tested in this journey.
“In the Firtha fight, he was a tough kid, it was supposed to be a tune up fight and he hurt his right hand early in the second round. He only had one hand to work. And he was concerned in the corner. So I told him, what a professional trainer is supposed to tell him ‘you have another hand – let’s use it – lets act like a pro.
“Let’s behave like a pro – that is our greatest quality – it has always our greatest quality. It is not your left or right hand, it is not your power, it is not your footwork, it is not your speed. It is your ability to behave like a pro – so behave like one – go in there and use your ability and win the fight with one hand. And he was tested that way.”
Earlier this morning, Russian boxing promoter, Povetkin manager, Vladimir Hrunov gave Boxrec News an overwhelming endorsement of the progress made with Teddy Atlas.
“Povetkin is feeling good, now he is ready for the bout. Just before this bout, Povetkin and Teddy Atlas completely made their final style. It is a good bout for experience.”
And that ‘experience’ is beneficial for a bigger fight down the line with Vladimir Klitschko. Although Hrunov was cautious with a potential timeline for a fight with Klitschko – he did not hesitate to reveal that this is the ultimate aim for Povetkin.
“Of course, if Povetkin can continue working and learning, we have a lot of possibility to make a fight with Klitschko, but Povetkin’s biggest reason for professional boxing is the Vladimir Klitschko bout.
“Teddy Atlas is very special. Povetkin has changed his mentality – he has a champion’s mentality. Alexander now has a new understanding on why he came into professional boxing. Teddy Atlas and Alexander Povetkin have made a very hard job and this evening we can see the result of that.”
