The Povetkin vs Hammer results, post fight-analysis and full fight review from Russia.
It has been a controversy-filled year for Russian Alexander Povetkin but he managed to finish it on a positive note tonight at least.
Fighting in his native Russia in Ekaterinburg tonight, heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin secured a points victory over Christian Hammer.
Povektin’s opponent from Romania had mixed in decent class before in bouts against the likes of Tyson Fury, but he was out of his depth tonight in truth.
Hammer began the fight quite negatively in the opening rounds, literally looking to survive and let Povetkin whale away at him with a high guard up.
This negativity from Hammer was a prevailing theme to be honest – throughout the contest.
Povetkin was winning the early rounds with ease based on work rate and front foot aggression alone. He was working in some nice body shots too in a one-sided fight for the being.
The fight started to come alive a bit more in round 6, as Povetkin looked like he was starting to get to Hammer near the mid way point of the fight.
As the mid to late rounds progressed the pace slowed a little – with Povetkin having a bit more success when he switched his attacks both to the body and the head – rather than the pot shots he was throwing earlier in the contest.
The fight was a final eliminator for likely the next mandatory spot for WBA for champion Anthony Joshua. The effort put in by Hammer in particular considering what was on the line here, did not exactly wow boxing fans.
The stoppage never really looked on down the stretch either.
Despite Povetkin backing Hammer up onto the rounds multiple occasions, particularly in round 11. Hammer was simply in survival mode and intent on seeing the final bell.
Hammer didn’t really show ambition in the final round as Povetkin tried to apply more pressure but alas – the fight reached he final bell.
Povetkin ran out a comfortable winner by unanimous points decision on all three of the judges’ scorecards in a fight more that shook of a bit of ring rust for him more than anything, as he got twelve rounds in tonight.
