Heavyweight star Alexander Povetkin has retired from boxing at the age of 41.
The Russian star hangs up his gloves after achieving the rare feat of winning Olympic gold and then claiming a world heavyweight title in the professional ranks.
‘Sasha’ had an outstanding amateur career, highlighted by his super-heavyweight gold at the Athens Olympics of 2004. But his time in the paid ranks would be even better.
Povetkin career record
Povetkin fought 40 times as a professional in a long and distinguished career, ending with a superb record of 36-3-1.
Those three losses all came against elite opposition – Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
The defeat by Whyte – in Gibraltar in March 2021 – came with Povetkin clearly not at his best after having battled COVID-19 just months earlier. He had stunned Whyte with a fifth-round knockout victory in their first meeting at Matchroom Fight Camp in August 2020.
The Russian star announced his decision to retire at a press conference on Sunday. It was by no means unexpected after the loss to Whyte, with age starting to catch up with one of the best heavyweights of the 21st Century.
An elite talent
In his prime Povetkin was a truly elite talent in boxing’s marquee weight class. He had top-class ring savvy and a left hook and uppercut like a hammer.
Povetkin became a world heavyweight champion in August 2011 when he outpoint Ruslan Chagaev in Erfurt. He would successfully defend the WBA belt four times before meeting Klitschko in a unification battle in October 2013. Wlad prevailed by unanimous decision.
As well as that stunning win over Whyte and that world title reign, he also registered pro victories over the likes of Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers, Hasim Rahman, Manuel Charr and Carlos Takam.
Of those four failures to win, three came in the final stages of Povetkin’s career. The defeat by Joshua at Wembley in 2018, the draw with Michael Hunter in Saudi in 2019 and finally the loss to Whyte this year.
