RUSSIA: Vladimir Klitschko says his defeated opponent Alexander Povetkin showed tremendous heart during fight in which Klitschko retained his workd heavyweight titles

Record ID: 862887

  • Title: RUSSIA: Vladimir Klitschko says his defeated opponent Alexander Povetkin showed tremendous heart during fight in which Klitschko retained his workd heavyweight titles
  • Date: 6th October 2013
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (5 OCTOBER, 2013) (REUTERS) **CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY** BOXER VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA KLITSCHKO SEATED BEHIND PODIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) BOXER, VLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, SAYING: "Honestly I was thinking about finishing up the fight, around seventh or eighth round, and I could feel that I made clean connection and impact of the punches got effected, Povetkin got effected by the impact of the punches. And quite surprisingly Alexander was still on his feet and not just on his feet he was moving forward too and punching so he showed really tremendous heart and until the very last second of the fight he was trying to make this final one lucky punch to knock me out. I could feel it, I could see it in his eyes and I could see it in his punches as well." PHOTOGRAPHER CAMERAMEN FILMING END OF NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • City:
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAB9TY53V6BZ729WQFRRTANQ42V
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  • Story Text: Vladimir Klitschko retained his world heavyweight titles with a unanimous points victory over Russian Alexander Povetkin at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium on Saturday.
    The 37-year-old Ukrainian, who took his record to 61 wins and three defeats, knocked Povetkin down four times on the way to retaining his WBA, IBO, IBF and WBO crowns.
    Klitschko's older brother Vitali holds the WBC belt.
    Povetkin showed tremendous heart during the fight, said Klitschko.

    "Quite surprisingly Alexander was still on his feet and not just on his feet he was moving forward too and punching so he showed really tremendous heart and until the very last second of the fight he was trying to make this final one lucky punch to knock me out. I could feel it, I could see it in his eyes and I could see it in his punches as well."
    With 14,000 fans firing up the Russian, Klitschko stuck to his tried and tested game plan by chipping away at his opponent's defence with a relentless series of left jabs.
    Standing 10 centimetres taller than the challenger and with a longer reach, the Ukrainian floored the 34-year-old with a wicked left hook in the second round.
    Povetkin, who had never been knocked down and was undefeated in his 26 previous fights, went down three more times in round seven but somehow managed to survive the onslaught.
    Apart from the occasional big right, the bruised Povetkin had little to offer going forward.
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