The world, European and Olympic champion among amateurs has achieved notable heights in professional boxing. Alexander Povetkin became an interim WBC world champion and a WBA regular. But still, the Russian Knight did not succeed in becoming the full owner of the belt in one of the prestigious organizations, although he was more than once a step away from the goal.

Strong opponents and some unpleasant circumstances, such as canceling the fight with Wilder, prevented him from achieving what he wanted. Vityaz’s last attempt to approach Olympus ended in failure over a year ago. Defeat from White and health problems forced Alexander to leave the sport.

However, a year later, Povetkin’s rhetoric suddenly changed. Is Alexander already thinking about returning?

“Maybe I’ll fight again”

Alexander Povetkin is considering returning to the ring – this became known after the statement of the 42-year-old boxer on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. It is worth recalling that in June last year, the Russian announced his retirement, and held his last professional fight in March 2021.

It would seem that the departure from boxing was deliberate and final. Alexander did not speak about the end of his boxing career in haste, and the age of the Olympic champion of Athens is not the youngest even by the standards of heavyweights. But something made Povetkin admit the unacceptable. It is too early to talk about any specifics, but the very fact of the possibility of the return of the Russian Knight certainly deserves attention.

– I do not know yet. Although I do not announce the final end of my career. Maybe I will. I would like to be honest. If health permits, then I may still fight. Why not? – RIA Novosti quotes Sport of the Russian boxer.

Alexander Povetkin / Photo: © RIA Novosti / Maxim Bogodvid

It is important that Alexander’s rhetoric has noticeably changed compared to last year. Then he delayed the decision to end his sports career, but nevertheless, under the onslaught of objective circumstances, he announced his retirement from the ring, referring to years and unwillingness to make people laugh. Now he says that he does not announce his retirement.

Probably, a year ago, the athlete spoke too self-critically. In his last fight, he lost not to a random opponent, but to a strong Briton Dillian Whyte, who at the time of the rematch in this pair was considered by many as a favorite. In addition, Povetkin entered the ring after an illness: the transferred coronavirus partly affected his form.

And yet, after the lost title of the interim WBC world champion, was it really worth talking about the beginning of another attempt to get to the coveted belt? Noting that the ambitions could not be fully realized, the boxer at the same time said that he did not regret anything.

It was not very easy to make such a decision. But I stop my sports path, – Povetkin quoted the words “Championship”.

Mayweather is out of the way

However, already a year ago, the Russian Knight gave a little hope to the fans, admitting that the decision to leave could be reconsidered.

— I don’t know, let’s see how it will be, what proposal will be. I don’t want to renounce anything, ”Alexander said in an interview with a Match TV correspondent.

Povetkin was clearly not going to end his friendship with sports after the end of his career. He planned not only to train, but also to spar. It would probably be even strange not to think about a new fight with such plans. The question was only whether Alexander would like to return to professional boxing – or would he prefer an exhibition match of veterans like what Mike Tyson and Roy Jones were up to?

One could follow the path of Floyd Mayweather, finding some MMA fighter as an opponent, or, following the example of Alexander Emelianenko, switch to fights with bloggers. But, probably, such a challenge is not very interesting for today’s Povetkin. He will certainly be able to defeat people from mixed martial arts according to the rules of boxing in 10 years, and representatives of pop MMA – perhaps even after a quarter of a century.

Photo: © Getty Images

If we are serious about the return of the Russian Knight to professional boxing, we need to have a rough idea of ​​​​what can come of it. It is still premature to talk about the beginning of the next campaign for the championship belt. There are, of course, landmarks in the faces of George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins, who proved that you can become a champion even after 45 years. But at the moment it is not clear why the current Povetkin can be more successful than his versions of three and eight years ago, when he failed to defeat Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua, respectively.

If Alexander expects to make some noise in the ring for a few more years, then you should turn to another eminent Russian from the world of martial arts for an example. In 2015, Fedor Emelianenko returned to the octagon after a pause of three and a half years and defeated an Indian of a dubious level. And already in 2019, he fought for the Bellator title. So the fairy tale may well come true – unless, of course, health still allows Povetkin to return to the ring.