Former WBA Heavyweight Champion Alexander Povetkin Defends Putin and Invasion of Ukraine on Social Media, Hopes War Will End Soon
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Moscow, Russia (March 13th, 2022)– On Instagram, the photo and statements of a well-known name in pro boxing are clear. In the sense of balanced journalism, Alexander Povetkin is a viewpoint. Former World Boxing Association World Heavyweight champion Alexander “Sasha” Povetkin, retired and residing in the Russian Federation, has verbally indicated his support for President Vladimir Putin and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Povetkin, in his support, has likened the Ukrainian invasion of the Donbas mini region of Ukraine, home to Russian citizens in the self-declared independent Republics of Luhansk and Donetsk as genocide akin to Nazism by Ukraine in the modern era. Over 14 thousand civilians, soldiers and rebels have died in the fighting in the Donbas region conflict since Ukraine declared independence from Russian control in 2014. It is not known what facts Povetkin based his statements on, as it is not clear what flow of information Povetkin received on his side of the world.
According to Povetkin, posing in front of a Russian flag on his Instagram post, “There is power in truth. The famous phrase uttered by Sergey Bodrov (the late Russian actor, still) reflects the essence of what is happening in Ukraine. We fought for the truth all these years, while the Slavs (our Russian citizens) were exterminated in the Donbass (region of Ukraine). That is why I am backing his (President Putin’s) decision to stand up for ordinary people, and to fight against (Ukrainian military) Nazism (genocidal extremism for killing innocent Russian people, genocidal Ukrainian soldiers who are) parasites no matter who they are. Every war has an end. Let’s hope that this (the armed ground conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine) will also end in the next few days.”
Povetkin, age 42, the Athens 2004 Olympic Super Heavyweight Gold medalist, 36-3-1 with 25 knockouts, Chekhov, Russian Federation, fought as a pro between 2005 and 2021, held the WBA regular heavyweight title between 2013 and 2014, fought in nine world title bouts, and held the World Boxing Council Interim World Heavyweight title from 2020 to 2021, when he won and lost to Dillian Whyte. Povetkin, in a diminished capacity, retired after he lost a rematch to Whyte in May 2021, after contracting the COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus.
Over two million refugees are estimated to have fled Ukraine, including one million children, since the Russian Federation Special Military Operations began several weeks ago. Ceasefire and peace negotiations continue as the Russian military surrounds Kiev.
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