Boxing – Alexander Povetkin vs David Price – WBA Inter-Continental & WBO International Heavyweight Titles – Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Britain – March 31, 2018 Alexander Povetkin knocks down David Price Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Povetkin Makes David Price Pay The Price, Moves Closer To Anthony Joshua Title Shot
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Cardiff, Wales (April 1, 2018)– With Anthony Joshua’s decision victory and heavyweight title unification win over Joseph Parker, former WBA Regular Heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin of the Russian Federation is next in line for Joshua. Povetkin, 43-1 with 24 knockouts, Chekhov, Russian Federation, scored a fifth-round knockout of David Price in Cardiff, United Kingdom on Saturday night, March 31, 2018, on the Joshua-Parker undercard at Principality Stadium.
Povetkin, at 6’2” shorter and lighter than the taller and heavier Price, put Price down in the third round, and knocked him out in the fifth round. Both men threw big bombs, and though Price was the crowd favorite and had his moments, a Povetkin right hand followed by a left hook put Price and what was left of his boxing career into a permanent sleep in the fifth round. The outcome was not altogether unexpected, as Price’s career had already fallen short of the mark. Price, 22-5 with 18 knockouts, Liverpool, United Kingdom, has lost three of his last six bouts. Nonetheless, Price had plenty of chances to get lucky, he just was unluckier at the bout’s conclusion. A decision favored Povetkin, and Price was not looking for one. A 20 to 1 underdog, Price, bleeding from the corner of the left eye, got counted out and getting brutally taken out.
Povetkin is the mandatory challenger for the World Boxing Organization version of the world heavyweight title now held by Joshua. It means Joshua might have to fight Povetkin, leaving WBC World Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to consider a possible challenge from Dillian Whyte, who kayoed former world champion, Lucas Browne. Whyte also wants to fight Povetkin, if Povetkin gives up his mandatory title shot. That possibility seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Joshua, Wilder, Povetkin, and Whyte remain at the top of the heavyweight title heat.
Result: Alexander Povetkin KO 5 David Price, Heavyweights
Povetkin Retains the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight Titles
Povetkin and Price were both down in the third round. Price took the ten count in fifth.
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