Helenius-Chisora Results & Povetkin-Boswell Results:
The Night of the Heavyweights card took place in Helsinki, Finland, and was broadcast live to the United States on EPIX. In the first fight of the evening, Alexander Povetkin easily took care of Cedric Boswell to win by stoppage. In the second, Dereck Chisora seemingly punished Robert Helenius all night, but ended up losing a controversial split decision. Read on for the full Helenius-Chisora and Povetkin-Boswell results.
Alexander Povetkin, Chekhov, Russia, defended his WBA Heavyweight Title with an 8th-round knockout of challenger Cedric Boswell, Atlanta via Detroit. Povetkin, 227, took charge from the beginning. Boswell offered a lively jab, but when Povetkin moved in close, he seemed lost and a bit overwhelmed.
Boswell, a marginal choice as a challenger for a “world title,” did about as well as he could. But there is a reason why the 42-year old’s best moments in the ring in a 17+-year career were wins over 27-0 Roman Greenberg and an aged Oliver McCall.
Povetkin looked good as he worked Boswell over with combinations. The former Gold Medal winner is not a huge puncher, but is unique as a heavyweight in his ability to throw combinations and maintain a high workrate. At his best, he almost looks like a fighter from a lower weight class. Until you look at his somewhat-doughy physique.
In round six, Boswell began to look like he was facing an insurmountable task. In the 7th, he looked like a beaten man, with Povetkin in full command and coming on strong. In the fatal 8th, a series of left hooks left Boswell, 35-2 (26) in deep peril. With the referee about to step in, Povetkin spilled Boswell on the canvas emphatically with a big left-hook/right hand. Time was 2:58.
The knockout raises Povetkin’s record to 23-0 (16 KOs). This was his first defense after winning the vacant belt from Ruslan Chagaev in August.
Robert Helenius was awarded a gift split-decision over Dereck Chisora in a 12-round heavyweight bout. Scores were 115-113 and 115-113 for Helenius, and 115-113 for Chisora. It certainly appeared that Chisora had done enough to win.
Helenius, 239, appeared listless, as he was generally outworked by the more energetic Chisora. Against Tyson Fury–a fighter most figure to be inferior to Helenius, Chisora looked to be a different fighter. Perhaps there was some truth that he was not in proper shape for that bout. In this fight, he exhibited far greater fighting spirit and stamina. In fact, it was Helenius who appeared to be gassed for much of the fight. Helenius was resilient and durable, as he absorbed a lot of hard swats from the pressuring Chisora. But he was unable to show much of the form that had some people labeling him as the leader of the new school of heavyweights.
It was a fast-paced heavyweight encounter, but Chisora did most of the work. When Helenius did manage to connect, Chisora took the punches well. The much crisper London resident kept bringing pressure, with the Fin giving quarter.
Helenius did land some shots and he certainly blocked many of Chisora’s menacing-looking swings. There were also times when his shots got to Chisora a bit. But he never appeared to clearly be getting the better of it and certainly not to the tune of 7 rounds! Nothing against Finland, but I don’t remember any key fights ever being held there in 30+ years as a boxing fan. After this result, I hope it’s another 30 years before they book another meaningful fight. Hometown decisions are nothing new, but there’s a certain threshold. This verdict went beyond any bounds of reason, as Chisora was basically robbed.
I could be in a hyperbolic mood after witnessing what appeared to be a travesty, but it seems that Europe is collectively pushing the envelope further and further with these bad decisions. A clunker once in a while is part of the game and the USA is not innocent in this equation, either. But at times, it appears that Europe is taking it too far. Let’s hope that with a booming boxing scene, they can start having some results that actually match the action we see in the ring. Otherwise, what’s the point?
