Povetkin knocks out Boswell to defend WBA Heavyweight Title; Helenius Gets “Lucky” Win, Marco Huck Calls out Povetkin:
Alexander Povetkin (23-0, 16 KOs) made a spectacular first defence of his WBA Heavyweight Title, knocking out Cedric Boswell (35-2, 26 KOs) in the eighth round of their clash in Helsinki, Finland. Fighting in front of a sell-out crowd of 12,738 fans at a rocking Hartwall Areena, Povetkin looked sharp from the first bell, cleverly picking his opponent apart. The 2004 Olympic gold medal winner took away Boswell’s jab and landed good combinations throughout.
He turned it on in the seventh when he pelted the brave American with powerful shots – only for the bell to save him. In the eighth, Povetkin then finished him off with a series of hard punches that knocked Boswell down and out. “This was a good win for me,” he stated afterwards. “The preparation with Teddy Atlas had gone very well. I did what I was supposed to do in the ring and I am happy about the result.”
At the post-fight press conference, WBO Cruiserweight Champion Marco “Captain” Huck stormed to the podium to challenge Povetkin. “I have defended my title eight times, I need a new challenge at heavyweight,” Huck said. Povetkin was quick to accept: “Let’s get it on,” he replied.
In the co-featured main event, WBA/WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion Robert Helenius (17-0, 11 KOs) clinched the vacant European Heavyweight Title with a split decision victory over Dereck Chisora (15-2, 9 KOs). Backed by his ferocious home fans, Helenius hurt Chisora with a big right in the first round to kick off an exciting encounter that featured a lot of close rounds. Two judges ruled it 115-113 for Helenius, while the third judge scored it 115-113 for Chisora.
“This was the toughest fight of my life,” Helenius said after going the distance for the first time in his professional career. “I hurt my hand in the first round when I hit him and that affected me in the following rounds. The atmosphere was fantastic.” Chisora disagreed with the verdict. “I won this fight, no doubt about it,” was amongst the things he said at the post-fight press conference. “I took the fight to him and I should have won.”
Hall of Fame Promoter Wilfried Sauerland said he will negotiate a rematch. “It was a lucky win for Robert,” he stated. “We will offer Chisora a rematch but first Robert has to make his mandatory defense against Dimitrenko.”
On the undercard, WBA/WBC/WBO Female Welterweight Champion Cecilia Braekhus (19-0, 5 KOs) defended her title collection with a tenth-round TKO victory over Kuulei Kupihea (7-2, 1 KO).
