Live Povetkin vs. Chagaev Results & Liakhovich vs. Helenis Results:
While the exciting contest between Robert Guerrero and Marcos Maidana was canceled, boxing fans still had some solid action lined up for Saturday, August 27th. By way of Germany was the heavyweight doubleheader featuring Alexander Povetkin vs. Ruslan Chagaev for the (bogus) WBA heavyweight title, and Sergei Liakhovich vs. Robert Helenius. American-based fans were also in luck, as EPIX picked up the bouts and aired them live on the channel and on EpixHD.com. Check out the Povetkin vs. Chagaev and Helenius vs. Liakhovich results below.
Povetkin vs. Chagaev Results
It’s 5:00 pm and EPIX is working through some pre-fight coverage now… 5:12 pm… ring walks, Chagaev is making his way to the ring…5:20 pm, fight is now underway! (NOTE: Epix coverage is about 15 minutes behind the live event from Erfurt, Germany).
Round 1 doesn’t have too much action, both men taking some time to warm up, using their jab. Chagaev looking to land lead straight lefts, Povetkin storming forward in short aggressive spurts. 10-9 Povetkin, he got off first more, and was busier.
Both men more active and energetic at the start of round 2. Povetkin putting some combinations together. Chagaev lands another good straight left. Povetkin looks like he has faster hands, better combinations, and a better jab. Breaks out the uppercut towards the end of the round. 10-9 Povetkin.
Chagaev trying to fight Povetkin’s spurts and combinations with thudding return fire. His left hand has a lot of force behind it. Povetkin blocks most of what comes his way. Povetkin starting going to the body a little bit as both men keep a high guard. Povetkin already breathing with an open mouth. 10-9 Povetkin, still more active and controlling more of the action.
Evander Holyfield and Marco Huck are both ringside in attendance.
Chagaev lands two big lefts to start the round. Sticks another one in there right down the pipe as Povetkin tries to jump in with a combination. Povetkin puts together back to back 1-2s. Continues staying busy and peppering Chagaev. Chagaev blocks most, but has been on the defensive. Hardest shots of the night were those Chagaev lefts that landed, but enough to win the round from Povetkin who came on strong later? 10-9 Chagaev.
This pattern is staying the same. Povetkin is busy, Chagaev bides his time and lands a big left. Chagaev stuns Povetkin with one big counter left. Povetkin then lands a 3-punch combo including an uppercut. Chagaev mauls Povetkin into the corner. 10-9 Chagaev for that big punch over Povetkin’s activity.
Chagaev tags Povetkin with 3 big lefts in quick succession. Povetkin is against the ropes, fires back and twists away. Chagaev pouring it on with those big lefts, and he’s putting a lot on them now, turning his whole body into it. Chagaev backs Povetkin up, Povetkin breathing hard. Big round for Chagaev, 10-9.
Povetkin continues to look tired at the start of the 7th, and less active than he was in some of the earlier rounds. Chagaev leading more and coming forward more as a result, but neither man keeping a high work rate right now. Chagaev’s round for coming forward and leading, Povetkin sneaks in an uppercut before the bell. 10-9 Chagaev… 67-66 Chagaev after 7.
Chagaev opening up more as Povetkin is plodding around. He keeps on looking for a big homerun overhand left. Just not much coming from Povetkin right now. He puts together a few combinations including a right uppercut. Chagaev still looking for the big shot, but controlling more of the trades along the way. 10-9 Chagaev, 77-75.
Atlas asks Povetkin between rounds if he believes in magic. Wow, Teddy. As if his usual over the top speeches weren’t enough.
Povetkin more active in round 9. He’s coming forward, throwing combinations, landing a few shots. Guess he liked Teddy’s magic speech, whatever works. Chagaev throws a left to the body. Povetkin lands a 1-2. Best round for Povetkin since the third, 10-9 Povetkin. 86-85 Chagaev.
Povetkin keeping his work rate up in the 10th. Chagaev trades with him for a bit. Povetkin throws a good uppercut to the body. Povetkin throws a 4-punch combo, throws another combo after and lands to the head and body. Chagaev looks to rough him up on the inside. Povetkin lands a few shots with Chagaev’s back to the ropes. Momentum back to Povetkin, 10-9 and all even after 10 rounds at 95-95.
Both men look like they know they need these last two rounds. Chagaev lands a big left uppercut for a change. Povetkin comes in and lands two of his own uppercuts, then tries for a hook to the body. He looks gassed but still is getting off and landing. Nods in approval after being tagged by Chagaev, but should have done enough to win that round. 105-104 Povetkin.
Chagaev doing too much bouncing and posing and not enough throwing. Povetkin staying busy, landing that uppercut. He just comes in and throws a few punches and Chagaev doesn’t fire much back right now. Chagaev lands one good big left right before the bell, but not enough. Povetkin’s round, and it should be Povetkin’s fight, 115-113, but it’s a close one.
ProBoxing-Fans.com has it 115-113 for Povetkin. SI’s Chris Mannix has it the same as part of the announcing crew.
Official scores: 116-112, 117-113, 117-113, for Povetkin, the new (fake) WBA heavyweight champion.
Liakhovich vs. Helenius Results
In an exciting, back-and-forth affair, Robert Helenius knocked out Sergei Liakhovich in the 9th round of their encounter. A left uppercut basically knocked Liakhovich out on his feet, and he followed that up with a few crushing blows before the referee jumped in and closed the show about 30 seconds into the stanza. He sent him down for the first time with just seconds remaining in the 8th, after a barrage of shots eventually sent Liakhovich to his knees.
It was Liakhovich’s first fight in some time, and he was in tough, with the man that many people are pegging as the next-guy-to-really-we-hope-really-be-a-challenge-to-the-Klitschko-brothers.
Helenius continued to prove his worth by beating another good opponent, although it’s another opponent who is far past his best. He did get his 3 KOs of 3 former champs run completed though, adding Liakhovich to his list, also including Lamon Brewster and Sam Peter. Some will probably focus more on the early struggles he had against an older, rusty, smaller fighter, as opposed to the big finish. But at 16-0 with 11 KOs, he’s one of the more intriguing fighters in the division, if not the most intriguing. Being 6’6 1/2″ doesn’t hurt, of course.
In the early going, Liakhovich jumped off to an early lead by getting inside, using good boxing skills and his all-around toughness to keep coming forward. Helenius probably wasn’t used to anybody with that kind of grit, work rate and skill. But Helenius had the superior power and of course the size, and both of those worked to eventually wear Liakhovich down.
By the end of the 6th, he was busted up pretty good, with swelling around his eyes and blood splattered across his face. From there, Helenius continued to batter and break down Liakhovich, eventually sending him down and then closing the show in the 9th.
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