Johann Duhaupas was game, but he stood no chance against WBC champion Deontay Wilder - 35-0, 34 KOs. The heavyweight champ doled out a punishing beatdown before securing an 11th round knockout. Now, it looks like he’ll be facing the streaking No. 1 contender, Alexander Povetkin in a mandatory title defense. This is gonna be a fun and more importantly, meaningful fight.
INTO THE WILDER
Deontay Wilder’s stock has never been higher, and although his ultimate goal is to face undisputed champion Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin is a compelling fight. Many feel that the Russian standout would be the toughest test of the American’s career.
That’s a fair assessment, since a lot of critics rightfully feel that guys like Eric Molina and Johann Duhaupas aren’t worthy challengers - especially after beating the well-regarded Bermain Stiverne to win the belt earlier this year. What’s being ignored is the fact that Molina and Duhaupas aren’t exactly stiffs either.
Povetkin must first beat Mariusz Wach in early November to claim his right to challenge Wilder, but it’s a pretty much a tune-up fight for the Russian. While the same argument for low-level opposition can be made against Povetkin, his awesome knockout wins over Manuel Charr, Mike Perez and Carlos Takam have soundly resonated throughout the division. His only career loss came at the hands of the Wladimir Klitschko.
Unlike so many heavyweight fights in boxing today, this is a fight that matters. Wilder has all the tools to be the American star that the sport is looking for, and Povetkin is every bit a threat to his title run. Both guys have looked sensational facing mid-tier opponents recently, and now they’re taking a step up in facing each other.
PROJECTED ODDS
When it comes to our online boxing odds, Povetkin should be the favorite going into the bout. I don’t Wilder will be too big of an underdog, but there are definitely a decent amount of people that think that it’s a bad matchup for the American. In a 12-round championship bout, I’d expect the total on rounds to be set around 9.5. Remember to check in on the morning of fight night for prop bets. BookMaker updates their odds daily, so expect the lines to shift as action starts coming in.
FIGHT ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Povetkin would have to get inside of the Wilder, who carries a significant height advantage. We saw the Russian had some trouble doing the same against the famously tall Klitschko, but against Wilder that’s an even more dangerous proposition. Whereas Klitschko will grab and hold fighters wading inside, Wilder will throw thunderous punches in bunches. His uppercut is still a work in progress, but it’s still devastating when landed clean.
However, Povetkin is a very good fighter, and many feel that he’s the true No. 2 heavyweight after Klitschko. He’s got enough skill to evade the power of Wilder and land a few huge shots of his own. In my mind, this matchup is a toss-up, but I do think that Povetkin’s style will cause problems for the champ. The pick is Povetkin to win a hard-fought unanimous decision.
HOW TO BET
Sign into BookMaker Sportsbook and get all the latest Deontay Wilder vs. Alexander Povetkin boxing odds, including moneylines, totals and prop bets. The title fight is expected to take place later this year or early 2016. We’ll keep you updated with the fight announcements and accompanying odds.
Make sure to check in during fight night and get the latest live betting updates. You can bet on real-time odds during the boxing fights, allowing you to hedge your bets or even make new ones as you watch on live television. And with multiple reliable payout options, collecting your earnings is always quick and easy.
