Crossroads? Uh… yeah!
By Debbie Wagner (Oct 26, 2007) Doghouse Boxing  
“Crossroads fight.”

You always hear about the “crossroads fight” in boxing. Yet another term that ringside commentators just love to throw around. But tired as the concept continues to be, it couldn’t be used in a truer context than in describing Chris Byrd vs. Alexander Povetkin on October 27.

As one bracket in the upcoming heavyweight tournament building up to a shot against IBF titleholder Wladimir Klitschko, Byrd-Povetkin, in theory, is the tournament’s most interesting fight and yes, it’s totally a crossroads fight. And it’s the biggest fight either man could take at this point of his career.

Povetkin, 13-0 (10), is hardly what you would call a veteran, having only over two years of pro action under his belt. But at age 28, still a young age compared to how the late-20s would affect, let’s say, a junior flyweight, maybe Povetkin thinks he doesn’t have time on his side (I don't see why not). This is probably why Povetkin’s handlers have taken him further in competition in such short time. Povetkin doesn’t boast a pound for pound hit list, of course, but in two-plus years, he’s faced men with somewhat decent records since he beat his first experienced opponent in Willie Chapman (19-23-3 at the time) working up to his last fight, a win against Larry Donald. Not bad for 13 fights. If Povetkin beats Byrd convincingly, it would be too hard to deny him a spot in any top 10 heavyweight ratings list.

Byrd, 40-3-1 (21), obviously has the tougher job here. In his last fight against a fighter from the former Soviet Union, he was thoroughly beaten by Wladimir Klitschko, losing his IBF belt along the way. Sure, Byrd was in the driver’s seat against Paul Marinaccio, winning in the 7th when Marinaccio gave up on his stool, building up Byrd’s confidence as a result; even more seeing that Byrd hasn’t had a legitimate KO victory since beating Jeff Pegues in 2002. But confidence only goes just so far when his next opponent is a hungry, much-talked about prospect who just happens to be…Russian. Hmm.

I couldn’t guess if Chris Byrd will walk into this fight with a stigma attached. No one knows what “Rapid Fire” is or will be thinking but it might have something do with geography. Povetkin is also younger, strong, aggressive and powerful. Everything a good heavyweight contender, titleholder or champion should be. Just as Wladimir Klitschko was when he first took Byrd down, avenging his older brother Vitali’s loss to Byrd.

Alright, enough of this. If I keep going, you all might think that I believe that all Povetkin has going for him is an Eastern Bloc sort of thing. The bottom line is, for all of Chris Byrd’s strengths – speed, a great jab, defense and left-handedness – I don’t think any of them alone or in sum will be enough to hold off Alexander Povetkin. It’ll be a tough go for Povetkin. Byrd will confuse, dazzle and style for a while. Maybe even stick out his tongue in concentration like he does. But Povetkin won’t let any of it discourage him. Byrd will get uncharacteristically tired and get caught late, taking a loss by KO in the 11th. See? Tough, but just what Povetkin needs in order to keep his advanced momentum going. Enough momentum to cross those crossroads (is it “cross” or just “go through”? Oh, hell. I don’t know…) and cruise on down the heavyweight road, hopefully parking in a sweet, sweet championship parking space. It’ll happen. Just you watch.






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