Alexander Povetkin vs Christian Hammer Preview December 15th
The WBA and WBO International Heavyweight Titles are on the line in Russia this Friday, December 15th when hometown hero Alexander Povetkin defends them against European Champion Christian Hammer of Romania. Povetkin last fought on July 1st when he beat Andriy Rudenko by a 12-round unanimous decision. Hammer, who fights out of Germany, was last in the ring in May when he beat Zine Eddine Benmakhlouf by a 10-round unanimous decision.
Povetkin vs Hammer Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Christian Hammer +1200
- Alexander Povetkin -2500
My Pick
Povetkin’s scheduled bouts against Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne fell through over the past year due to irregularities in his drug tests. However, he’s back in the ring for the second time in 2017. The former world champion is now 38-years-old and saw his five-bout knockout streak come to an end earlier this year when Rudenko took him the distance. He’ll enter the ring with a fine record of 32-1 along with 23 Kos. He won the WBA Heavyweight Title by decision against Ruslan Chagaev in 2011 and his lone loss came against former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision in 2013.
Povetkin, an Olympic gold medalist in 2004, turned pro in 2005 and has 207 rounds under his belt. He stands 6-feet-2-inches tall and has a 75-inch reach. His power is probably underrated as he’s quite a heavy puncher with a current knockout ratio of 70 per cent. Povetkin’s biggest wins have been against the likes of Chagaev, Johan Duhaupas, Mariusz Wach, Mike Perez, Carlos Takam, Manuel Charr, Hasim Rahman, Marco Huck, Nicolai Firtha, Eddie Chambers, Chris Byrd, Larry Donald and Friday Ahunanya. He may not be well known, but Povetkin’s been one of this era’s most consistent heavyweights.
The 30-year-old Hammer climbs through the ropes for the third time this year and has a record of 22-4 along with 12 Kos. Hammer has decent power, but he’s not regarded as a home-run hitter with a knockout ratio of 46 per cent. He’s 6-feet-2-inches tall and has an unlisted reach. Hammer has 147 rounds under his belt since turning pro in 2008. He’s faced some decent opposition over the years such as Price, Tyson Fury, Kevin Johnson, Danny Williams, Michael Sprott, Sherman Williams and Mariusz Wach. Hammer’s lost just once in his last 16 fights since 2011.
That defeat was to Fury in February of 2015 when the contest was halted at the end of the eighth round. His other three losses came against Wach by sixth-round Ko in 2010, Taras Bidenko by sixth-round majority decision in 2010, and by a first-round stoppage to Robert Gregor in his pro debut back in 2008. Since he’s been stopped in three of his four defeats and on the canvas a few other times he has a questionable chin and that definitely won’t help him out against Povetkin on Friday night. Hammer’s a solid European-level boxer, but will need to be at his very best to beat Povetkin.
Prediction…
This is a good matchup on the European level and it should be pretty competitive. Povetkin’s power and experience could prove to be too much for Hammer though. Look for Povetkin to come out on top in this one.
Povetkin’s a bit too experienced and powerful for Hammer.
Play: Povetkin -2500 @ BetOnline.ag
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Alexander Povetkin betting • Christian Hammer betting