MOSCOW, October 6 (R-Sport) — Wladimir Klitschko may have demolished Alexander Povetkin in the ring Saturday night, but he was full of praise for the Russian's courage in going the distance.
Klitschko knocked the previously unbeaten Povetkin down four times, but the Russian struggled on to the end, when Klitschko retained his WBA, WBO, WBF and IBO world heavyweight belts on a unanimous decision.
"Honestly, I was thinking about finishing up the fight around the seventh or eighth round and I could feel that I made clean connection and impact with the punches," he said in the early hours of Sunday.
"Surprisingly, Alexander was still on his feet and not just on his feet, he was moving forward and punching, so he showed really tremendous heart."
"Until the very last second of the fight, he was trying to make this final, one lucky punch and knock me out. I could feel it, I could see it in his eyes and I could see it in his punches most of all."
Klitschko dismissed suggestions of a possible rematch, saying that it could not be ruled out but emphasizing his many obligations for the various sanctioning bodies whose belts he holds.
Klitschko moves to a 61-3 record, while Povetkin is now 27-1. Besides Povetkin, only nine other of Klitschko's defeated opponents have gone the distance with the Ukrainian.
