Alexander Povetkin is expected to retain his WBA heavyweight title today in Stuggary, Germany, when he faces top cruiserweight Marco Huck, but the odds are competitive, and Huck isn't an overwhelming underdog by any means.
Book | Povetkin | Huck |
---|---|---|
Bovada | -300 | +230 |
5Dimes | -310 | +255 |
SGB Global | -360 | +260 |
Povetkin (23-0, 16 KO) and Huck (34-1, 25 KO) weighed in at 229 and 209 pounds yesterday, and the size difference in the fight may not be a big deal. Physically they don't appear to be far apart by any means, and the move up to heavyweight, often something cruiserweights just aren't equipped to do successfully in modern boxing, may not be a hindrance for Huck in this matchup.
But Povetkin, as mentioned in our preview of the fight, is a former world class amateur and also figures to simply be the better boxer here. For Huck, a career-best performance will be needed to pull this out. His usual bully tactics may not be good enough against a heavier man, and if he has to rely on pure boxing ability, he could get dominated.
His best bet will be to pressure and hurt Povetkin. There have been good reports about Povetkin's camp, but he's working with a new trainer after splitting with Teddy Atlas, and we'll see if that bothers him at all.
Bad Left Hook will have live coverage of Povetkin vs Huck this afternoon.