James Dielhenn wrote that there is a trail of bodies behind Alexander Povetkin. This trial of bodies not only includes incapacitated opponents but also some of his former trainers who left him alone and unloved.
Povetkin was like a soldier without any sergeant to tie him down. However next came Ivan “The Terrible” Kirpa who tied this lone soldier down becoming his fifth pro trainer as well as a brutal instructor. Ivan has the pleasure of sharing his name with the Russia’s first Tsar regarded as one of the history’s most formidable characters.
It is not so unusual to have more than one mentor but for Povetkin this does not make much of a difference as he has been his own boss since most of his career life. Povetkin not only won the Olympic Gold medal but also the WBA regular title all that while treating men in his corner as nothing but mere disciples.
However all of this came crumbing down in 2013 when Povetkin needed a crisis talk from his corner as he was giving points to the Wladimir Klitschko. Wladimir had clear instructions from his American trainer Stacey McKinley on how to turn table; who joined the team here weeks prior to this fight.
This led to defeat of Povetkin; his only career defeat that led him straight to Kirpa who is going to prepare him for his fight with Anthony Joshua on September 22nd. Kirpa is the only trainer in Povetkin’s long career with whom he has forged a bond of professional understanding.
If Povetkin wins his upcoming match; the gory will not be his alone but will be or Kirpa as well. Kirpa’s own boxing career was cut short during an incident in0-ring at the height of his potential career.
