THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
HELSINKI, Finland — Undefeated Alexander Povetkin retained his WBA heavyweight title with an eighth-round knockout of American challenger Cedric Boswell at Hartwall Arena on Saturday.
It took Boswell 17 years as a professional to get a shot at a world title, but his dream of becoming the first American in five years to hold one of the major belts withered under a barrage of blows from the Russian.
Povetkin, who conceded a 15-centimetre reach advantage, had 42-year-old Boswell on the ropes by the end of the seventh round, and made his former sparring partner last less longer in the next round.
Povetkin improved to 23-0 (16 KOs), while Boswell (35-2, 26 KOs) lost for the first time since 2003.
"I think we saw the best Povetkin we have seen for a long time," said Povetkin’s promoter, Wilfried Sauerland. "He needed to be good because Cedric made it very hard in the first six rounds."
The fight was Povetkin’s first defence of the WBA title he earned by beating Ruslan Chagaev on points in August. The belt was vacated by Wladimir Klitschko, who gave up the WBA title he won from David Haye when he was made a "super champion" by the WBA.
Povetkin hinted he would eventually like to fight the Klitschko brothers for their titles.
"It was a really good fight, and it was another step on the way towards the fight that we really want to have," he said.
Boswell said he was hampered by a shoulder injury in the second round.
"I threw my shoulder so I couldn’t throw my right hand," Boswell said. "I was just trying to throw a few jabs, I couldn’t use my right hand. Not taking that away from Povetkin, he looked good, he was strong, and he fought a good fight."