Alexander Povetkin vs. Ruslan Chagaev

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Povetkin toughs out a decision over Chagaev in a fight in which he bossed the early rounds, let Chagaev gain the ascendancy in the middle rounds, and then--perhaps motivated by a pep talk from trainer Teddy Atlas invoking the spirit of his dead father--swept the championship rounds to win with room to spare. Because Wladimir Klitschko already held the IBF and WBO belts when he defeated WBA holder David Haye in July, the WBA elevated Klitschko to Super Champion, opening up their "regular" heavyweight title for Povetkin to snatch.