Povetkin beats Chagaev to win WBA title

Russia's Alexander Povetkin won the vacant WBA heavyweight title here on Saturday with a points victory over Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev. The three judges came down in favour of Povetkin with 117-113 on two cards and 116-112 on the third as the 2004 Olympic champion took the title left vacant when Ukraine's Wladimir Klitschko was promoted to super champion status. Povetkin, unbeaten from 22 fights with 15 knock-outs, now has the chance to take on the undisputed champion Klitschko, who earned a unanimous decision over Britain's David Haye last July to add Haye's WBA belt to his IBF and WBO crowns. The 31-year-old Russian marked points at the beginning of the fight with his speed and agility along with fast combinations to the face and body. Chagaev, nicknamed the 'White Tyson', went for the knock-out blow and landed some big left hand jabs in the sixth and seventh rounds before his rival regained the initiative. For 32-year-old Chagaev, who has 17 knock-outs from 27 victories, it was his second defeat after falling to Klitschko in 2009.