Super-Heavyweight (>91 kilograms), Men

The super-heavyweight division was devoid of the depth of talent that was present in most of the other weight classes at the Athens Olympics but in Aleksandr Povetkin of Russia, the World and European championship winner, it at least had a champion worthy of the title. Povetkin’s career had taken an unusual path on his way to the Olympic Games as he had already been a world champion in the professional ranks. He was allowed to compete in amateur boxing because his previous successes were in kickboxing which was considered a wholly different sport by the AIBA.

The Russian lived up to expectations by defeating Sydney Olympic finalist Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov and future Olympic champion Roberto Cammarelle to reach the final and then had the unexpected bonus of a walkover for the gold medal. His prospective opponent, the aptly named Egyptian Mohamed Aly, was forced to withdraw after suffering a fractured wrist in his upset victory over Michel López of Cuba in his semi-final.

Povetkin took a year long sabbatical from the ring before turning to the professional ranks and basing himself with the Sauerland Events promotion company in Germany. He held the WBA world title between 2011 and 2013 then was comprehensively beaten by Volodymyr Klychko in a unification match.