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WBA heavyweight Povetkin beats Huck

Russia's Alexander Povetkin defended his WBA heavyweight title on Saturday night with a majority decision win over Germany's Marco Huck, who was making his debut in the division from cruiserweight.

Published: 26 February 2012 09:14 CET

WBA heavyweight Povetkin beats Huck

photo: DPA

The fight was scored 114-114, 116-113 and 116-112 to the Russian, but Huck produced a brave performance over the 12 rounds in Stuttgart.

Having defended his WBO cruiserweight title eight times, this was 27-year-old Huck’s first fight at heavyweight.

Saturday’s win leaves the 32-year-old Povetkin with a record of 24

victories, including 16 knock-outs and no defeats.

After a lively first round, Huck was warned for holding by referee Luis

Pabon while Povetkin caught the Serbian-born German with two right hooks in the second.

Povetkin landed several powerful body shots in the third as he managed to

briefly pin Huck to the ropes, but the challenger landed a good right.

Huck clearly took the fourth with several shots on two separate occasions,

but the challenger was again warned for a punch to the back of the head.

Huck went toe-to-toe with the champion midway through the seventh, and a clean shot to the chin had the Russian wobbling.

At the start of the eighth, Povetkin landed several good head shots of his

own and when a small cut opened under Huck’s left eye in the 11th, the Russian had Huck in real trouble.

Huck still managed a full shot to the face in the 12th and the challenger

finished with a flurry of punches with both fighters exhausted at the final

bell.

British boxer Dereck Chisora, who caused controversy by brawling with

ex-champion David Haye last weekend in Munich, returned to Germany and was ringside in Stuttgart to watch the fight.

Having lost to WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko last Saturday,

Chisora remains under investigation by Munich police for his part in the brawl during the post-fight press conference at which he threatened to “shoot” Haye.

Chisora faces a hearing before the British Boxing Board of Control in London on March 14.

AFP/mbw

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Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to lift priority list and allow GPs to vaccinate all adults

A GP's waiting room in Munich on May 31st. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel

From next week, all adults – regardless if they are in a priority group or not – will have the chance to book a Covid-19 vaccine at a family doctor in the two southern German states.

Bavarian state premier Markus Söder confirmed the move after the CSU parliamentary group meeting on Wednesday. He said it would happen “over the course of next week” to give doctors time to prepare, reported broadcaster BR24.

Germany follows a strict priority list for who can receive a Covid vaccine first, mainly based on age, health condition and occupation.

So far, authorities have only lifted the priority list for vaccines from AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The federal government plans to offer all vaccines, including the two other approved vaccines BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, to all adults in June.

However, Bavaria said it plans to offer vaccines to everyone sooner.

READ ALSO: How did Germany turbocharge its vaccine rollout – and what can it do better?

Baden-Württemberg also announced that it would allow GPs to vaccinate all adults even if they are not in a priority group from Monday.

It comes despite the state health minister Manfred Lucha urging people to wait their turn for a jab.

According to Lucha, those most at risk from Covid need solidarity from society. “This includes waiting your turn to be vaccinated,” Lucha said in Stuttgart on Tuesday.

In both states, the offer only applies to GPs at this point; vaccination centres will still follow the priority list.

READ ALSO: Berlin and Baden-Württemberg begin vaccinating priority group 3

Vaccine still in short supply

The Bavarian GP Association welcomed the move to lift the priority order for all coronavirus vaccines in medical practices.

“We stand for pragmatism,” state chairman Markus Beier told broadcaster BR24. He said GP patients were growing impatient as they are desperate to be inoculated against Covid.

However, Beier said there needed to be clear communication on the availability of vaccine supplies.

The German Foundation for Patient Protection slammed the planned vaccine release.

As long as there is not enough vaccine doses, politicians could cause a “rift” in society with a decision like this, said board member Eugen Brysch.

“It’s not the prioritisation that hinders vaccination progress, but rather the lack of vaccine,” he said.

The decisions in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria to allow family doctors vaccinate people regardless of the risk group priority list are an example of “how you can both increase the vaccination pressure on doctors and create frustration in society,” he said.

READ ALSO: ‘Mood is getting more aggressive’: Thousands of people in Germany caught skipping line for Covid vaccine

Further opening steps for Bavaria

Meanwhile, Bavaria plans to allow outdoor swimming pools to open from May 21st with conditions including negative Covid tests (for unvaccinated guests) if the 7-day incidence stays below 100.

Likewise, outdoor cultural events with up to 250 people are to be allowed. Prerequisites are fixed seating, tests and hygiene plans.

After Whitsun later in May, Söder said, there would be a review of the possibilities for indoor dining. “All in all, we have done really well, despite one or two setbacks,” he said.

He emphasised that a cautious strategy was still needed.

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