As an amateur he won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics; gold at the 2003 World Championships; and consecutive gold at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships.
As an amateur he represented Russia at the 2004 Olympics, winning a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division. Povetkin also won gold at the 2003 World Championships, as well as two consecutive golds at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships.