By Rick Reeno
On Friday, Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov, and Bernd Boente, manager of WBO/IBO/WBA/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50KOs), sat down at the Hamburg headquarters of KMG [Klitschko Management Group] to discuss Wladimir's mandatory fight with Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17KOs). A few days ago Hryunov, the longtime manager of Povetkin, shocked the sport when he bid $23.2 million at the WBA's purse bid. The monetary figure blew away the other bids and Hryunov easily secured the promotional rights to Klitschko-Povetkin. Boente told Hryunov that he bid the correct amount for the fight, because all of the involved parties expect it to be one of the biggest heavyweight events in many years. BoxingScene.com was advised that Klitschko-Povetkin is being targeted for September 7 or September 14 in Russia - with the Olympiyskiy stadium, which holds over 70,000 fans, as the venue of choice. Hryunov is putting the show together with Russian businessman Andrei Ryabinsky.
Both fighters have fights lined up in May. Wladimir faces Francesco Pianetta next Saturday in Germany, while Povetkin is going to make his own voluntary defense against Polish opponent Andrzej Wawrzyk on May 17 in Russia.
