By Vadmin Pushkin
Last month, Andrei Ryabinsky, promoter for Olympic gold medal winner and former WBA champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22KOs), submitted the winning purse bid to secure the promotional rights for the mandatory fight against WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs).
Ryabinsky put in a bid of over $7 million to win the promotional rights to the bout. Wilder's side, led by promoter Lou DiBella, put in $5.1 million. With Ryabinsky securing the promotional rights, there is a very good chance that Wilder will have to travel over to Russia to make the defense.
The task now, besides getting the date and the venue, is securing the television outlets. As far as the United States, Ryabinsky says both network rivals HBO and Showtime are interested in the fight.
Most of Wilder's fights, including his last and the title winner effort over Bermane Stiverne last January, were carried by Showtime.
The fight could take place in late May, which is the time period that the Russian promoter is targeting.
Ryabinsky said - "There are several options for the fight to take place in Russia and now there are two options in the United States. Right now it all depends on the details, but there several options and some decent conditions for us. In terms of the [United States television], we have interest in this fight from Showtime and from HBO, but we have not yet signed a contract. So far, we are just discussing things [with both networks]."
Wilder fought last month and retained his title by knocking out Artur Szpilka in the ninth round at the Barclays Center. Povetkin, who was ringside for Wilder's most recent defense, was last seen in the ring in November. He took a stay-busy fight by stopping huge Polish contender Mariusz Wach in the twelfth round. Povetkin has already started training for the bout with Wilder
