By Per Ake Persson 

EC Boxing´s Swedish heavyweight prospect Adrian Granat (12-0) is in Moscow sparring with WBC Challenger Alexander Povetkin. Povetkin is in full training for his upcoming showdown against heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, which is scheduled for May 21 in Russia.

"It´s no wonder Granat have gotten this job," says EC promoter Erol Ceylan.  "[Granat] is tall, very fast and can punch as hard as Povetkin."

Next time Granat steps into the ring is June 4 in Kassel (Germany) when he takes on Bolivian Saul Farah (59-20-3).

Granat has previously served as sparring partner for Wladimir Klitschko, Kubrat Pulev and Dillian Whyte.

IN OTHER NEWS

It´s billed as ”Capital Showdown” and was billed as a defence by Erik Skoglund of his IBF Intercontinental light heavyweight title against Ryon Liebenberg.

However, it was discovered a few weeks ago that Skoglund had relinquished the title in January. As to why, the IBF said that he didn´t want to go through with a mandatory defence. There was no comment from promoter Nisse Sauerland on the matter.

But the show apparently needed a title and Skoglund vs Liebenberg is now sanctioned by the IBO with its International title at stake.

As for neutral officials, well, it will be all Swedish with Hakan Sindemark as referee and Ake Johansson, Andreas Stenberg and Gudjon Vilhelm (from Iceland but licensed in Sweden) as judges and this apparently was accepted by Team Liebenberg.