By Mark Vester
Unbeaten heavyweight Alexander Povetkin (16-0, 12KOs) was sidelined with an ankle injury after hurting himself during a training run last Friday. He was forced to withdraw from a Dec. 13 title shot against IBF/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. As the IBF mandatory, he is expected to fight the winner of Klitschko [and his yet to be determined opponent] in 2009.
Povetkin's doctor, Sergey Arkhipov, a well respected physician in Russia, examined the injury and says the fighter should recover in six to eight weeks time.
"He needs attention and time. Evidently the fight had to be postponed. Other options did not seem possible since he can’t box physically. He looks perfectly well, although he uses crutches – but only in addition to his fully being able to step with his foot, with a splint on it, because the foot physiologically needs its natural movements. He may as well be allowed a stationary foot load, but with restricted movements of his foot, and restricted pressure on the foot by the crutches," Arkhipov told Russia Today.
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