Deontay Wilder Wants WBC To Rule on Povetkin Sooner Than Later

By Edward Chaykovsky

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs) can choose his next opponent in defending his World Boxing Council title.

Wilder was scheduled to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on May 21 in Moscow, Russia. But Povetkin failed a drug test, which showed the banned substance meldonium, and the bout was canceled.

While the WBC investigates Povetkin, Wilder has approval from the organization for a voluntary defense of the belt.

Povetkin passed at least two tests before failing one in April. Meldonium is a stamina booster that tennis star Maria Sharapova and dozens of other athletes in ex-Soviet republics have tested positive for since it was banned Jan. 1.

World of Boxing CEO Andrei Ryabinsky, who promotes Povetkin, has no issue with the WBC's decision. Ryabinsky secured the promotional rights back in February after winning the WBC's official purse bid.

He still plans to pursue the mandatory shot for his boxer. The Russian promoter is even willing to make it a legal battle to force Wilder back into the fight by year's end.

Wilder is hoping the WBC will soon render a decision on Povetkin. The unbeaten champion would rather not face him due to the current circumstances, so it remains to be seen what will happen if the sanctioning body rules that Povetkin will remain as the mandatory challenger.

"I'm pleased that the WBC has cleared the way for me to have an immediate voluntary defense," Wilder told AL.com in a statement. "I look forward to the WBC rendering a decision on the Povetkin matter, so we can get a final resolution and I can put the whole chapter behind me.

"I will sit down with my team and work on finding a suitable opponent as soon as possible, so I can give my fans the performance that they were deprived of because Povetkin decided to use a banned substance. I continue to work on my goal of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world."