Deontay Wilder's Return, Next Move is in The Air, Says DiBella

As BoxingScene.com reported earlier today, Deontay Wilder's WBC heavyweight title fight against Alexander Povetkin has been postponed after the Russian contender tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.

Wilder was due to make the fourth defence of his crown against Povetkin in Moscow next weekend but the WBC announced on Friday that the challenger had shown an "adverse result" for meldonium when tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association on April 27.

The winner of the showdown had been tipped for future bouts against British pair Tyson Fury, the WBA, IBO and WBO champion, and IBF belt holder Anthony Joshua.

Povetkin's promoter Andrei Ryabinsky rejected any claims that his fighter was doping and claims it was lingering traces from late 2015, when the drug was still legal for use. Evidence from VADA counters that with information that Povetkin tested negative in three tests in April - which took place prior to the positive test on April 27th.

Promoter Lou DiBella says his boxer's next move is up in the air. He has no idea when Wilder will fight again until the WBC makes a ruling on Povetkin's status as mandatory challenger. There is also the issue of lining up a new television date.

"There's still a lot of issues that have to be resolved," DiBella said to Alabama.com. "Povetkin failed a drug test and there's still a number of things that need to be resolved. I don't really care what the Russian promoter has to say. Honestly, I think that his fighter's positive test has caused a lot of damage and harm to Deontay and his team and I think Mr. Ryabinskiy should stop talking."

"All that's happened is that the WBC indicated the fight's not happening next week. Right now, there's a lot of things still up in the air. We have to wait and see, evaluate all our options and where things go from here. Unfortunately when you're heavyweight champion of the world and you command big purses, you can't snap your fingers, create a television date. It's not like there's somebody waiting in the wings for a date in a few weeks. We have to regroup when Deontay returns and see where things go from here."