By Ruslan Chikov
Former WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev, who this past weekend returned to the ring after a three year layoff, says WBA "regular" champ Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17KOs) has to step up and face WBO/IBO/WBA/IBF king Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50)KOs) in the coming months.
The WBA has ordered Klitschko and Povetkin to face each other. They have until January 17th to reach and agreement before a purse bid is scheduled. The fight has to take place by the end of February.
The fight was postponed twice in the past and the moment has now arrived for Povetkin to proceed, Maskaev said.
"I think it is finally time for Povetkin [to fight Wladimir]. He was an Olympic champion, he is a promising fighter. Alexander was in this position before, [where he was scheduled to face Wladimir], and then one thing happened, and then another thing happened - where the fight was postponed. It's great that now everything is in line," Maskaev said.
