Povetkin-Hammer Winner is Likely Mandatory To Joseph Parker

By Igor Lazorin, tass

According to Erol Ceylan, the promoter for heavyweight Christian Hammer (22-4, 12 KOs) of Germany, the planned fight with Alexander Povetkin (32-1, 23 KOs) will indeed become a final WBO eliminator for a world title shot at Joseph Parker.

A few days ago, the promoter for the event - RCC Boxing Promotions executive director Alexei Titov, basically stated very similar information. The event would take place on December 15 in Yekaterinburg.

"Unequivocally, this fight will determine the mandatory challenger for the WBO title. The winner of the fight will meet with Parker," said Ceylan.

Hammer is currently the number one ranked fighter under the WBO, while Povetkin is ranked at six and also holds the WBO's International title.

Last month, Parker retained his world title with a close twelve round majority decision over mandatory challenger Hughie Fury.

The winner of Povetkin-Hammer would have to wait, as Parker would get the chance to make at least one or two voluntary defenses.

Titov plans to finalize the fight in the coming days and announce it.

"The team behind Hammer are already in possession of the contract. It is 99.9% certain that he will sign it. I think that by the end of next week we will officially announce it. Hammer holds the highest position in the rankings - the first line under the WBO, the eighth in BoxRec. Next week I'm flying to the WBO's convention, and we will directly agree with President (Francisco) Valcarcel that Alexander will become the mandatory challenger (in the event he beats Hammer on December 15)," Titov explained.

"Alexander has the second most important WBO title - the International, and I think the WBO should meet us halfway on this issue and give their fight the status of being a title eliminator. We do not want a one-time fight for Povetkin. We want to make a showdown with Parker in July 2018 under the international exhibition Innoprom in Yekaterinburg. This is a big fight for Russia, for Alexander. These are the plans, the long-term perspective. Alexander deserves to become a world champion."