Povetkin Will Learn Fate on Wilder Fight By Late June, Says WBC

By Igor Lazorin, tass

Olympic gold medal winner and former WBA 'regular' heavyweight world champion Alexander Povetkin will soon learn his fate with respect to a showdown with WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder.

The fight was scheduled for May 21st, but it was postponed by the World Boxing Council when the sanctioning body revealed that Povetkin tested positive for banned substance meldonium in a late April pre-fight drug test. Wilder was given permission to hold a voluntary defense, which is being planned for July.

Povetkin and his promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, opened up his B-sample but that also came up positive for the banned substance. However, Povetkin was tested once again, by VADA, on May 17th and came up negative for any substances. He was tested six times during the protocol and only came up positive once.

The WBC has yet to make an official ruling on Povetkin. They are continuing their investigation. Povetkin will either remain in the mandatory position or get removed and suffer some form of punishment from the sanctioning body.

According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, his organization will issue a ruling by the end of the month.

"In mid-June the WBC will hold a meeting on the issue and the outcome will be announced before the end of the month,"  Sulaiman said.

Povetkin plans to fight, even legally, to keep his shot at Wilder in place. Ryabinsky has promised to pursue a legal action, if necessary, to keep the fight with Wilder on course.

"I'm ready for anything, but me and my promoters will do everything possible to ensure the fight takes place in the near future," said Povetkin.

Wilder and his team are also threatening legal action. Wilder wants his guaranteed purse of 4.6 million or else he will purse the matter in court.

Povetkin has a record of 30 wins (22 by KO) and suffered one defeat. Wilder has 36 fights in all, with 35 victories by knockout. Wilder is also a bronze medalist of the 2008 Olympic Games.