Povetkin Says No Deal With Deontay Wilder Yet, Purse Bid Looms

By Igor Lazorin, tass

According to Olympic gold medal winner and former champion Alexander Povetkin, no agreement has been reached as of yet for a mandatory title shot against World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.

The World Boxing Council has as purse bid scheduled for February 26th in Mexico City.

Wilder retained his title last month with a ninth round knockout of Artur Szpilka at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The teams behind Wilder and Povetkin have been discussing the possibility of a date in late May for the same venue.

With a week to go until the purse bid, Povetkin says a deal has not been reached and a purse bid is likely.

"We have not agreed, we will be bidding," said Povetkin.

Wilder is undefeated with 36 wins (35 by KO).  Povetkin has 30 wins (22 by KO) and one defeat by decision to former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko.

The Russian fighter was in the ring last November, when he stopped Marisuz Wach in the twelfth round. Povetkin has been the mandatory challenger since last May. Wilder has been allowed to make three voluntary defenses and the WBC is not going to allow any further interruptions. The purse bid will be interesting with Povetkin's promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, looking to take the fight to Russia if he wins the bid - and Wilder being resistant to facing Povetkin in his backyard.