By Igor Lazorin, tass
Andrey Ryabinsky has outbid Don King to secure the promotional rights to the mandatory WBC eliminator between Alexander Povetkin and Bermane Stiverne.
The World Boxing Council held the purse bid earlier today in in New York City. Both Ryabinksy and King - among other promoters - took part in the bidding procedure.
Ryabinsky - who promotes Povetkin - stamped down a bid of $3.16 million to secure the rights. While Ryabinsky was looking to stage the fight in the United States, he intends to place the contest in Russia.
King had suggested paying homage to Muhammad Ali by staging Povetkin vs. Stiverne in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia or the Philippines.
The Congo (formerly Zaire) hosted the "Rumble in the Jungle" in 1974 between Ali and George Foreman, while the Philippines hosted the legendary "Thrilla in Manila" in 1975 between Ali and Joe Frazier.
"This sparked the idea to do something fantastic by memorializing 'The Greatest of All Time' Muhammad Ali, to the benefit of the people," King said of the possibility of taking Stiverne-Povetkin to one of those two countries.
The World Boxing Council ordered Povetkin and Stiverne to face each other to establish a mandatory challenger to WBC heavyweight king Deontay Wilder, who is recovering from injuries that were suffered in his last fight. Wilder suffered a broken hand and a torn biceps muscle in his July knockout of Chris Arreola.
The WBC had given both sides until September 16. They were unable to reach a deal and requested an extension, which the WBC granted. The additional time came and went, with WBC finally losing their patience and ordering the bid.
Wilder had been due to take on Povetkin in Russia in May before the challenger failed a drug test by testing positive for newly banned substance meldonium and the fight was cancelled. After a long investigation by the WBC, the sanctioning body ordered Povetkin-Stiverne.
