By Igor Lazorin, tass
This past Friday in New York City, World of Boxing CEO Andrey Ryabinsky outbid Don King to secure the promotional rights to the mandatory WBC eliminator between Alexander Povetkin and Bermane Stiverne.
Ryabinsky - who promotes Povetkin - stamped down a bid of $3.16 million to secure the rights.
Ryabinsky is going to stage Povetkin vs. Stiverne on a date in December in Russia. There is a slight possibility that it will be paired with the upcoming fight between IBF/WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev and mandatory challenger Murat Gassiev - scheduled to take place on December 3rd in Moscow from the Khodynka Ice Palace.
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.
Povetkin was initially scheduled to face Wilder in May. The fight fell out when Povetkin tested positive for banned substance meldonium. The WBC completed an investigation and decided not to apply a suspension or fine on Povetkin. There is however an ongoing legal battle over the canceled event, with Wilder and his handlers filing a case against Povetkin and his promoter seeking damages for breach of contract. There is also a breach of contract counter-suit, with Ryabinsky and Povetkin going after Wilder and his team.
Ryabinsky has confirmed that respected drug testing agency VADA will be in charge of ensuring that both fighters are clean.
"Given the fact that Alexander is part of the WBC Clean Boxing program, the testing will be carried out VADA", said Ryabinsky.
