By Igor Lazorin, tass
Heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs) can choose his next opponent in defending his World Boxing Council title.
Wilder was scheduled to fight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin on May 21 in Moscow, Russia. But Povetkin failed a drug test, which showed the banned substance meldonium, and the bout was canceled.
While the WBC investigates Povetkin, Wilder has approval from the organization for a voluntary defense of the belt.
Povetkin passed at least two tests before failing one in April. Meldonium is a stamina booster that tennis star Maria Sharapova and dozens of other athletes in ex-Soviet republics have tested positive for since it was banned Jan. 1.
World of Boxing CEO Andrei Ryabinsky, who promotes Povetkin, has no issue with the WBC's decision. Ryabinsky secured the promotional rights back in February after winning the WBC's official purse bid.
He still plans to pursue the mandatory shot for his boxer. The Russian promoter is even willing to make it a legal battle to force Wilder back into the fight by year's end.
"This decision is satisfactory, because it keeps Wilder active and not giving him the opportunity to conduct a voluntary defense would be unfair. We must also say that Alexander is not to blame, and the situation should be investigated but nothing more than that. But other than not being a guilty athlete, we must not keep [him from receiving his world title shot] because of this," said Ryabinsky.
