By Yuri Tarantin
Andrei Ryabinsky, promoter for Olympic gold medal winner and former WBA champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22KOs), is worried that WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35KOs) will vacate his belt.
Povetkin is the mandatory challenger and the official purse bid is scheduled for later today in Miami, Florida.
The two sides were negotiating for several weeks, but last week Ryabinsky revealed that he was unable to reach a deal with promoter Lou DiBella, who was working on behalf of the Wilder side. The two sides were discussing the possibility of a May date in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Ryabinsky was very frustrated with the outcome and felt a purse bid was the only way to get a deal done.
A few weeks ago, Ryabinksy believed the fight would fall apart with Wilder dumping his belt to challenge newly crowned IBF champion Charles Martin. That scenario disappeared when Martin finalized a high profile defense against Anthony Joshua on April 9th in London.
"They say Povetkin doesn't want the fight. They are the ones who don't want the fight. Povetkin is ready to fight. I fear that Wilder [will vacate the title]," Ryabinsky said.
In 2013 Ryabinksy slammed down a huge bid of $23 million to secure the promotional rights to Povetkin's mandatory fight against then champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Things will be interesting when Ryabinsky goes wallet for wallet with Wilder's powerful adviser/manager Al Haymon.
Wilder fought last month and retained his title by knocking out Artur Szpilka in the ninth round at the Barclays Center. Povetkin, who was ringside for Wilder's most recent defense, was last seen in the ring in November. He took a stay-busy fight by stopping huge Polish contender Mariusz Wach in the twelfth round. Povetkin has already started training for the bout with Wilder.
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru
