By Yuri Tarantin
Promoter Andrey Ryabinsky believes the World Boxing Council (WBC) should have made Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36KOs) the "champion in recess" if he is unable to fight due to a serious injury.
Wilder and Povetkin was set to face each other on May 21 in Moscow. The fight was postponed after Povetkin tested positive for Meldonium, which became illegal to use on January 1st on this year.
Because of the minor trace that was found in his testing sample, and because he tested negative for the drug in four other tests conducted by VADA, the WBC ruled on Wednesday that Povetkin would NOT be suspended and remain as the number one contender under the WBC.
Wilder made a voluntary defense in mid-July, with a stoppage win over Chris Arreola. During this fight, Wilder fractured his right hand and suffered a torn bicep. The boxer has undergone two surgeries and will remain on the shelf until at least January of next year.
Because of his inability to fight, the WBC ordered Povetkin to face Bermane Stiverne for the interim-title - with Wilder being obligated to face the winner in 2017.
That doesn't sit that well with Ryabinsky, who feels Povetkin and Stiverne should be fighting for the vacant 'full' title and not the interim. When Ryabinsky's other boxer, cruiserweight Grigory Drozd, suffered an injury and was unable to compete - the sanctioning body quickly made him the 'champion in recess' and ordered a mandatory fight for the vacant belt - which was captured by Tony Bellew.
"If Wilder is injured and he can not box, it means that Wilder should become a 'champion in recess,' like what happened with Grigory Drozd," Ryabinsky said.
"It can not be that different boxers are handled in different ways. Accordingly, the WBC, in my opinion, should make a decision that Wilder should become a 'champion in recess' if he can not box. And Povetkin would have to fight for the vacant title."
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru
