Team Povetkin Feel Ready To Tackle a W. Klitschko Bout

By Ruslan Chikov and Alexander Pavlov

Boxing manager Vladimir Hryunov believes his fighter, WBA "regular" heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (23-0, 16KOs) is ready for the challenge of WBA/WBO/IBO/IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49KOs). There were negotiations in the past. Povetkin withdrew with an injury in 2008 and then his trainer, Teddy Atlas, withdrew him from a scheduled fight in 2010.

Povetkin is going to face WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck next month. Klitschko defends against Jean Marc Mormeck in March.

"To fight with Klitschko, we are ready now. I Really want this fight to take place in Moscow. We would like to reach an agreement with Klitschko, and not go to a purse bid. In my opinion, this fight should be held in Moscow, the capital of the former Soviet Union. I do not see any other place for it. It would bring together people from all of teh former Soviet republics. It is hard to imagine a more significant sporting event for residents of the former USSR than fight Povetkin vs. Klitschko," said Hryunov.

Alexander Pavlov covers boxing for sportbox.ru.