WBC Prez: Wilder Has Committed To Fighting Alexander Povetkin

By Victor Salazar 

New York, New York - The green belt as it’s known will be on the line this Saturday as WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder (35-0, 34KOs) defends his title against Artur Spzilka of Poland. Wilder fought three times in 2015 and intends to be active in 2016.

The President of the WBC, Mauricio Sulaiman, fully expects Wilder to be just as active in defending the organization's heavyweight title. If Wilder wins at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Sulaiman assures that he's going to face mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22KOs) of Russia in his next outing.

“It’s a great way to start a year,” Mauricio Sulaiman told BoxingScene.com.  “2016 is going to be tremendous. Wilder won the title last year and defended it twice. I expect him to be active again. “He starts the year and then if he is successful, he will do the mandatory next against Povetkin. So it’s a great beginning for 2016.”

Sulaiman feels both sides of Wilder and Povetkin are going to work together and make the fight happen at some point this year. Wilder has informed the WBC that he fully intends to move forward with a fight against Povetkin in the next defense.

“Absolutely,” Sulaiman said. “He (Wilder) has committed to fight Povetkin. They have been working on both sides to make the fight. Wilder understands what it is to be the WBC champion and he’s committed to continuing and I have no doubt the fight happens.”