Wilder: Povetkin Did Nothing To Klitschko - And I'm Faster, Athletic!

By Edward Chaykovsky

WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is very confident as he starts training camp for a mandatory defense against Olympic gold medal winner and former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin.

The Russian fighter's promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, is planning to stage the fight on May 21 in Moscow, Russia. Ryabinsky secured the promotional rights by winning last month's WBC purse bid with a submitted amount of $7.1 million.

Wilder has made three successful defenses of the title since winning it last January with a twelve round decision over Bermane Stiverne.

Wilder (36-0, 35KOs) has no issue with going to Russia and says that won't play a role in his mindset for the fight. He says Povetkin's team is going to be shocked because he's not intimidated with the requirement of traveling overseas for the fight.

“If we got to go to Russia, let's go. I'm prepared to fight anywhere. It's not going to matter to me at all,” Wilder said to Premier Boxing Champions. “But they're going to a whole lot of trouble for nothing. I'm on a mission to be the undisputed champion. I don't care who he is or where I have to go. I'm a different kind of fighter; I'm a different breed. Going to Russia don't intimidate me.”

Povetkin's only defeat came at the hands of then undisputed heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2013. The Russian Olympian (30-1, 22KOs) went through hell for twelve rounds, going down several times in the contest and barely making it to the final bell. Wilder is positive that his physical attributes will present even bigger problems for Povetkin.

“He couldn’t do anything with Klitschko, and Klitschko is way slower than me,” Wilder said. “Just imagine a guy who is way faster with much more athleticism. If you can't handle him, what are you going to do with me?”