By Igor Lazorin, tass
According to promoter Andriy Ryabinsky of World of Boxing, there are millions of dollars being offered to secure the television rights to the heavyweight showdown between World Boxing Council (WBC) world champion Deontay Wilder and mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.
Ryabinsky secured the promotional rights in February by bidding over $7 million. A few weeks later he made a decision to stage the fight on May 21 in Moscow, Russia.
VADA [Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency] will be the company of choice to conduct the drug testing, says Ryabinsky.
Ryabinsky says RTL in Germany has offered up millions of dollars to secure the fight, while Showtime is ready to give around a million to pick it up.
"With Showtime we are having a normal dialogue are right now we're discussing their purchase [of the television rights] for the United States," Ryabinsky said. "With Showtime [the rights fee] will be around a million."
Wilder was last seen in the ring in January, when he knocked out Artur Szpilka in nine rounds at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Povetkina nd Ryabinsky were ringside for the fight.
Povetkin had a stay-busy fight in November with a twelfth round stoppage of Polish contender Mariusz Wach.
Wilder has a record of 36 wins (35 by KO) and no losses. For his part, Povetkin has a record of 30 wins (22 by KO) and one defeat.