Malignaggi: Wilder-Povetkin should be canceled, not postponed

By Boxing News - 05/15/2016 - Comments

povetkin3By Dan Ambrose: Former two-time world champion Paulie Malignaggi thinks the Deontay Wilder vs. Alexander Povetkin heavyweight match should be canceled altogether and Povetkin should be removed from the #1 mandatory position with the World Boxing Council.

This comes after the WBC announcing earlier on Sunday that the Wilder-Povetkin fight will be postponed after Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium.

”If there is any justice left in boxing the Wilder-Povetkin fight will be canceled not postponed. Povetkin should be removed from mando spot,” said Malignaggi on his Twitter.

“I’m very disappointed that due to Povetkin’s failed drug test the fight is not going to happen on May 21 in Moscow,” said Wilder in a statement. “I had worked very hard to prepare myself for this important title defense, spending the last two weeks training in England to get accustomed to fighting in Europe. I wanted to give the fans a great show, but we understand the WBC’s position that the fight occur on an even playing field.”

If the fight against Povetkin had taken place, Wilder would have received a big payday. That’s a lot of money Wilder would have received. You could imagine how he feels right now not being able to get that payday. It’s likely that the 30-year-old Wilder won’t mind so much if the WBC chooses to let Povetkin go ahead.

“This is a huge disappointment and a setback to my goals in boxing. I want to be an active heavyweight champion and it is still my goal to collect all the belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world,” Wilder said.

You can bet this is a huge setback for Wilder. He won’t be getting the big million dollar payday for the Povetkin fight if the WBC chooses to cancel the fight between him and Povetkin rather than just postponing it like they’re doing now. Wilder doesn’t have anyone else that will bring him the same kind of money other than Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. It’s unclear if Wilder will ever fight Fury. He could fight Joshua at some point, but maybe not Fury if he decides to retire from the sport.

The Wilder-Povetkin card that was scheduled for next Saturday on May 21 in Moscow, Russia will still go ahead. The previously scheduled co-feature bout between IBF cruiserweight champion Victor Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs) and WBA cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev (28-1, 21 KOs) will be moved to the main event on the card in place of the Wilder vs. Povetkin fight.

Also on the Lebedev-Ramirez card are the following fights:

Dmitry Kudryashov (18-1, 18 KOs) vs. Julio Cesar dos Santos (30-5, 27 KOs) [cruiserweights]

Rakhim Chakhkiev (24-2, 18 KOs) vs. Tamas Lodi (18-6-2, 15 KOs) [cruiserweights]

Felix Valera (13-0, 12 KOs) vs. Dmitry Bivol (6-0, 6 KOs) [light heavyweights]

Umar Salamov vs. Bob Ajisafe (16-2, 7 KOs) [light heavyweights]

Stanislav Kashtanov (34-2, 20 KOs) vs. Tomasz Gargula (18-1, 5 KOs) [light heavyweights]