Wilder wonders why WBC hasn’t penalized Povetkin yet

By Boxing News - 05/23/2016 - Comments

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By Jeff Aranow: It’s been a week since the World Boxing Council postponed the title fight between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder vs. Alexander Povetkin after Povetkin’s positive test for the banned substance Meldonium and yet the WBC still hasn’t suspended the 36-year-old Povetkin or officially removed him as Wilder’s mandatory challenger.

If you look at the WBC’s top 15 rankings, Povetkin is still listed as the No.1 contender in the division. Povetkin tested positive for Meldonium on April 27 during VADA’s testing of the two fighters. .

The WBC said they would investigate the positive test from Povetkin and then make a decision shortly. Not surprisingly, Wilder wants the WBC to speed up their investigation so that he can find out which direction he’ll be going in. He can’t do that if Povetkin is officially still his mandatory challenger with the WBC.

Wilder could be back inside the ring in July against the likes of Bryant Jennings once the WBC lets him clear of the Povetkin fight. If not, then Wilder will stuck facing him at a later time once his management works out a deal with his promoter.

“I don’t know why it’s taken so long,” Wilder said to RingTV.com. “I don’t think it should take (so long). I know how the court system works but as far as the WBC coming out with a verdict – it shouldn’t take so long. That’s a no-brainer. The WBC talks about a clean program – hopefully they lay down the hammer. They put their foot down. Boxing is too dangerous to be doping and something needs to be done about it.”

The only fighters that can bring Wilder that kind of payday is Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and it’s uncertain whether Wilder will be able to fight both of them. If he gets beaten before he gets a crack at them, then he can forget about a big payday. Wilder needs to keep winning if he wants to make the big money fighting guys like Joshua and Fury. But in the meantime, a fight against Povetkin might be his best bet in making a huge payday.

“Povetkin is going to be an example and you’re going to see a lot of these fighters put down (the drugs) (and) you’re going to see a decline (in use),” said Wilder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eIaVRNy3l0