Povetkin still Wilder’s WBC mandatory in August ratings

By Boxing News - 08/14/2016 - Comments

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By Eric Baldwin: Alexander Povetkin continues to be the #1 mandatory challenger to WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder in the World Boxing Council’s new ratings for August. This means that the WBC still hasn’t made up their mind what they’re going to do with the 36-year-old Povetkin after his positive drug test for a banned substance.

Wilder, 30, appears to be getting tired of the WBC taking their time, and he’s talking now of wanting to get it over with and facing Povetkin because he feels confident that he can beat him.

The WBC is still investigating Povetkin’s case. Just when they’ll make their ultimate decision is anyone’s guess.

Wilder vs. Povetkin would be an interesting fight between former Olympic medalists. Povetkin captured a gold medal at heavyweight in the 2004 Olympics for Russia, whereas Wilder won a bronze medal for the United States in the 2008 Olympics at heavyweight. Povetkin won the World Boxing Association heavyweight title in 2011, but he lost the title to Wladimir Klitschko by a 12 round unanimous decision in 2013.

Povetkin will be turning 37 on September 2 next month, and he’s going to have to move his career along because he’s been out of the ring since last year, when he stopped the 6’7” Polish fighter Mariusz Wach by a 12th round knockout. Povetkin did not look good in that fight due to him struggling with the height, reach and punching power of the big fighter.

With Povetkin not having fought in 2016, it’s unclear whether he’s going to fight at all this year. You don’t like to see heavyweights miss the amount of time that Povetkin is missing at his age. It’s important that he continues to fight even if it’s against lesser guys.

Here are the WBC’s August rankings at heavyweight:

1 .- Alexander Povetkin (Russia) * CBP
2 .- Bermane Stiverne (Haiti/Canada)
3 .- Kubrat Pulev (Bulgaria) EBU
4 .- Joseph Parker (New Zealand) OPBF
5 .- Johann Duhaupas (France) SILVER
6 .- David Haye (GB)
7 .- Andy Ruiz (Mexico) NABF
8 .- Bryant Jennings (US)
9 .- Malik Scott (US)
10 .- Artur Szpilka (Poland)
11 .- Eric Molina (US)
12 .- Gerald Washington (US)
13 .- Carlos Takam (Cameroon)
14 .- Mariusz Wach (Poland)
15 .- Dereck Chisora (GB)