WBA orders Klitschko-Povetkin bout; deadline for fight February 26th

By Allan Fox: WBA World heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17 KO’s) and his promotional company Sauerland Events are pretty happy right now after learning that the World Boxing Association has ordered IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) to being negotiations with Povetkin’s promoters for a fight that must take place by February 26th, 2013.

Klitschko reportedly had already been told by the WBA that the winner of his fight with David Haye last year in July, and the winner of the Povetkin vs. Ruslan Chagaev fight have to meet up in fight within 18 months. That time is up on February 26th, 2013.

Klitschko hasn’t been acting eager to take the Povetkin fight for some reason after having attempted a fight with him in the past.

If Klitschko doesn’t want to face Povetkin then he’ll have to vacate his WBA title. Wladimir seems to like the idea of having a lot of title belts in his possession and may choose instead to take the fight with Povetkin to just get it over with. Povetkin sees to really want the Klitschko fight now after having beaten Hasim Rahman, Marco Huck and Chagaev, none of which are even close to being as good as Klitschko.

Sauerland will now be looking to negotiate with the Klitschko Management Group (KMG) to set up the fight. If they’re unable to negotiate the fight it’ll go to purse bid.
Wladimir has looked nearly invincible in the last six years since capturing the IBF title, beating Mariusz Wach, Tony Thompson, Jean Marc Mormeck, David Haye, Samuel Peter, Eddie Chambers, Chagaev, Hasim Rahman, Sultan Ibragimov, Lamon Brewster, Ray Austin and Calvin Brock.

Povetkin is perhaps the toughest opponent for Wladimir out of that punch because he’s not afraid to mix it up, he throws a lot of punches, and he’s got a good chin. Povetkin hits hard enough to potentially give Wladimir a lot of problems if he’s able to land. You would have to expect that Wladimir will be trying to keep the fight on the outside as much as possible and then clinching whenever Povetkin gets too close.