By Eric Thomas: HBO has decided that the October 5th fight between IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 51 KO’s) and WBA heavyweight champ Alexander Povetkin (26-0, 18 KO’s) is worthy enough to be televised live in the United States.

The Klitschko-Povetkin will be taking place in Moscow, Russia. HBO will also be televising a fight between Miguel Cotto and Devlin Rodriguez, as well as unbeaten lightweight contender Terence Crawford against an opponent still to be determined.

ESPN’s Dan Rafael said on his twitter:

Done deal: @HBOboxing will air @Klitschko-Povetkin on 10/5 live from Moscow with a primetime replay with the Cotto/Crawford card. #boxing

— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) August 16, 2013

With the heavyweight division lacking quality fights, Wladimir vs. Povetkin is about as good as you can get right now. Wladimir holds three of the major titles, and the fact that Povetkin has a belt is only because the WBA is a sanctioning body that allows for more than one heavyweight champion with their organization. But Povetkin isn’t the recognized champion for the WBA. That title belongs to Wladimir, and he’s going to have to show that he deserves it on October 5th by beating Povetkin.

Wladimir hasn’t had a real test for at least two years since his win over David Haye in 2011. His fights since then have come against heavyweight contenders that didn’t have the needed power to really challenge him, and give him any problems.

Povetkin has enough power to trouble Wladimir if he can stay in there long enough to wear Wladimir down with his pressure and power shots. That’s not going to be easy, because Wladimir punishes his opponents with his jab and right hands from the outside. And if his opponents are able to get inside on him to land, Wladimir clinches them and leans all over them with his 245 lbs. to tire them out.