STATEMENT FROM BERMANE STIVERNE: Former World Boxing Council (‘WBC’) Heavyweight Champion BERMANE STIVERNE (25-2-1, 21 KO’s), of Las Vegas, Nevada, has elected not to face #1 ranked contender ALEXANDER POVETKIN, (30-1-0, 22 KO’s) today after Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine and the World Boxing Council withdrew their recognition of the fight.
By Jeff Aranow: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) will be facing former world title challenger Johann “Reptile” Duhaupas (34-3, 21 KOs) in a scheduled 10 round fight tonight, as the Bermane Stiverne has decided not to face Povetkin after he tested positive for a banned substance.
The 6’5” Duhaupas has reportedly agreed to step in and replace the 38-year-old Stiverne to face Povetkin at the Ekaterinburg Expo in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
By Eric Baldwin: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) has allegedly failed a drug test for his fight against Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1,21 KOs) for his fight tonight at the Ekaterinburg, Expo, in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The World Boxing Council has withdrawn sanctioning of the Povetkin vs. Stiverne fight. (read Stiverne statment here). Povetkin may face Johann Duhaupas tonight now according to news from Russia.
The fight was supposed to be for the interim WBC heavyweight title. The winner was then to face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder. Now it’s unknown what’s going to happen. This is bad news for the career of the 37-year-old Povetkin, because it’s the second time he’s failed a drug test.
By Eric Baldwin: Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) will be enjoying a 26 pound weight advantage over former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) when the two fighters battle for the interim WBC heavyweight title on Saturday night at the Ekaterinburg Expo Center in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The 38-year-old Stiverne weighed in at 249lbs during Friday’s weigh-in. Povetkin, 37, weighed in at a slim 223.7lbs. Stiverne’s weight is slightly down from the 254lbs he weighed for his last bout against Derric Rossy last year in November 2015.
Weigh-In Results: Povetkin – 101,5 kg (223,7 lbs), Stiverne – 113,1 kg (249,3 lbs)
By Eric Baldwin: Former heavyweight champions Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) and Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) will be in the ring this Saturday night on December 17 to fight for the interim WBC heavyweight title at the Ekaterinburg Expo in Ekaterinburg, Russia. The winner of the Povetkin vs. Stiverne fight will face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder for his title in 2017 at some point.
By Eric Baldwin: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) will be fighting former WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Siverne (25-2-1, 21 Kos) on December 17 for the World Boxing Council interim heavyweight title in Ekaterinburg, Russia.
The winner of the Povetkin vs. Stiverne right will face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) in 2017, as soon as Wilder’s injured right arm and hand have healed.
By Patrick McHugh: Former WBA heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin’s promoters at World Of Boxing won the purse bid last Friday to stage the Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) vs. Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) fight for the interim WBC heavyweight title. The fight will be taking place in Russia, where the 37-year-old Povetkin lives. The winning bid was 3.165 million. It’ll be a 50-50 split of the money for Stiverne and Povetkin.
The winner of the Povetkin-Stiverne fight will face World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder as soon as he’s able to return to the ring. Wilder injured his right hand and bicep in his last title defense against Chris Arreola.
The WBC heavyweight championship of the world was scheduled to be contested on May 21, 2016 in Russia. The Bout was Champion Deontay Wilder’s mandatory defense of his title against Mandatory Challenger Alexander Povetkin. The Bout was the result of a purse bid the WBC conducted and which promoter World of Boxing won.
On May 13, 2016 VADA reported to the WBC that Alexander Povetkin’s anti- doping test that had taken from his April 27, 2016 sample pursuant to the WBC Clean Boxing Program yielded an adverse finding for the banned substance Meldonium.
By Eric Baldwin: A purse bid is scheduled this Friday on October 7 for the fight between #1 WBC heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkina and #2 WBC Bermane Stiverne for the interim World Boxing Council heavyweight title.
The current WBC champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder is still recovering from surgery on his right hand and bicep sustained in his 8th round knockout win win over Chris Arreola last July. The winner of Povetkin-Stiverne pure bid will be able to stage the fight.
As of now, there are three promoters that will be in the purse bid with Stiverne’s promoter Don King, Povetkin’s promoter Andrey Ryabinsky of World of Boxing and Titov Boxing Promotions taking part in it, according to ESPN.
By Patrick McHugh: With WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder nursing a surgically repaired right hand and torn biceps, the World Boxing Council has ordered #1 WBC contender Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOS) to face #2 WBC Bermane Stiverne (25-2-1, 21 KOs) for the WBC interim heavyweight title.
The winner of the Povetkin vs. Stiverne fight will then face the 30-year-old Wilder in 2017 for his WBC title. The negotiation for the Povetkin-Stiverne fight begins today. If the two fighters are unable to come to an agreement by September 16 of next month, then a purse bid will be conducted on that date. Drug testing will be done by VADA for the Povetkin vs. Stiverne fight.