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Klitschko-Povetkin kick-off presser scheduled Monday in Moscow

Fighters Network
09
Aug

Russian promoter Andrey Ryabinsky will play host to a press conference on Monday in Moscow to officially announce the Oct. 5 heavyweight title bout between RING champion Wladimir Klitschko and unbeaten Alexander Povetkin, according to a Friday release from Ryabinsky’s organization.

The owner of the IBF, WBA and WBO belts, Klitschko, 37, will be after his 15th defense in the clash of Olympic gold medalists that is scheduled to happen on Oct. 5 in Moscow.

“It’s clear to everyone, that the Wladimir Klitschko-Alexander Povetkin fight is an event of global importance. Definitely, the fight of the decade,” said Ryabinsky, CEO of “MIC” Group of Companies.

“The battle between these two former Olympic champions has been discussed now for quite some time and is one that is highly anticipated by boxing fans around the world. That is why it was so essential for us to promote this fight. Russia has not yet hosted a mega fight like this.”



A 1996 Olympic gold medalist for Ukraine, Klitschko (60-3, 51 knockouts) will pursue his 19th consecutive victory and his 14th stoppage win during that run. He is coming off May’s sixth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Francesco Pianeta.

A 33-year-old winner of Olympic gold for Russia in 2004, Povetkin (26-0, 18 KOs) was last in the ring for a third-round stoppage of previously undefeated Andrzej Wawrzyk also in May.

In THE RING’s ratings, Povetkin sits at No. 2, ranked only below champion Klitschko and his brother, No. 1-rated Vitali Klitschko, the WBC’s beltholder.

According to Chicago-based attorney, John Wirt, who represents Ryabinsky on behalf of OblStroy Finance Limited promotional company, Vladimir Hryunov was representing Ryabinsky in April when he bid $23,333,330 toward the Klitschko-Povetkin bout.

Hryunov’s bid was far above the minimum required of $1 million, and surpassed those of K2 Promotions and Sauerland Event ($7.1 million and $6.01 million, respectively).

As the WBA’s “super champion,” Klitschko would receive a favorable 75-to-25 percent split of the purse, or $17,499,997.50 compared to $5,833,332.50. Both amounts would be career-highs for Klitschko and Povetkin.

Note: Wirt said OblStroy Finance is the promoter of the event. OblStroy is owned by Ryabinsky, who also owns MIC, which is the principal sponsor of the fight along with the Russian state-owned oil company, Rosneft. Hrunov was the licensed WBA promoter who made the bid. Hrunov has an agreement with OblStroy.

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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