Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder scolded the WBC on Monday for taking so long to announce the rest of its findings after Alexander Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, scratching their fight, scheduled for Saturday in Moscow.

While the WBO has dropped Povetkin from its ratings, the Russian heavyweight is still listed as Wilder’s mandatory on the WBC’s website. The WBC has yet to announce if Povetkin will be suspended, frustrating Wilder for what he sees as a “no-brainer” of a decision. The WBC didn’t return an email for comment.

“I don’t know why it’s taken so long,” Wilder told RingTV.com on Monday. “I don’t think it should take (so long). I know how the court system works but as far as the WBC coming out with a verdict – it shouldn’t take so long. That’s a no-brainer. The WBC talks about a clean program – hopefully they lay down the hammer. They put their foot down. Boxing is too dangerous to be doping and something needs to be done about it.”

Wilder believes doping is pervasive in boxing, claiming “thousands” of fighters are juicing to gain an edge. “It’s a big problem in boxing,” Wilder said in a phone interview. “This is probably just one of a 100 fighters (in the heavyweight division). And if we’re talking about all divisions, this is probably one of thousands. They just haven’t got caught yet.”

Wilder believes Povetkin’s positive drug test will cause a lot of fighters already on the juice to stop. “Povetkin is going to be an example and you’re going to see a lot of these fighters put down (the drugs) (and) you’re going to see a decline (in use),” he said.

Wilder says if Povetkin had only come clean and owned up to it, he might consider giving him another shot. But Povetkin has maintained that he took the substance before it was officially banned on Jan. 1 and Wilder feels disrespected by the way Povetkin and his promoter Andrey Ryabinsky have made excuses. As a result, Wilder doesn’t want to ever face them again.

If Wilder had his way, he would issue a “two-year” lengthy suspension to Povetkin, who tested positive from a urine test on April 27 after he had passed tests on April 7, 8 and 11. While the WBC announced the fight is simply postponed, Wilder’s longtime trainer/manager Jay Deas said it was canceled. Wilder agrees.

“No, this is it,” Wilder said. “I’m very disgusted. If they had apologized and manned up, then I believe in second chances. It’s the fight business and people get nervous and I understand trying to do something spectacular for your country and he went to the depths of cheating. But they didn’t man up (and apologize). As far as I’m concerned, there is no future for Deontay Wilder and Alexander Povetkin. He already choice his fate and he chose the cowardly way.”

Wilder said he’s ready to fight a new opponent next week. Deas expects Wilder to return in “late July.” Officials from venues in Mississippi, Alabama, California and New York have expressed interest in hosting his next fight, Deas said. Deas liked the idea of facing someone like Bryant Jennings, who is coming off a loss to Luis Ortiz but is still a recognizable entity. “That’s an interesting name,” Deas said. “We’ll have to see. There are lots of names. We’ll have to see (who’s available).”

Wilder lost out on a payday of $4,504,500 to Povetkin. Wilder wants his money. Deas said they are exploring a number of options, such as filing a lawsuit. Wilder’s purse remains in escrow in a US bank. “I think certainly Deontay should be compensated for his time and effort and everything he’s done,” Deas said. “One would think the honorable thing to do would be to come to an agreement with Povtekin’s promoter. I would hope they would make things right without having to go any further but we’ll have to see how that all shakes out.”

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