Alexander Povetkin receives IBF tournament invitation
It wasn’t an invitation to the annual Winter Palace ball, but it counts just the same.
Russian heavyweight prospect Alexander Povetkin has been invited to an IBF sanctioned tournament to determine champion Wladimir Klitschko’s next opponent, Ruslan Chikov of boxingscene.com and others report.
The tournament, which will involve four top heavyweight contenders, will crown a definitive IBF mandatory challenger and look to profit from a much-hyped bout with “Dr. Steelhammer.”
Although it is unclear if Povetkin will accept the invitation, other heavyweight prospects Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Boytsov have already turned down offers, possibly damaging the integrity and relevance of the competition before its start date.
In 2008 Povetkin successfully won a similarly conceived tournament by the IBF and was crowned mandatory challenger. However, potential fights with Klitschko have fallen by the wayside on two occasions, both of which are considered to be due to Povetkin’s
camp admitting reluctance.
Klitschko’s recent bout with Samuel Peter was a revision to an original bout with Povetkin, in which he pulled out at the last moment. Trainer Teddy Atlas indicated that he wanted Povetkin, 19-0 at the time, to gain more experience before taking on Klitschko.
Although it’s unclear why Dimitrenko and Boytsov opted out of the tournament, it’s possible they considered the time it would take for its completion too valuable to waste on one exclusive cause. Undoubtedly signing on for the competition would entail contractual
clauses and obligations fighters may not be happy with.
Klitschko, on the other hand, would seemingly be attracted by the possibility of a tournament as it would mean getting a legitimate contender, something he arguably hasn’t found in an opponent for some time.
It will also mean a hefty payday, not that it matters much for Dr. Steelhammer.
Still, it’s no secret that the heavyweight division has been drained of its lifeblood for some time, and that the fighters that do matter aren’t exactly drooling to fight each other.
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