Russian Alexander Povetkin says he still expects to fight with the WBC heavyweight champion Deontey Wilder. Povetkin was due to face Wilder in May 2016, but their meeting was canceled a few days before the fight when they found in the blood of Povetkin traces of meldonium.
Povetkin was disqualified and in December 2016 he was due to face Canadian Bermein Stiverne for the right to meet Wilder, but on the day of the fight there appeared information about the positive doping test of the Russian again. As a result, WBC excluded Povetkin from their ratings and disqualified him for an indefinite period. The Russian side has filed an appeal, the proceedings continue.
"I still count on it, I hope that this fight will eventually happen, for this I must probably justify myself to the end. In principle, I want this fight, "Povetkin told about the fact that he does expect himself fighting Wilder sometime in future.