By Rick Reeno
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (34-0, 33KOs) is still on course to defend his world title for the second time in September. More than likely his upcoming fight will be a voluntary defense.
The World Boxing Council will issue an order in October - directing Wilder's handlers to begin negotiations for a mandatory defense against Alexander Povetkin (29-1, 21KOs) of Russia.
There is a good possibility that Wilder-Povetkin will head to a purse bid. Povetkin's promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky, is one of the few people who are capable of out-bidding Wilder's powerful manager/adviser, Al Haymon.
Regardless of the setting, Wilder will demand a very strict drug testing protocol for the fight. In a recent interview, Wilder accused Povetkin of taking performance enhancing drugs .
"When you are dealing with these others countries, some drugs are legal in these other countries and sometimes they know how to take things out [of a fighter's system to pass a drug test]. The drug testing will be a very big deal for me. I'm a clean fighter. I do everything by the books. I expect my opponent to do the same. It's a shame that we still have people in the sport who try to cheat their way to the top," Wilder told BoxingScene.com.
"People can really get hurt. We are in a business where a head is not supposed to get hit in the first place, but then people enhance their bodies to go along and do more things just to get a win or get on top. How you can live with yourself knowing that you're a cheater or took a needle and shot something in your ass or took something. How can you live with yourself and say 'I am the champ' but you took something. I wouldn't live with myself if I cheated or tampered with my body."
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