• Boxing

Holyfield-Povetkin hangs in the balance

ESPN staff
August 31, 2011
Alexander Povetkin posed with Evander Holyfield after the former's fight with Ruslan Chagaev © Getty Images
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Evander Holyfield is just one of many names being considered for Alexander Povetkin's first defence of the WBA World heavyweight championship, according to Povetkin's promoter Kalle Sauerland.

Povetkin, who clinched the vacant title by defeating Ruslan Chagaev on Saturday, posed for photos with Holyfield after the fight, and subsequent reports suggested they were set to meet in Zurich during October.

But the 48-year-old Holyfield faces an anxious wait to discover if he will be handed a chance to win his first meaningful title in 11 years. The American legend, who first won a heavyweight strap in 1990, came out on the wrong end of a tight points decision the last time he fought for the WBA World title, against Nikolai Valuev in 2008.

"In reality [Evander Holyfield] is only one of the options under consideration," Sauerland said to boxingscene.com. "We are negotiating with several potential opponents, and executives of several arenas. I think the final decision on this issue will be made in the next 10 to 14 days."

Meanwhile, WBA Super heavyweight title holder Wladimir Klitschko is in no hurry to face off against Povetkin. "We have no interest in a fight with Povetkin," said Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente.

"Twice he had to fight Wladimir, and both times it was his fault the fight was cancelled. We cannot trust him. Under the rules of WBA for a Super champion, Wladimir has 20 months to conduct a mandatory defence."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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