BoxNation will exclusively broadcast in the UK the Deontay Wilder vs. Alexander Povetkin heavyweight title fight from Moscow, Russia, on Saturday May 21st. The undefeated American puts his title on the line for the fourth time against the Russian mandatory challenger and former WBA titlist at the Khodynka Ice Palace.
In a real life re-enactment of the iconic Rocky IV movie that saw Rocky Balboa head to Russia and face the indestructible Ivan Drago, Wilder must enter hostile territory after Povetkin’s promoters won the purse bid to stage the fight on home soil.
The dynamite-punching and brash Wilder, 30, has lit up the heavyweight division with his explosive performances that have seen him stop all but one of his 36 opponents with a staggering 28 coming inside three rounds.
Since winning the WBC crown from Berman Stiverne in January last year, the ‘Bronze Bomber’ has made title defences against Eric Molina, Johann Dhaupas and Artur Szpilka and won all by stoppage, but now faces the most difficult challenge of his career.
Povetkin, 36, a former world class amateur winning Gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2003 World Championships, won the WBA World title in 2001 by defeating Ruslan Chagaev in 2011 and made title defences against Cedric Boswell, Marco Huck, Hasim Rahman and Andrzej Wawrzyk – winning three out of four by stoppage.
A unification showdown against then division king Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF, WBO, WBA Super World Champion followed in October 2013 and despite being floored four times in the fight, Povetkin took Klitschko the full distance only to lose on the judges’ scorecards, which remains his sole career defeat. Since then he’s knocked-out his last four opponents to earn his world title shot.
Chief-support on the card sees two-time WBA World Cruiserweight Champion Dennis Lebedev in a unification battle against IBF World Champion Victor Emilio Ramirez.
