BoxRec

After weeks of hunting, former world champion Alexander Povetkin (32-1, 23 KOs) has secured a backup opponent - in the event that his scheduled foe Christian Hammer (22-4, 12 KOs) withdraws from their fight for any reason.

Povetkin's handlers were hoping to secure BJ Flores (34-3-1, 21 KOs), who had little interest in signing a deal as a backup opponent.

With Flores out, a deal has been reached with Japanese heavyweight Kyotaro Fujimoto (18-1, 10 KOs), who earlier this year was in the running to fight WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker.

Povetkin's showdown with Hammer takes place on December 15 in Russia.

At their recent annual convention, the World Boxing Organization sanctioned Povetkin vs. Hammer as a final WBO eliminator for a world title shot at Parker.

Hammer is currently the number one ranked fighter under the WBO, while Povetkin is ranked at six and also holds the WBO's International title.
Back in September Parker retained his world title with a close twelve round majority decision over mandatory challenger Hughie Fury.

But if something goes wrong with the fight, the promoters will use Fujimoto, who is ranked right behind Povetkin at number 7 in the WBO's top ten.
RCC Boxing Promotion CEO Alexei Titov confirmed that the Japanese boxer has officially signed on and is waiting in the wings to step in. Fujimoto has been undefeated since 2012, when he suffered his only career defeat,

"Fujimoto signed a contract," Titov said.

2016 was the worst year in Povetkin's career. The boxer tested positive, twice, when he was days away from a fight and saw those opportunities fall apart. First, planned May collision with WBC champion Deontay Wilder fell out less than two weeks before the fight after Povetkin failed a drug test.

Then he was set in December to fight Bermane Stiverne in a final eliminator, which also fell out after a failed test result on the morning of the fight.

..securing a backup opponent seems to be a good idea, I hope Hammer won't withdraw though..

Mixed reports about the fight being an eliminator.

greg wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:24 ..securing a backup opponent seems to be a good idea, I hope Hammer won't withdraw though..

When it comes to Povetkin, it is a good thing

Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:48 Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.

Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

I'm not interested in any of the 3.

We pretty much only ever hear about a guy having secured a backup opponent when the backup opponent is gonna be the opponent....so...Povetkin vs Fujimoto is what's gonna go down I figure.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 10:18

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:48 Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.

Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

That would've surely been the most money Flores ever made in his professional career by a huge margin. That dude's basically never fought a particularly meaningful fight. Most noteworthy fight I ever saw him in was a losing effort vs Beibut Shumenov

gilgamesh wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 13:07

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 10:18

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:48 Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.

Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

That would've surely been the most money Flores ever made in his professional career by a huge margin. That dude's basically never fought a particularly meaningful fight. Most noteworthy fight I ever saw him in was a losing effort vs Beibut Shumenov

Wonder what Hearn paid him for Bellew fight.

I had forgot he even fought Bellew

I bet his biggest payday was green.

even poovetkins team are worried theyll catch him with his 'medicine' again

jamamb wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 17:11 even poovetkins team are worried theyll catch him with his 'medicine' again

You know that's the truth.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 10:18

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:48 Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.

Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

Povetkin never pissed dirty, there have only been failed tests because the American lab failed, the lab even got suspended later on, which was also the reason why Wilder couldn't fight for so long. Wilder couldn't fight because Wilder didn't want to get tested by any other and independent lab.

asdfjkl wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 23:14

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 10:18

SaadOffTheDeck wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 09:48 Does hammer have the same back up? Povetkin is the pull out risk.

I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.

Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

Povetkin never pissed dirty, there have only been failed tests because the American lab failed, the lab even got suspended later on, which was also the reason why Wilder couldn't fight for so long. Wilder couldn't fight because Wilder didn't want to get tested by any other and independent lab.

STOP WRITING BULLSHIT, IDIOT!
Anyone can google "UCLA lab suspension" and read that it was just ordered to recheck results of 2 (two) drugs at other lab. No connection to bullshit you writing everyday

it could be a nice KO on Fujimoto, but a KO on Hammer should be decent too

Fujimoto is beyond shite. Hammer would at least make a fight of it.

candyslim wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 09:17 Fujimoto is beyond shite. Hammer would at least make a fight of it.

In my opinion they are both fringe contenders. Nothing more. How in the world is Hammer rated number 1 by the wbo is mind boggling

it's funny that someone actually voted on Fujimoto

dagilechia wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 10:14 it's funny that someone actually voted on Fujimoto

That would be the upset of the year

tiny_acres wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 10:16

dagilechia wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 10:14 it's funny that someone actually voted on Fujimoto

That would be the upset of the year

that's true but i could even bet my life that Povetkin beats Fujimoto

dagilechia wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 11:26

tiny_acres wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 10:16

dagilechia wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 10:14 it's funny that someone actually voted on Fujimoto

That would be the upset of the year

that's true but i could even bet my life that Povetkin beats Fujimoto

Pretty safe bet

bigman1968 wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 02:41

asdfjkl wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 23:14

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 10:18 I guess, in case Povetkin pisses dirty.. Hammer will pull out.. Povetkin is going to fight that night regardless of anything.. like last year when Duhaupas was late replacement.
Even though BJ was calling out Povetkin, he doesn't fancy it now. I prefer Fujimoto anyway.

Povetkin never pissed dirty, there have only been failed tests because the American lab failed, the lab even got suspended later on, which was also the reason why Wilder couldn't fight for so long. Wilder couldn't fight because Wilder didn't want to get tested by any other and independent lab.

STOP WRITING BULLSHIT, IDIOT!
Anyone can google "UCLA lab suspension" and read that it was just ordered to recheck results of 2 (two) drugs at other lab. No connection to bullshit you writing everyday

Also Povetkin his samples have been retested by an independant lab and the American lab turned out to be wrong.
This is probably also why Wilder wants to fight AJ so fast all of a sudden, otherwise Povetkin might get his money back in the upcoming lawsuit before Dopeontay Wilder can ship that money to wherever he likes. The only thing that's left is also the American court admitting their own mistake and admitting that also the medical representative Dopeontay and his team showed up lied under oath, which he most likely did, unless he actually didn't even have a clue what he was talking about at all. Whatever the case, he was wrong.

asdfjkl wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 12:59

bigman1968 wrote: ↑28 Nov 2017, 02:41

asdfjkl wrote: ↑27 Nov 2017, 23:14
Povetkin never pissed dirty, there have only been failed tests because the American lab failed, the lab even got suspended later on, which was also the reason why Wilder couldn't fight for so long. Wilder couldn't fight because Wilder didn't want to get tested by any other and independent lab.

STOP WRITING BULLSHIT, IDIOT!
Anyone can google "UCLA lab suspension" and read that it was just ordered to recheck results of 2 (two) drugs at other lab. No connection to bullshit you writing everyday

Also Povetkin his samples have been retested by an independant lab and the American lab turned out to be wrong.
This is probably also why Wilder wants to fight AJ so fast all of a sudden, otherwise Povetkin might get his money back in the upcoming lawsuit before Dopeontay Wilder can ship that money to wherever he likes. The only thing that's left is also the American court admitting their own mistake and admitting that also the medical representative Dopeontay and his team showed up lied under oath, which he most likely did, unless he actually didn't even have a clue what he was talking about at all. Whatever the case, he was wrong.

You are way behind, idiot...even Povetkin's team stopped bullshitting about "independant lab" and "clean samples". Actually, they admitted the ostarine:
"We have managed to prove that (banned substance) ostarine entered Povetkin’s body with nutritional supplements," Alexei Karpenko, a senior partner with Forward Legal company representing Povetkin’s interests, said in an interview with TASS.
"The fine will be paid since there was a fact of negligence regarding the sports nourishment, which led to the cancellation of a scheduled bout," Karpenko added."
http://tass.com/sport/974628

As to lawsuit, Povetkin's appeal to cancel the jury verdict was denied about a month ago (google a bit)...I guess Wilder will very soon receive his largest paycheck, for fight that didn't happen-((((