Wladimir Klitschko is not waiting for David Haye. Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) will face his IBF mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KOs) in September, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. The fight will likely be on September 18 but the 11th is also a possibility. While a venue has not been officially tabbed, it is likely that the fight will end up in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Klitschko-Povetkin fight has been made twice, called off due to a Povetkin injury the first time and a Wladimir injury the next. Povetkin is now training with Teddy Atlas and earned the mandatory title shot with a win over Eddie Chambers.
September 18 is shaping up to be a big day in boxing and there is a serious chance that Klitschko-Povetkin doesn’t end up on TV. Showtime is holding that date for a possible Rafael Marquez-Juan Manuel Lopez date, while HBO may be running a pay-per-view headlined by Shane Mosley that night.
