WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 28 KOs) of Ukraine was angered after Russia's IBF heavyweight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KOs) missed a joint press conference with him on Monday.
According to FightNews.com website, the Russian missed the presser in Germany's Frankfurt saying that he was suffering from sinus inflammation.
"For two weeks, we have tried to force him to come. He could have shown that he is ready to fight me. It's the first time in my entire career that my opponent did not come to the press conference," Klitschko was quoted as saying.
The fight between the 34-year-old Ukrainian boxing legend and the 30-year-old Russian will be held on September 11 in Germany's Frankfurt.
Klitschko and Bernd Bonte, Managing Director of the Klitschko Management Group, who were the only ones to attend the press conference, said Povetkin will be to blame if he misses the title and Samuel Peter of Nigeria was mentioned as a possible substitute for the title bout.
"I didn't choose Povetkin. He's my mandatory IBF challenger. No matter who will be my opponent on September 11, I will knock him out," Klitschko added.
FightNews.com reported earlier in the week that Povetkin is currently preparing for the fight in New Jersey. He has 10 sparring partners and he is being trained by famous Teddy Atlas, who once trained Mike Tyson. At the end of July, Povetkin is expected to shift his practice to Europe, where the title bout is to take place.
Povetkin was supposed to challenge Klitschko on December 13, 2008, but withdrew from the fight due to a leg injury around two months before the fight.
MOSCOW, July 19 (RIA Novosti)
