Russia's IBF heavyweight mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (19-0, 14 KOs) has begun training in New Jersey for a bout against IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 28 KOs) of Ukraine, FightNews.com reported on Tuesday.
The website said that Povetkin 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.
According to earlier reports, the fight between the 34-year-old Ukrainian boxing legend and the 30-year-old Russian would likely be held on September 18 in the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, Germany.
However, SportBox.ru website said on Tuesday, quoting Povetkin's manager Vladimir Khryunov, that the fight will be held on September 11.
"The Klitschko-Povetkin fight will be held on September 11 in Frankfurt at the home stadium of Eintracht football club. We have been informed about this by Klitschko's K2 company," Khryunov was quoted as saying.
He added that for him personally "the choice of this date is a bit strange, to put it mildly, as we all know what happened on this day nine years ago. Both teams have many Americans and this must be taken into account."
Povetkin was supposed to challenge Klitschko on December 13, 2008, but withdrew from the fight due to a leg injury some two months before the fight.
MOSCOW, July 6 (RIA Novosti)
