Alexander Povetkin’s promoter is far from certain that the Russian veteran will be ready to fight Dillian Whyte on January 30.
The 41-year-old Russian fighter was due for a rematch against Whyte following his surprise win at the summer Fight Camp series, earning him the WBC interim championship.
Whyte and his manager Eddie Hearn exercised a rematch clause in the fighter’s contract but that fight looks set to be delayed yet again. It was originally planned for November 21 but Povetkin tested positive for coronavirus and was hospitalized.
Hearn had suggested a new date at the end of January but Andrey Ryabinsky is not sure that even that date would come too soon.
"We will try, but I think that by January 30 Alexander is unlikely to recover," Ryabinsky said.
The promoter reported that Povetkin has been discharged from hospital and plans to restart his training in three weeks, should he receive permission from his doctors.
Since the postponement of the Povetkin-Whyte fight Hearn had put his boxer forward to fight Tyson Fury on December 5, but former European champion Agit Kabayel is now due to fight the current WBC heavyweight.