Povetkin withdraws from Klitschko fight

World champion Wladimir Klitschko needs a new opponent for his December 13 fight in Germany after mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin suffered a foot injury after tripping over a tree in training.

"Alexander has suffered a training injury, leaving him unable to challenge IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko as scheduled on December 13th," said Scott Shaffer from Sauerland Event which represents Povetkin.

According to Schaffer, Povetkin, the IBF's number one heavyweight contender, was running in the woods in his hometown of Kursk just a few days ago when he tripped over a tree root and injured his left foot.

A full diagnosis is not expected until Monday, but an MRI scan has shown Povetkin suffered a partially torn ligament in his left foot.

The injury will leave him unable to train until the end of November and makes his December 13 date with Klitschko in Mannheim, Germany, impossible.

"Alexander is extremely disappointed, as we all are," said Sauerland Event CEO Chris Meyer.

"We will release additional information on Povetkin's condition as soon as it becomes available, but we expect Povetkin will be fully recovered and able to fight Klitschko in early 2009."

Meyer had flown to Moscow to meet with Povetkin on Friday only to learn the bad news shortly after arrival in the Russian capital. Klitschko adviser Shelly Finkel said Klitschko still intends to keep the December against a different opponent. "Wladimir is going to fight," Finkel said. "We'll go down the rankings and try to find a suitable replacement. We'll explore all of our options."

After Povetkin, the leading IBF contenders include Alexander Dimitrenko and Cristobal Arreola, but both have bouts scheduled.

Beyond them are former champions Oleg Maskaev and Hasim Rahman, neither of whom are scheduled to fight and could be candidates.

BERLIN, Sunday, AFP