WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and his promoter DiBella Entertainment have filed suit against Andrew Ryabinsky’s World of Boxing and heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin for breach of contract and at least $5 million dollars in damages after Povetkin tested positive for the banned substance meldonium during an April 27th urine test causing their title bout to be cancelled.
According to ESPN.com, the fight against Povetkin, which was scheduled to take place nine days after the positive drug test, was to yield Wilder a $4,504,500 up front payday with the remaining 10 percent — $715,000 — due to go to the winner. As of now, the monies are sitting in escrow in a U.S. bank and Wilder, is none too pleased.
In the meantime, while the matter is being sorted out in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Wilder will fight against Chris Arreola on July 16 in his hometown of Tuscaloosa, AL for a far less substantial purse.