Maskaev: I'll step in for Povetkin!
Tuesday, October 28 2008
By Matt Richardson
After hearing that Alexander Povetkin pulled out and that current WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is looking for a new opponent for his next fight on December 13th, former WBC champion Oleg Maskaev said he'd be interested in the opportunity. Team Maskaev, however, expressed concern on Monday that they could be bypassed for the title shot by the man Maskaev knocked out twice, the second time for the title, former champ Hasim Rahman. The current IBF rankings include Povetkin at number one, Alexander Dimetrenko, who has a scheduled fight, at three (two is vacant), Rahman at four, recent Klitschko victim Sultan Ibragimov at five and Maskaev at six. "How is Rahman higher than Maskaev," asked Maskaev manager Fred Kesch. "Oleg knocked him out twice! Oleg has only lost one fight in 6 years, he just fought in front of over 100,000 people on Red Square in Moscow soundly beating Robert Hawkins. Zuri Lawrence, who gave Rahman life and death is one of our sparring partners. What has Rahman been doing lately? It seems absolutely absurd that Rahman gets to fight ahead of Maskaev. Oleg stopped Vitali when they were both amateur stars so Oleg and Wladimir is the perfect follow-up." No official decision has been made yet for a Klitschko opponent, though the champion has confirmed that he will go ahead with a fight on that date.
