Team Klitschko: Alexander Povetkin is just a normal contender, not a true champion

Wladimir Klitschko's manager Bernd Boente says that he and the Klitschko team won't force or be forced into a fight against Alexander Povetkin, saying that Povetkin is no more than another ordinary challenger:

"The [WBA] gave us a period of two years, from the time of the David Haye fight, to make a mandatory defense. In other words, up to July 2013. Povetkin is not a true champion, he's the same [as everyone else], a normal contender. We will not allow anyone to force us to do anything," Boente said.

In other words, Klitschko's team will look to make the best fight they can, and if that's not Povetkin, then that's not Povetkin. The WBA would have to make Povetkin a mandatory for the super title, and Boente saying they have until next July to make a mandatory defense makes it really unlikely it will happen soon.

Povetkin (25-0, 17 KO) destroyed the shell of Hasim Rahman this past Saturday in Germany, in a fight that impressed nobody, including, it would appear, Team Klitschko. Povetkin said after the fight that he'd be willing to face Klitschko next, but Wladimir pretty quickly questioned the Russian's sincerity.

Klitschko's next fight is set for November 10 against Mariusz Wach.