By Alexey Sukachev

A major pre-fight presser took place at the Renaissance Hotel in Moscow, Russia, on the eve of the second huge boxing card promoted by “World of Boxing” this year. The show will be headlined by the WBC heavyweight eliminator between Ismaikel “Mike” Perez of Cuba and 2004 Athens super heavyweight gold medalist Alexander Povetkin. Also on the card is WBC cruiserweight titleholder Grigory Drozd, who risks his belt against late sub Lukasz Janik.

While Janik was not in attendance other main heroes took the stage alongside their coaches Sergey Vasiliev (Drozd), Ivan Kirpa (Povetkin) and Colin Morgan (Perez). As always, taking the central seat was promoter of the event Andrey Ryabinskiy, owner of the WOB. He was also the first one to address the media. Aside of usual compliments and basic advertisements there were some interesting extra points, put forward by the participants, presented in the excerpt below.

Andrey Ryabinskiy

Regarding a possible rematch between Alexander Povetkin and Wladimir Klitschko, “It’s not a good moment for that. Their first fight took place in 2013, when tensions between our states weren’t as fiery and dangerous. Nevertheless, we heard tons of profanities and mutual curses even at that time. Now it’ll only escalate. Sport should be a matter of unity, not dissociation”.

Regarding a possible fight between Povetkin and Wilder in 2015, and Al Haymon’s role in it, “We should first defeat Perez, and it’ll be not an easy task to accomplish. Then we shall sit and weigh in all the options”.

Regarding Wlodarczyk’s health issues - “Wlodarczyk has really gotten ill and has been forced to withdraw. A rematch could have been interesting. Now – with all due respect to Team Wlodarczyk – they have lost their right for a rematch, already executing the clause in their fight contract to no effect. Now they can still try to persuade us into fighting them but I’m not that sure we shall be interested anymore. However, I don’t think that they have hidden something. We have received the papers, and I can say Wlodarczyk was definitely ill. Personally, I think that (Grigory) Drozd is much better fighter than Janik”.

Regarding the status of the Drozd fight, “It’ll be a title fight. We have come to an agreement with the WBC, so it should be considered as an optional defense of the belt. And we aren’t looking afterwards, so Drozd should first defend his regalia, and then we shall speak about our mandatory challenger Ilunga Makabu”.

Regarding female boxing, “I’ll tell you frankly – I don’t like it. Our fighter – Sveta Kulakova – she’s lovely, smart and talented. She is a fascinating fighter. But she will be the only girl in our team. Sorry, I think that it’s a woman's duty to fight, and females should take care of the children and house and bask in pleasures”.

Regarding the undercard, “It’ll be our second card (of the four scheduled) in 2015, and we’re planning it big. You should see some really interesting fight in the undercard of the main event”.

Regarding Dmitry Kudryashov and his nearest future, “I don’t like the idea of matching my boys with each other. We can only do that if there’s no other way. As for Dmitry, I cannot confirm that we shall concentrate him on the WBO track. It’s not that simple. But give me a couple of days, and I’ll present you my business plan on him. I can ensure you that he’ll be a champion very soon. Guaranteed”.

Regarding Manuel Charr’s latest appearance, “We shall continue to support Manuel but he should ask himself some stern questions. His last fight was distasteful. I have no questions to the judges, but Charr himself looked very bad indeed”.

Regarding Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, “Can I learn something of it? I surely can. Promoters and other organizers did a tremendous job of pushing this fight all way through. They are surely extremely talented to strip almost half of the globe off their money. As for the fight itself, that was barely fighting. They entered the ring to earn some money, and that is what they’ve done. It’s only my personal opinion”.

Alexander Povetkin

Regarding his training regimen, “I’m not planning specifically to prepare for upcoming fights in the States. It can only be a good option if I’ll fight my next fight there”.

Regarding Internet and social networks, “I’m not buying this nonsense. I don’t have enough time for that silly pastime”.

Mike Perez

Regarding a habit of watching opponent’s fights, “I don’t have it. Seriously, boxing is my life, and I breathe boxing, I love it – but I don’t watch any fights of any fighters. I just do not so that”.

Of himself, “I’m a Cubano, not an Irishman. I’m a Cuban fighter who lives and fights out of Ireland. I consider Magomed Abdusalamov to be my toughest opponent to date. As for my wishes, I’m ready to fight anyone – it doesn’t matter if it will be (Deontay) Wilder or Klitschko, or Povetkin”.

Sergey Vasiliev

Regarding Wlodarczyk’s withdrawal, “Actually, I don’t think it was accidental. I’m confident in what I’m saying even though Grigory and Andrey (Ryabinskiy) feel otherwise. I have suspected this turn of event long ago. I feel that Wlodarczyk doesn’t want any part of Grisha anymore, so they decided to offer (us) another fighter of their team right before the fight. We have beaten so many Poles recently that I don’t think Janik will be a real title-threatening test”.

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The upcoming card will be held in GCKZ “Rossija” (State Central Concert Hall “Russia”), a part of “Luzhniki” territory. The whole card will be announced by the Voice of Boxing, legendary Michael Buffer. It’ll be televised live by Russia 2 national TV channel, starting at 6 PM LT.

A total of six bouts will be presented. In the main event, top-rated heavyweight Alexander Povetkin (28-1, 20 KOs) will risk his WBC Silver title against Cork-based TBRB #10 Cuban Mike Perez (21-1-1, 13 KOs). Perez, 29, is also rated #2 by the WBC, whilst Povetkin, 35, is #1 under the same sanctioning body.

In a co-main event, WBC cruiserweight champion Grigory Drozd (39-1, 27 KOs) will defend his regalia against 29-year old Polish challenger Lukasz Janik (28-2, 15 KOs), who is ranked #19 by the WBC and has no ranking by the TBRB. 35-year old Drozd is the fourth-rated TBRB cruiserweight.

A vacant IBO cruiserweight title will be contested between Rakhim Chakhkiev (22-1, 17 KOs) and American challenger Junior Anthony Wright (13-0-1, 11 KOs). Chakhkiev, 32, who is 2008 Beijing heavyweight gold medalist, is ranked #5 by the WBC, #5 by the IBF, #6 by the WBO and #11 by the WBA. He is also TBRB #8 rated cruiserweight.

Another highly regarded cruiserweight kayo artist Dmitry Kudryashov (17-0, 17 KOs), whose opponents have never heard the final bell, will test his lethal (to this point) power versus durable WBO #4 Namibian Vicapita Meroro (28-4, 14 KOs), 30, who is 7-0 since transition to a higher weight class from the light heavyweight division.

Kudryashov, who stopped former cruiserweight champion JC Gomez and two-time world title challenger Francisco Palacios both inside a round in his latest fights, is rated #5 by the WBC, #6 by the WBA, and #12 by the IBF. He is also #9 ranked TBRB fighter.

In a heavyweight match-up, Manuel Charr, 30, who is just 1-2 since signing with the WOB, will try to re-establish himself versus recent world title challenger Alex Leapai (30-6-3, 24 KOs), 35, who is himself just 0-2 in 2014 with a stoppage loss to the heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko and one-sided decision loss to Malik Scott.

Finally, undefeated super lightweight Svetlana Kulakova (9-0-1, 1 KO) will risk her WBA interim light welterweight title versus German Marie Riederer (15-2-1, 10 KOs) in a title ten-rounder.