by Vadim Pushkin

A few years ago, Russian heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin (30-1, 22 KOs) retained the services of veteran trainer Teddy Atlas.

The two worked with each other for a short time and parted ways prior to Povetkin's defense of the WBA 'regular' title against Marco Huck in early 2012. There was a lot of internal controversy during that period, after Atlas persuaded Povetkin to withdraw from a scheduled fight with unified champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2010. That fight finally took place in 2013.

Povetkin said he was physically affected by being forced to travel to America to train and then he would have to head back to Eastern Europe for his scheduled fights. The time difference and travel was an issue for him, and he also wasn't pleased with having to work around Atlas' broadcasting scheduled with ESPN.

"I was in America [training with Atlas] and I didn't like it there. The local trainers there get great publicity, but ours are equally as good. Certainly there are worse out there. I have visited America many times, but I will never be there to train. I don't need to be in America," said Povetkin.

Povetkin was scheduled to face WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on May 21 in Moscow before the Russian fighter tested positive for a minor trace of Meldonium, and that forced the WBC to postpone the fight indefinitely for an investigation.

Wilder was cleared to make a voluntary defense by the WBC and he is now scheduled to defend his belt against Chris Arreola on July 16th in Birmingham, Alabama.

Povetkin, his doctor and his legal team met with the WBC earlier this week to discuss the matter. There are also lawsuits that were filed by both sides, with each camp looking for millions of dollars in damages as a result of the canceled event.

Povetkin is confident of victory and plans to get his title shot.

"I believe that we will win in court. When all of this is over, then I will finally be able to fight again. When you are the hunter, you have to go out and hunt," Povetkin said.