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ASSOCIATED PRESS
WBO and IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko of the Ukraine, left, and WBA champion David Haye of Britain face off today in a unification bout in Hamburg, Germany.
HAMBURG, Germany » Wladmir Klitschko will defend his multiple heavyweight titles against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin in a highly anticipated showdown on Oct. 5 in Moscow.
Klitschko’s management says the fight, long in the making, will take place in the Olympic Arena.
"This is the best fight that the heavyweight division has to offer at the moment," Klitschko said in a statement today.
Klitschko holds the IBF and IBO belts and is also the WBO and WBA "super champion." Povetkin, 33, is WBA’s "regular champion."
Klitschko’s older brother Vitali is the WBC champion. The Ukraine-born brothers have dominated the heavy division for a decade.
Russia’s Povetkin is like Wladimir Klitschko a former Olympic champion and has a 26-0 record, with 18 KOs.
Klitschko is 60-3. His last fight was a sixth-round TKO over Francesco Pianeta in May.
The Klitschkos rarely fight outside Germany, their base.
"I’ve never boxed in Moscow and I’m looking forward to many Ukrainians and Russians who will come to the arena and create a special atmosphere," Klitschko said.
Povetkin, who beat Ruslan Chagaev on points in August 2011 for the then-vacant title, also last fought in May and stopped Polish challenger Andrzej Wawrzyk in the third round for his fourth successful title defense.
Klitschko, 37, will be in his 24th title fight.
