Povetkin Will Face Sykes Next

IBF #1 and WBO #4 Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11 KOs) is scheduled to face American Taurus ‘The Bull’ Sykes (25-4-1, 7 KOs) on July 19 at the Olympiyskiy Sports Palace in Chekhov, Moscow region. He will be expected to not lose to Taurus since he is the IBF mandatory to face Wladimir Klitschko this fall. With Sykes only having 7 KO's in 25 wins, it would be safe to assume that Povetkin's opponent is one that would have a hard time knocking him out. With Povetkin's work rate, I believe at the very worst he will come out with a easy decision victory, but a KO is probably expected as to give an added boost of confidence for Povetkin coming into the fight with Wlad this fall.