NEW YORK (AP) Heavyweight boxer Deontay Wilder and promoter DiBella Entertainment have filed a $5 million lawsuit against Russian Alexander Povetkin and his promoter.
Wilder and DiBella filed suit alleging breach of contract Monday in U.S. District Court of New York. Wilder, the WBC champion, and mandatory challenger Povetkin were scheduled to fight May 21 in Moscow but the fight was postponed indefinitely when the Russian tested positive for meldonium.
The banned substance is a blood-flow drug that historically was used to improve Soviet soldiers' endurance.
The suit seeks damages of no less than $5 million and names Povetkin and promoter World of Boxing LLC, run by Andrei Ryabinsky. YahooSports first reported the suit.
Wilder was scheduled to make $4.369 million for the fight. He'll face Chris Arreola July 16 in Birmingham, Alabama.
