According to Russian news agency, Kommersant, Alexander Povetkin (15-0, 11KOs) will face Taurus Sykes (25-4-1, 7KOs) on July 19 at the Olympiyskiy Sports Palace in Chekhov, Russia.

Povetkin is the mandatory to current IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, who faces Tony Thompson (the WBO mandatory) in July. Povetking would face Klitschko, provided he wins, in the fall. If Klitschko falls, then the obvious next fight would come against Thompson.

Sykes has lost three of his last five. He's been inactive for almost a year. In his last fight, against Hasim Rahman last June in Rochester, New York, he dropped a ten-round decision.