Don King wants to promote Bermane Stiverne-Alexander Povetkin, with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin ringside

DON KING wants to promote Bermane Stiverne versus Alexander Povetkin and raised the possibility of US presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin sitting ringside.

With WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder injured, the WBC have instructed Povetkin to box Stiverne for an Interim title.

“I would love to make the fight between Stiverne, the WBC’s number two contender and Povetkin, who’s number one,” King said. “We could do the fight in Russia, the US, even Africa. I’m friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin and I’m a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, who I’ve known a long time. Maybe the Presidents could sit together at ringside, President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump. Can you imagine?

“The [Stiverne-Povetkin] fight would mark the first in a long journey. If Bermane wins, we take him around the world. Bermane has a lot to prove. He’s the only fighter to go the distance with Wilder, but he gave that fight away. This is his chance for redemption; the tour will go on with or without him. We shall overcome!”

King wants to stage a worldwide boxing series, a ‘Salute to Greatness’ tour. The idea “is to do a global salute to the memory of the greatest, Muhammed Ali”.

“I brought international fame and acclaim to cities and countries, brought them worldwide recognition, put them on map,’’ King said. “We put Manila on the map, same with Zaire and many other places. With this series, we’re open to do things that have never happened before.

“We could go anywhere and everywhere, we’re gonna conquer the world. They’re calling me, Africa is calling me. I don’t even have to call them.

“It’s the 41^st anniversary of The Thrilla in Manila, the 42^nd anniversary of The Rumble In The Jungle. We could take George Foreman, Larry Holmes, go to Mexico for Julio Cesar Chavez, Panama for Roberto Duran, Puerto Rico for Felix “Tito” Trinidad, and just go around. The possibilities are endless.

“This is the Love & Peace Roundup for me. I’m back in the saddle. There’s no stopping this series. It’s a ‘Salute to Greatness’ in the memory of Ali and for all the great fighters all over the world.’’