ESPN Boxing

Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko will defend his various belts against mandatory challenger (and secondary titleholder) Alexander Povetkin on Saturday (HBO, 3:30 p.m. ET) in Moscow, and on Monday the officials were announced.

The referee will be Luis Pabon of Puerto Rico. He will be working his second Klitschko championship fight. He was also the referee for Klitschko's fourth-round blowout of Jean-Marc Mormeck in March 2012.

Pabon will be working his third Povetkin fight. He worked Povetkin's 11th-round knockout of former titleholder Chris Byrd in 2007 and drew criticism for his work in Povetkin's majority decision win against cruiserweight titleholder Marco Huck, who was moving up in weight, in 2012. In that fight -- a controversial majority decision win for Povetkin -- Pabon continually broke the fighters even when they were not in clinches and wouldn't let them fight on the inside, which cost Huck dearly because he was the one doing damage in tight quarters. Povetkin also made a habit of leaning over into Huck's right hands, yet Pabon routinely warned Huck for hitting Povetkin behind the head rather than telling Povetkin to stop bending over.

The judging panel will be Glenn Feldman and Ted Gimza, both from the United States, and Phillippe Verbeke of Belgium.

Verbeke judged Klitschko-Mormeck, and neither Feldman nor Gimza has worked a Klitschko fight. Feldman had Povetkin a clear winner against Ruslan Chagaev in their 2011 vacant title bout. Verbeke worked Povetkin-Huck and scored it a draw. Gimza hasn't worked a Povetkin fight.

Billy Joe Saunders, the British and Commonwealth middleweight champion, and heavyweight Dereck Chisora co-headlined the first pro boxing card at the Copper Box Arena -- a facility used for the 2012 London Olympics -- on Sept. 21.

The card was a success, with Saunders retaining his belts by decision against John Ryder and Chisora stopping Edmund Gerber in the fifth round to win the vacant European title.

Saunders and Chisora will be back to co-headline the second card at the arena on Nov. 30. Neither fighter has an opponent yet, but both will defend their belts.

Chisora (18-4, 12 KOs), who lost a world title challenge by lopsided decision to Vitali Klitschko in 2012, hopes to use his European title to help him land either a rematch with titleholder Vitali (unlikely) or a shot at world champion Wladimir Klitschko (not out of the realm of possibility). Wladimir, of course, would have to retain his title against Alexander Povetkin on Saturday in Moscow, where Chisora plans to be ringside.

"I said that I would be destroying these guys from now on, and that's what I've done in my last two fights," Chisora said. "The fans and media know what I can do. This is the new 'Del Boy' and this time I'm on the road to win the world heavyweight title. I love fighting at the Copper Box Arena, and this is my new home. Whoever I have in front of me on Nov. 30 is getting destroyed."

Saunders (19-0, 10 KOs) has won all three of his fights so far in 2013 and hopes to close out the year 4-0 with another defense.

"To say this year has been the best of my career would be an understatement," said Saunders, a 2008 British Olympian. "I couldn't have wished for a better one, but it's only going to get better and better. I'm producing the best boxing of my career. I've defended my British and Commonwealth titles, I've beaten two unbeaten fighters in [Gary] O'Sullivan and Ryder. I'm still unbeaten and I've won the Best Young Boxer of the Year award [from the British writers]. But the year isn't over yet."

Brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko both hold world heavyweight titles at the same time. Brothers Juan Manuel and Rafael Marquez were also world champions simultaneously. They are two of the greatest brother combinations in boxing history.

In England, the Smith brothers -- three of them -- do not hold world titles but they all now hold British titles after Liam Smith (15-0-1, 5 KOs) claimed the junior middleweight belt last Saturday by outpointing Erick Ochieng.

Paul Smith (33-3, 19 KOs) is the British super middleweight champ and Stephen Smith (17-1, 10 KOs) has the British junior lightweight title, making them the first trio of brothers to hold British championships at the same time.
To make the situation even cooler, they will each defend their titles on the same Dec. 3 card at Echo Arena in their hometown of Liverpool, England.

Paul, who is 30 and the oldest brother, will make the first defense of his second British title reign against Luke Blackledge while Liam, 25, and Stephen, 28, do not have opponents yet.

"It's incredible that we are all holding British titles at the same time," Paul said. "It's not something that we set out to do, but it's unbelievable that we are now all holding prestigious Lonsdale belts. As the eldest brother, I'm so proud of what Stephen and Liam have achieved. Personally, I'm proud to hold my British super middleweight title again. It's a beautiful belt and now I've got to defend it against a tough challenger in Blackwell on a very special night."

There have been other British brother trios who were very good -- Randolph, Dick and Jackie Turpin, Duke, Clinton and Winston McKenzie and Chris, Peter and Simon Eubank -- but none did what the Smiths have done.

"To think that three brothers could hold British titles at the same time would be a stretch seeing that British boxing's great family names like the Turpins, McKenzies and Eubanks didn't do it," said Stephen, who knocked out Gary Buckland in the fifth round to win his belt on Aug. 17. "It's fantastic that we'll be in the sporting history books as the first ever brothers to all hold British titles. Now it's back to business in the gym and we've all got to retain our titles at the Echo Arena, which will create even more history."

Said Liam, "Beating Ochieng on Saturday and holding the Lonsdale belt felt like I had won the world title on the night. I'm so proud of my brothers and we've all stuck together through thick and thin to now be British champions. It's all about hard [work] and dedication and we've shown that. We all want the best for each other and now it's about retaining our titles at the Echo Arena and then moving on to world titles."

After all the commotion, negotiations and an eventual side deal, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., who signed to fight Bryan Vera at 168 pounds, was 172.4 pounds at Friday's weigh-in at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. Vera weighed in at 171.2 pounds.

A side deal between promoters and the fighters was made earlier in the week to raise the limit to a maximum of 173 pounds when Chavez was clearly not going to make 168. In order to raise the weight limit, Vera and his promoter Artie Pelullo will share a six-figure additional payment to what they are already getting for the fight.

The fight is Saturday night (HBO, 10:15 ET/PT) at the StubCenter in Carson, Calif. and is Chavez's first bout in a one year. Chavez suffered a lopsided loss to lineal middleweight champion Sergio Martinez last September before being hit with a subsequent fine and nine-month suspension for failing his second Nevada drug test in three years when he tested positive for marijuana.

According to an official from Top Rank, Chavez's promoter, the former middleweight titleholder spent quite a while riding a stationary bike and running a treadmill on Friday in order to make sure he was at 173 or less. He also spent time sitting in a sauna trying to lose the extra weight.

"When I got into Los Angeles I knew I could not make the weight limit so I asked my promoter if he could arrange for a different weight," Chavez said. "I did train hard to be ready but remember -- I have not fought in a year. I will do the best I can do on Saturday night. These fights like against Vera, with no title on the line, are the most dangerous fights for me because I have everything to lose. Vera has nothing to lose really, not like me."

Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) ate a full breakfast and lunch with no worries about making 173 for the 10-round fight. As part of the deal to change the weight, Vera's side asked for the bout to be reduced from a 12-rounder to a 10 and Chavez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) went along.

"When I got into the hotel on Monday I was weighing between 173 and 174, so I was more concerned for me and for him," Vera said. "I heard he was struggling. Then the promoters had a meeting. It all worked out fine. I wasn't walking out of this fight."

Oleksandr Usyk, the 2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medalist from Ukraine, is going pro, just not where many thought he would be.

This week, Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko’s company, K2 Promotions Ukraine, held a news conference in Ukraine to announce that the charismatic 26-year-old southpaw, who will campaign in the pros as a cruiserweight, had signed.

Usyk will turn pro in Kiev, Ukraine in a six-rounder on Nov. 9, according to K2 Promotions Ukraine chief executive Alexander Krassyuk.

Back in July, however, Usyk was headed to Top Rank and the plan was for him to turn pro Oct. 12 on the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez undercard in Las Vegas.

Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said Top Rank had signed him as part of the deal to sign his Olympic teammate, the more heralded two-time Olympic champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

As it turned out, even though Top Rank signed Lomachenko and had met with Usyk and sent him a contract it thought had been agreed on, Usyk didn’t sign and got a better offer from K2.

"We thought we had to sign Usyk to get Lomachenko and he, luckily for us, got a good offer from K2, so that's how it worked out," Arum told ESPN.com. "He’s a nice boy and everything and we really liked him, but K2 can use him better than we can. He’s really a cruiserweight, not big enough to be a heavyweight, so he will have more opportunities in Europe. We’re happy it worked out for everybody."

Usyk was a terrific amateur. Besides winning the Olympic gold medal in London, he also won a 2011 world amateur championship in addition to other international tournaments.

Usyk was happy with the way things turned out, saying at the news conference (in translated comments), "It is vitally important for me to debut in Ukraine. I visited America and the U.K., but K2 offered me the best option. I am happy about that and will proudly represent and give joy to many Ukrainians. I will come to America soon, but to pick up the championship belts."

Vitali Klitschko also attended the news conference.

"I am convinced that Ukrainian boxing fans will enjoy his charisma and boxing skills for a long time," Klitschko said.

Krassyuk called Usyk’s signing "the biggest for K2 in its history. Oleksandr was born the same day as Muhammad Ali [Jan. 17] and this is not an accident. With his skills and experience we expect within a couple of years Usyk will gain the right to fight for the world title."

Former super middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham (37-4, 28 KOs) received an opponent for his Oct. 26 main event in Oldenburg, Germany, it was announced Wednesday. He will face Italy's Giovanni De Carolis (20-4, 10 KOs) at the EWE Arena.

"Finally, there is clarity for me," Abraham said. "Now I will have to study my next opponent on tape, together with my coach Ulli Wegner. With the perfect preparation and strategy, there is no doubt in my mind that I will leave the ring as the winner."

Abraham is in the mandatory position for a rubber match with 168-pound titlist Robert Stieglitz, but Stieglitz will first make an Oct. 19 defense. That means the rubber match won't happen until at least early next year, and Abraham wanted to stay active in the meantime. So he'll take on De Carolis, whose résumé is devoid of a notable opponent or victory.

"He is a good technician who likes to mix it up offensively," Wegner said of De Carolis. "This will be a good test for Arthur. If he wins decisively, I will be more than excited about a third fight between him and Stieglitz in early 2014."

Abraham won a debatable decision over Stieglitz to win the belt in August 2012 and then was wiped out in four rounds in the March rematch.

The undercard of the show took a hit when Russian heavyweight contender Denis Boytsov (33-0, 26 KOs) was knocked off by yet another injury.

Sauerland Event managing director Chris Meyer told ESPN.com that Boytsov injured a knee last week while playing soccer.

Meyer said the fighter would lay off the knee for two weeks while going for therapy before a doctor decides if he can fight on a Nov. 23 card.

Boytsov, 27, has had several injury setbacks, mainly hand injuries.

One thing we know: Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Brian Vera will fight a scheduled 12-round bout Saturday night (HBO, 10:15 ET/PT) at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., Chavez’s first bout in a year, since a lopsided decision loss to Sergio Martinez in a middleweight championship fight and his subsequent nine-month suspension for a failed drug test.

What we still don’t know: The weight for the fight. As Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said on Wednesday, “Wait for the weight.”

Just another day in Chavez Land.

Of course, Chavez-Vera was signed as a 168-pound bout. However, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Junior’s Hall of Fame father, announced to the media earlier in the week that the weight was being increased to 173 pounds, which was news to everyone else involved in the fight.

Chavez Jr., as usual, apparently is having all kinds of problems making 168 and since he’s the star of the show and Vera will make by far his biggest payday, Vera will go along for the ride. But that left Chavez's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, and Vera's promoter, Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions, to make a side deal in the event Chavez is overweight at Friday’s weigh-in, which most expect he will be.

So Arum and Pelullo, who had discussed the matter by phone a few times previously, met face to face on Wednesday in Los Angeles to talk things over.

According to Arum, they made a deal. Most likely it means that Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) will get an agreed-upon amount of money if Chavez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) is overweight. It might mean a certain dollar figure for each pound he is over. Whatever the details are, Arum and Pelullo weren't talking specifics.

“I know it’s something bizarre, but we’re doing it because we had this [weight] issue and we’re making the issue a character in the promotion of the event,” said Arum, who once tried to stir up interest in a dead Oscar De La Hoya-Yory Boy Campas fight by concocting a secret potion for Campas to take at the final news conference.

Arum said that he and Pelullo made their deal after consulting with the fighter camps.

“We got everything worked out,” said Arum, declining to specify the weight limit. That, he said, would be announced at the weigh-in at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. ESPN Deportes [and ESPN.com] will air the weigh-in at 6 p.m. ET.

“I guarantee you that we’ll have a crowd at this weigh-in,” he said, sounding very proud and trying not to laugh. “So you can just wait for the weight.”

A few notes from the boxing world:

• Anthony Joshua, the 2012 British Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist, had his Oct. 5 pro debut opponent announced on Wednesday. Joshua will face 32-year-old Emanuele Leo (8-0, 3 KOs) of Italy in the six-round main event of a big card at the O2 Arena in London, Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn announced. The card also includes Scott Quigg against Yoandris Salinas for a vacant junior featherweight title, lightweight contender Kevin Mitchell against Marco Lopez and featherweight prospect Lee Selby defending his British and Commonwealth titles against Ryan Walsh. Also, lightweight prospect Luke Campbell, the 2012 British Olympic bantamweight gold medalist and Joshua’s teammate, will have his second pro fight on the card.

• Super middleweight contender Thomas Oosthuizen (21-0-2, 13 KOs) of South Africa, who is coming off a poor performance in a 10-round split draw against Brandon Gonzalez on June 29 in his HBO debut, returns Nov. 9 in his home country, co-promoter Lou DiBella told ESPN.com. Oosthuizen will square off with Argentina’s Ezequiel Osvaldo Maderna (20-1, 13 KOs) in a scheduled 12-rounder at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg, on a card being put on by Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman, DiBella’s partner on Oosthuizen. Maderna won his only fight since suffering his lone defeat, a 10-round decision loss to Edwin Rodriguez in the semifinals of the Monaco Million Dollar Super Four tournament in March.

• Former junior bantamweight titlist Juan Carlos Sanchez (17-1-1, 9 KOs) of Mexico and Zolani Tete (17-3, 15 KOs) of South Africa have both told the IBF in writing that they are willing to participate in a final eliminator to produce the mandatory challenger for titleholder Daiki Kameda (29-3, 18 KOs), who won the vacant belt Sept. 3. It became vacant because Sanchez failed to make weight for a June defense. But Sanchez plans on staying at 115 pounds and will meet Tete in the eliminator. The sides have until Oct. 7 to make a deal or a purse bid will be ordered.

When the heavyweight showdown between big-mouth British heavyweights David Haye, a former titleholder, and Tyson Fury, a rising contender, was rescheduled on Tuesday, Haye made the announcement and had a lot to say about his opponent.

None of it was very nice, as usual, not to mention that Haye broke the agreement with the Fury camp that, as a 50-50 promotion, they would mutually agree on what and when information is announced.

Naturally, Fury (21-0, 15 KOs) wasn't about to let Haye get in the final word, and he blasted back on Wednesday.

"I'm so glad to have this fight rescheduled. In my opinion, he's a classless prima donna, a diva, a no-good wannabe Bollywood actor and I can't wait to put him in his place," Fury said.

The fight was originally scheduled to take place Saturday at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, England, but it was postponed to Feb. 8 (at the same venue) because Haye suffered a gash over his left eye during his final sparring Friday and required six stitches.

"There's lots of honest and hard-working people in this world, and I believe I'm going to punish and poleax this money-grabbing cry baby for all of them," Fury continued. "He's getting knocked spark out. I'm tired of him. He said he was going to knock [heavyweight champion Wladimir] Klitschko out and did nothing. Now he's giving me the same talk. Why do people believe him? He can dish it out, but can't take it.

"Mr. Toemaker, your excuses are boring. You say you're going to 'expose me,' but the difference, Mr. Excusemaker, is that every time I say I'm going to go out and do something, I go out and do it and that's exactly what I was going to do this Saturday and 100 percent going to do on Feb. 8. Nothing has changed. I'm still going to smash your face in, no excuses.”

So I guess we have five months of their bickering to listen to.

Mick Hennessy, Fury's promoter, also had his say: "I've pushed for this fight to be back on and I'm delighted it is as I know this is a fight that Tyson wins in style by way of the big KO. David Haye really needs to step up as a man and make sure he's there on Feb. 8, otherwise he will have zero credibility and will probably have to emigrate by public demand."

This is the second fight since June that Haye (26-2, 24 KOs) has canceled or pulled out of. He was supposed to fight Manuel Charr this past summer but pulled out, claiming a hand injury.

Former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is about to make his return, which means one thing: drama, be it inside or outside of the ring.

It has been a year since he lost a lopsided decision to middleweight champ Sergio Martinez, but Chavez sent a jolt of electricity through the crowd when he nearly knocked out Martinez in a frantic final minute that was as dramatic as anything I've ever seen.

After the fight, there was more drama as Chavez, who already had a previous DUI charge on his record, tested positive for marijuana. He was fined and suspended for nine months by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

Although Chavez was on ice, there was still more non-boxing drama. He battled with the Nevada commission, which eventually reduced the size of his fine. He split from trainer Freddie Roach and replaced him with his famous father, Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., to work his corner. He cut ties with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, who had helped him make weight so many times.

So when word began to spread in recent days that Chavez, notoriously heavy between fights, was having a terrible time making the contract weight of 168 pounds for his fight against Brian Vera on Saturday night (HBO, 10:15 ET/PT) at the StubCenter in Carson, Calif., it came as zero surprise.

Then on Monday, Chavez Sr. told the media that the weight limit for the fight had been increased to 173 pounds, despite there being a signed contract for 168. The supposed change in weight was news to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Chavez co-promoter Fernando Beltran, as well as to Vera and his promoter, Artie Pelullo.

On a teleconference with boxing reporters on Tuesday, Arum tried to downplay Chavez Sr.'s announcement, saying no determination had been made about increasing the weight.

"We're going to take a look at what the fighters weigh [on Wednesday] and decide what the weight limit will be, so right now there is no determination on that," he said. "I know what Julio Sr. said, but I really believe that at the time he said it, he misspoke."

Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs) said that as of Tuesday afternoon he was already down to 173 pounds, which, compared to his usual troubles, puts him way ahead of the game in terms of making weight. But who knows if he was telling the truth. Chavez's track record would indicate that he was probably much heavier than 173.

Arum said he and Pelullo will meet to talk about the situation on Wednesday. Pelullo, however, told ESPN.com that Vera (23-6, 14 KOs) wouldn't be stepping on a scale on Wednesday. He said Vera has no issue making weight, that their contract calls for 168 pounds and that Vera is under no obligation to get on a scale except at Friday's official weigh-in.

When the fight was first being negotiated, Pelullo said the weight proposed was originally 162 pounds. Pelullo said the Chavez camp then kept inching it up, to 164, then to 165 and finally to 168.

Pelullo said he was as surprised as anyone to hear that Chavez Sr. said the weight would be increased yet again, especially now that there was a signed contract.

"I found out [Monday] night about what Senior said, that his son couldn't make weight and he wanted to raise the limit to 173," Pelullo said Tuesday evening in Los Angeles. "I found out from reporters who called me at my home. I just landed. Bob Arum and I will meet and discuss it [Wednesday]."

When asked if the meeting with Pelullo was simply about negotiating additional money for Vera to accept a heavier weight than what he signed for, Arum said, "I don't want to discuss that."

Arum said he first needed to meet with Pelullo, adding that his counterpart was "a professional promoter. We always manage to find a solution."

That solution -- and you can take this to the bank -- will simply mean that drama king Chavez will be allowed to buy his way to a heavier weight, with more cash going to Team Vera for their troubles.

Efrain Esquivias made a big impression when he knocked out former two-division champ Rafael Marquez in the ninth round of an exciting featherweight bout on Sept. 7, probably sending Marquez into retirement.

Esquivias (17-2-1, 10 KOs) is hoping to parlay the high-profile win into a shot at a junior featherweight title. Had Marquez won, Golden Boy was planning to give him a crack at 122-pound titleholder Leo Santa Cruz. But with Esquivias knocking Marquez out, he hopes that maybe he can get the opportunity.

"The [junior featherweight] division is filled with great fighters and champions, but the one guy that I would love to tangle with in the ring is WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz," the 30-year-old Esquivias said. "It will be an exciting fight for the fans. I like to throw a lot of punches, and so does Santa Cruz. It would be a great fight."

Esquivias, of Gardena, Calif., is right about that. The fight also might work in terms of scheduling. Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15 KOs), a former bantamweight titlist who won his junior featherweight title by third-round knockout of Victor Terrazas on Aug. 24, is due back in the ring on Nov. 2. That timing would probably work for Esquivias' next fight also.

"This is why I've been putting all the hours in the gym and staying active in between fights; it's for this opportunity," Esquivias said. "I have worked hard to fight a ring legend like Rafael Marquez and I think I have made my mark to get a shot at Santa Cruz. I'm willing to step up to the challenge, and I hope Leo is too. Let's make it happen."

Esquivias is enjoying his newfound recognition in the wake of the Marquez victory. He will make an appearance on Friday night at a card being put on by his promoter, Thompson Boxing, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, Calif., where he will sign autographs before watching the fights.

In a surprise move, super middleweight contender George Groves has split from longtime trainer Adam Booth and replaced him with Paddy Fitzpatrick just weeks before Groves is to challenge titleholder Carl Froch in an all-British showdown.

The 25-year-old Groves (19-0, 15 KOs) is scheduled to challenge Froch (31-2, 22 KOs), 36, on Nov. 23 at the Phones 4U Arena in Manchester, England.

It's highly unusual for a fighter to change trainers so close to such a significant fight, Groves' first shot at a world title. But for reasons that weren't disclosed, Groves made the move -- even though Booth, still under contract, remains his manager.

"I am extremely happy to name Paddy Fitzpatrick as my new trainer going into what is the biggest fight of my life," Groves said in a statement on Monday. "Paddy and I have worked closely together in the past and already have a very good relationship, one built over many years. Not only has he worked my corner for important fights, we have also spent a lot of time together when abroad on training camps, where Paddy has overseen a number of significant sessions.

"Although this is a fresh change for me, I'm working with someone I know and respect, and someone who knows my game inside out. We both know how the other works, so it won't take long to hit the ground running."

Fitzpatrick used to serve as one of Booth's assistants, so he is familiar with Groves.

"His experience and knowledge of the game is world-class and he is, without doubt, the perfect trainer to help me prepare for my next fight," Groves said. "He has a great energy, both in the gym and on fight night, and I feel totally comfortable in his presence. I'm looking forward to working with Paddy on a full-time basis and I'm excited to start adding many more tools to my arsenal. By the time Nov. 23 arrives, I'll be better than ever. And more than capable of dethroning Carl Froch."

Fitzpatrick has previously worked with fighters such as Virgil Hill, Michael Grant, Justin Juuko and female stars Lucia Rijker and Laila Ali.

In April, Guillermo Rigondeaux outpointed Nonito Donaire to unify junior featherweight world titles. Although it wasn't a crowd-pleasing performance, Rigondeaux's talent is undeniable.

So when Top Rank chairman Bob Arum went to HBO to talk about his next fight -- and it was HBO that pressured Arum to make Rigondeaux-Donaire in the first place -- he was rather surprised when the network showed no interest in putting Rigondeaux back on.

The quote Arum gave me on the topic was one of his all-time classics:

"Every time I mention him, they throw up," Arum said of HBO executives.

Well, apparently those execs can now keep their food down because they have changed course and agreed to feature Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs) as a headliner. Arum said that the network is giving him a date for the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalists' next fight before the end of the year, which the network has acknowledged.

"He will definitely fight on HBO in December," Arum said.

The date will be either Dec. 7 or Dec. 14, Arum said.

"We're working on a good fight," Arum said, declining to name the prospective opponent. However, Arum did say it would not be Chris Avalos, a name floated recently as a possible Rigondeaux opponent but understandably declined by HBO.

Arum hopes to line up a fight for junior welterweight titlist Khabib Allakhverdiev (19-0, 9 KOs), a Russian southpaw, in the co-feature. He was due to fight on HBO in March in the Mike Alvarado-Brandon Rios II co-feature before an injury knocked him off the show.

With former heavyweight titlist David Haye having suffered a cut over his left eye and this Saturday's much-anticipated all-British showdown with Tyson Fury now off, it's unclear when and if the fight will be rescheduled. But the camps are trying to work things out.

Initially, Peter Fury, Tyson's uncle and trainer, said his fighter would move on and look for some other fight. Clearly, they were very frustrated by the situation.

Now it seems as though Fury's side has calmed down and is trying to reschedule the bout, which isn't always easy when you consider arena availability, which needs to be matched with the Sky Sports television schedule in the United Kingdom. Also, HBO had bought the American rights to the bout, and the network has a packed fourth-quarter schedule.

"We only found out about this situation around mid-day on Saturday morning, only about half an hour before Hayemaker [Promotions] sent out their official release announcing [the cut]," said Mick Hennessy, Fury's promoter. "Since then, we have been working around the clock with Team Fury, Hayemaker and Sky in an attempt to resolve the situation and reschedule a new date as quickly as possible.

"We have looked into a number of possibilities and have been left very frustrated, as due to these circumstances beyond our control there is nothing that can be done to salvage [Saturday]. But this is a super fight that the fans deserve to see, and Tyson is eager to deliver for them."

Hennessy said that Fury was willing to take on another opponent on short notice on Saturday, even suggesting American power-hitting prospect Deontay Wilder.

"To be fair to Tyson as well, he has done everything in his power to keep this date alive for the fans, even agreeing to fight Deontay Wilder [if Team Wilder were to agree]," Hennessy said. "But this fight at short notice was obviously not considered to be box office."

A Fury-Wilder showdown would certainly be interesting, but to make that kind of fight on a week's notice was not remotely realistic. Knowing that was the case, I have my doubts that Fury was serious but, hey, it was a nice idea.

Ideally, Haye-Fury will be rescheduled as quickly as possible.

"We are very disappointed and can imagine how you are all feeling about this as fans, and hopefully we will be able to announce further information as soon as possible," Hennessy said.

There's not much boxing action this weekend, but one fight that could be fun -- because it's usually fun when heavyweight Dereck Chisora is in action -- is when Chisora and Edmund Gerber meet for the vacant European title on Saturday in London.

Chisora, the crazy-acting former world title challenger who gave a great effort in a 2012 decision loss to Vitali Klitschko, fights hard, talks hard and usually gives your money's worth when he's in the ring.

When he meets Gerber, it will be Chisora's second shot at the European title. The first time, he was blatantly robbed against Robert Helenius in a hometown decision in Finland in 2011.

"Yeah, I was robbed, but the guy I faced [Helenius] hasn't done anything since and is more or less done," Chisora said. "But I've had some huge fights since then."

One was against Klitschko, another was an exciting fight, albeit a knockout loss, with former titleholder David Haye in July 2012 and there was also an important victory against Malik Scott on July 20.

As usual, Chisora (17-4, 11 KOs), 29, of England, is predicting a knockout win against Germany's Gerber (23-1, 14 KOs).

"I don't know too much about the 25-year-old Gerber, but I've watched his Michael Sprott fight [a decision loss in a December rematch]. He has good hand speed but so do a lot of heavyweights nowadays. But despite this he's still going to get smashed up in front of 7,000 fans at a rocking and rolling Copper Box Arena."

Winning the European title is a means to an end for Chisora. He hopes to parlay a victory into a rematch with Klitschko or a shot at champion Wladimir Klitschko, who first faces Alexander Povetkin on Oct. 5.

"For me, winning the European title is a springboard to another shot at one of the Klitschko brothers," he said. "The belt opens door in the heavyweight game and that's what we're trying to do."

Gerber said he will remain calm in the face of any of Chisora's possible antics. Remember, Chisora slapped Vitali Klitschko at their weigh-in, split water in Wladimir Klitschko's face when he and Vitali were in the ring before their fight and brawled with Haye at a news conference.

"When people start talking about Chisora, they are first thinking about a madman who slapped Vitali Klitschko and spit in his brother Wladimir's face," Gerber said. "A big part of what he does before a fight is just hyping up the event and he is good at it, although he should not try to do those things to me as I would not react as calm as the Klitschkos did. From a sporting point of view, he lives up to his ballyhoo, already having challenged for a world championship. Therefore, he will be my biggest test to date.

"Ever since he slapped Vitali Klitschko and spit water on his brother Wladimir before he fought for the world championship, everybody knew that he has some serious problems with his head. I heard that he had to go to anger management classes but with his latest comments regarding our fight it seems that he still has the attitude of an anti-social man. Maybe I can resocialize him when we fight. I will be glad to serve as his therapist for free."