By Rick Reeno

Stephen Espinoza, the Executive Vice President and General Manager for Showtime Sports, told BoxingScene.com that his network is certainly willing to travel to Russia for a fight between WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (35-0, 34KOs) and mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (29-1, 21KOs).

Wilder was in action on Saturday night, when he headlined a Premier Boxing Champions on NBC broadcast. He stopped Johan Duhaupas in eleven rounds. The fight scored a knockout preliminary rating of 2.365 million .

At the moment, Wilder's next fight is heading to Showtime. Wilder's title winning effort over Bermane Stiverne in January, and his knockout of Eric Molina in June, were both carried by Espinoza's network.

"Wilder will be back on Showtime in either December or January," Espinoza told BoxingScene.com.

The WBC has ordered Wilder to face Povetkin next. But before Povetkin thinks too far ahead, the Olympic gold medal winner must first walk away with a win, and without injury, in the upcoming bout on November 4th with Polish giant Mariusz Wach.

If he does, many are expecting a financial shootout between Wilder's manager, Al Haymon, and Povetkin's promoter, World of Boxing CEO Andrei Ryabinsky.

Haymon's pockets are very deep, but Ryabisnky also has very deep pockets. Ryabinsky, a wealthy Russian businessman, backed a $23 million purse bid in 2013 to secure the promotional rights to Wladimir Klitschko's mandatory defense against Povetkin. He took that fight to Russia to give Povetkin the home court advantage.

Keep in mind that in 2013 Povetkin was promoted by Sauerland Event. Ryabinsky's goal was to bring a significant boxing event to Russia and he flexed his financial muscle by outbidding Sauerland and K2 Promotions. That financial muscle influenced dozens of Eastern Euro fighters, like Povetkin, to join Ryabinsky's stable.

If Wilder-Povetkin drags out to a purse bid, and Ryabinsky wins, Showtime is ready and willing to travel.

"That is definitely a fight that is under consideration," Espinoza said. "I think absolutely [we would go to Russia]. It's a fascinating fight regardless of where it takes place. It's a great fight."