Wilder (36-0-35KOs) was due to head to Moscow this week for the fourth defence of his belt against Povetkin on Saturday, but the fight was cancelled after the Russian failed a pre-fight drug test.
Povetkin's A-sample tested positive for meldonium, a substance that was added to the World Anti-Doping Authority banned list in 2015 and caused Maria Sharapova to be banned, although Povetkin insists he has done nothing wrong and used the substance last fall when it was legal.
Wilder, who had been training in Sheffield for the fight, has been left deeply frustrated by the postponement as he was hoping to make a statement with an emphatic victory.
The 30-year-old has also accused Povetkin's team of running scared of him and said he still wants to beat the Olympic gold medal winner in the future.
The fight was taking place in Moscow, because Povetkin's promoter Andrei Ryabinsky won the purse bid earlier this year to secure the promotional rights. As part of that bid, Wilder was set to receive $4.6 million.
Wilder told Tuscaloosa News that he still wants his money or a lawsuit will happen.
"We're definitely seeking legal action into me getting my money. I want my money. I still want my money for this fight. I did all the right things. I deserve it. I should be compensated, and that's how it should go. We're sitting tight waiting on the final verdict of the WBC. Hopefully they do the right thing and we get past this," Wilder said.
A few days Ryabinsky made it clear to Igor Lazorin that he won't pay Wilder a single cent until he faces Povetkin in the ring. Ryabinsky is also ready to wage a legal war in the courts to force the mandatory to go through.
"The money is in the bank under the terms of escrow. Wilder's team has already written a letter to the bank, telling them not to return the money to us. And we wrote that [once the fight takes place] they will get the money," said Ryabinsky.
