Ruiz to take on Valuev
Heavyweight champion given time to recover from injury
Last updated: 4th July 2008
Former WBA heavyweight champions John Ruiz and Nikolay Valuev will fight for the title later this year after current holder Ruslan Chagaev was deemed 'champion in recess' by the organisation.
The undefeated Chagaev was due to face Valuev on Saturday but had to withdraw after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, after the original rematch slated for May was also called off because the champion was ill.
Chagaev, who took the belt off Valuev in April last year and has defended the title just once - beating Britain's Matt Skelton - will be given a shot at the new champion by June 2009 under the WBA's ruling.
In the meantime, Valuev will fight Ruiz for a second time after he took the title from the former champion in 2005, successfully defending it on three occasions before losing a majority decision to Chagaev.
'Quiet Man' Ruiz, 36, appeared to be approaching the end of his career after losing the belt to Valuev and then an eliminator to Chagaev in successive fights, but decisioned Jameel McCline earlier this year to put himself back in contention for a title shot.
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Comments
Jamie Huntley says...
heavyweight boxing has gone down hill since lennox lewis, its about time some one like haye stepped up to the plate and show all the chumps how its done, but is he big enough.
Posted 10:12 7th July 2008
Richard Allen says...
Come on David Haye !! He will knock all this has beens out. apart from any thing else none of these guys having no flair its even bopring reading about them. Ruiz was he not well beaten by Roy Jones??years ago what he still doing on the seen. My god the Heavy divsion is in poor shape.
Posted 15:08 5th July 2008
Tony Pickett says...
wow! Cant wait for this one im so excited!
Posted 18:28 4th July 2008
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