Don King claims the WBA have ordered an interim heavyweight title fight between Ruslan Chagaev and Kali Meehan.
Promoter's claim to heavyweight challenger appears spurious
Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and Team Ruiz have refuted suggestions by Don King that the WBA has sanctioned an interim heavyweight title fight between Kali Meehan and Ruslan Chagaev.
King, who no longer has a piece of any heavyweight champion after David Haye defeated Nicolai Valuev earlier this month, is attempting to elevate Meehan's status by fighting Chagaev, who also beat Valuev in 2007 for the WBA title but was unable to meet his mandatory obligations due to injury and illness.
But Golden Boy, who are backing Haye, insist they have been told that the WBA will not sanction an interim title.
"They have assured us that David will remain the only WBA heavyweight world champion, a title which he looks forward to proudly defending for the first time in the early part of 2010," said De La Hoya.
"We have complete confidence that the WBA will keep their word and not sanction an interim heavyweight world title bout."
Contract over
Haye is expected to make the first defence of his title against former two-time champion and mandatory challenger John Ruiz in the spring - despite the efforts of King, who promoted the Puerto Rican from 1998.
Ruiz is now a free agent after King's contract with the veteran ran out prior to his recent victory over Adnan Serin - despite the promoter's claims to the contrary.
"Any claim that he has made about DKP still having John under contract is simply a case of King attempting to confuse the public and negatively affect John's opportunities to engage a new promoter," said Ruiz's manager/lawyer Tony Cardinale.
"All of his recent actions, including distribution of a knowingly false press release regarding a so-called WBA sanctioned 'Interim' title fight between Meehan and Chagaev, are an effort by Don King to damage the Haye-Ruiz fight, which he has nothing to do with."
King's earlier statement claimed Meehan had a right to challenge for the title
"The WBA is committed to Kali Meehan fighting for their interim heavyweight championship and for the winner to become mandatory challenger for their most prestigious crown," it said.
