Chagaev’s hit list: Drumond,
Valuev (again) and then the Klitschkos
January 27, 2009
(JAN 27) HOBOKEN, N.J. – WBA heavyweight
“Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev has all of his boxing
ducks, so to speak, lined up in a row but first he has to get past
unbeaten No. 10 rated Carl Davis Drumond in the 12-round main event
February 7, headlining “The Champion Returns” in Rostock, Germany.
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion,
will broadcast three 12-round bouts. Integrated Sports is distributing
it in the United States for live viewing at 2 PM/ET – 11 AM/PT on cable
pay-per-view via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only
$24.95. A same day replay will be shown at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/ET. The event
will also be available in Canada on TSN. Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob
Sheridan will handle blow-by-blow duties and Benny Ricardo, former NFL
placekicker, will serve as color commentator.
2000 Uzbekistan Olympian Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3
rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 by 12-round
decision against Nikolai Valuev (46-0). However, an Achilles tendon
injury prevented Chagaev from defending his title last year against
Valuev and the WBA regulated Ruslan to its “Champion in Recess.”
WBA No. 10 rated Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs), promoted by Warriors Seminole
Boxing, is a boxing mystery outside of fan in his native Costa Rica. His
most notable win to date was in 2007, when he won a 10-round decision
against former world champion Kelvin Davis.
“It is one year since my last fight (win by 12-round decision against
21-1 Matt Skelton), so I am very motivated for this fight,” Chagaev said
from his training camp in Hamburg. “From now on I want to have fight
after fight; I can’t wait for the next tasks. First, I will beat Drumond.
He is a strong man and I must be careful. But he wants to knock me out?
That’s a joke, isn’t it? Nobody can knock me out. Sorry, Carl. This
fight will be a big surprise for you.
“Than (after defeating Drumond) I will show who the real champ is by
beating Valuev for the second time. Then I want to unify all of the
belts. I want to fight the Klitschkos. I respect them for what they’ve
reached in the heavyweight division, but I know then very well and I can
beat them. 2009 will be my year.”
WBA light welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnikin defends his title
belt versus unbeaten Argentinean knockout artist Marcos Rene “El Chino”
Maidana, the WBA No. 1 contender, in the 12-round co-feature. Styles
make fights and Kotelnik-Maidana shapes-up as a potential classic
featuring a pure boxer, Kotelnik (30-2-1, 13 KOs), against a dangerous
power puncher, Maidana (25-0, 24 KOs).
Undefeated Russian heavyweight Denis Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), fighting
out of Germany, meets Puerto Rican veteran Israel “King Kong” Garcia
(19-2, 11 KOs) in a 12-round bout for the WBA Intercontinental title.
The 22-year-old Boytsov, rated No. 11 by the WBA, is the latest prospect
in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders. Source/PR Bob Trieger
