Valuev-Ruiz II to decide vacant title

Edited Press Release:  At a meeting in Argentina, the WBA has just ruled that heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev has been stripped of the full world titled and demoted to “champion in recess.”  Chagaev has twice pulled out of mandatory defenses against Nikolai Valuev, once due to a sore throat and once due to an achilles tendon injury. Under the terms of the ruling, Chagaev's status permits him to fight the WBA champion if he can recover by June 26, 2009. Valuev will now face John Ruiz for the now-vacant WBA heavyweight title. Negotiations have started between  two ex-WBA champions, Valuev and John “The Quietman” Ruiz  (43-7-1, 29 KOs). The Valuev-Ruiz II winner will be obliged to fight Chagaev by June 26, 2009, Chagaev's health permitting. “We’re happy to get an opportunity to fight for the WBA title again,” Ruiz said from Argentina. Ruiz lost by majority decision to Valuev in 2005. August 30, 2008 is the likely date for Valuev-Ruiz II.