Ruslan Chagaev cannot accept the challenge
A WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev, an Uzbekistani citizen (“Karimov’s son”*), who earned his championship title in the fight with an outstanding Russian heavyweight boxer Nikolai Valuev (aka Russian Giant), refused to go to the ring to defend his title in the fight with another famous Russian boxer, a WBO champion Sultan Ibragimov. As Chagaev’s manager Taymas Niyazov told to the media, Ruslan has to refuse the challenge from Russian boxer due to his illness.
Doctors of Chagaev made a statement that Ruslan is ill with hepatitis B and he cannot train at least for three months. Chagaev’s fans in Uzbekistan, who were anticipating the fight very much, are really upset by this news. They were looking forwards for Chagaev’s success over another famous Russian boxer. Wherever you go and whomever you meet, the first question you get is “Did you hear that Chagaev refused the fight with Ibragimov due to his illness?” Very hot discussions are going on in the Uzbek Internet forums.
Meanwhile, Sultan Ibragimov’s team, who was not ready for such trend of events, did not lose time and has planned a fight with a former champion, a legend in boxing - Evander Hollifield. The fight is planned on the same date – October 13.
Ruslan Chagaev is unhappy about his illness too. He gives his apologies to his fans and promises to go to the ring with Sultan Ibragimov after he gets well. He commented to Glavred Info:
I am very much upset that I can not accept the challenge. I could make history going to this fight, as to this day two world champions had never held a duel together as their first defense of their titles. It is really necessary to go to such an important duel being completely ready, and, unfortunately, it is impossible for me at the moment.
We wish Ruslan Chagaev a soon recovery and hope that he will eventually go to the ring with Sultan Ibragimov and defend his championship title.
* After Ruslan Chagaev’s victory in the fight with WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev, the president of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met him in Ok Saroi (White House), where he told to Chagaev: “You are a son of Uzbek nation. You are my son.”
on August 8th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Probably his father is upset too :). I don’t think that it is a big deal that Ruslan Chagaev refused to fight, he has a strong reason for that. He will recover and beat Sultan… that’s it. I’m so happy that Ruslan smashed Valuev, because Valuev is not a boxer he is rather a chopper or a butcher.
on August 10th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Sovetskiy Sport magazine gave a version that Chagaev could not agree on the amount of money he gets. His promoter offered him two million out of six million dollars.
on September 3rd, 2007 at 4:06 pm
Valuev looks just like a clumsy bear in the ring… not much boxing class in him. I bet he was there because he was a giant..
I would love Chagaev take on Klichko though.. that would be fun!
There is another thing about Russian boxer Ibragimov… He is not really Russian.
on October 31st, 2007 at 6:30 am
You know wat if there will be the fight between them, it will be the great fight!!! Sultan is also best like Ruslan and the winner is BEST OF BEST!!! both of them left hands, both of them have Dagestans blood …. very hard to discuss who will be the winner!!!
p.s Chagaev is not ethnic Uzbek but his mother Uzbek
but Sultan he don’t have a russian blood
on November 17th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
im wondering why both these boxers look white and not asian or muslim?
they are mixed russian?
on January 18th, 2008 at 7:16 am
To Bemmy
Hey man, both of them muslim, if you read and learn about Ruslan he prays always, lesten BBC uzbek news, he is a muslim and prays always as well before the ring. Valuev is also muslim, he is a Tatar origin, one of the Turkic people, not a russian but he is not practice.
I think you got a point now