Chakhkiev Vacates EBU, Fights on May 22 in Moscow

By Alexey Sukachev and Per-Ake Persson

What was expected to be a multi-fight pay-per-view on May 30 in London, England, suffers its second consecutive blow. After European featherweight champion Josh Warrington was forced to withdraw from his Belgian mandatory Alex Miskirtchian and is now off the card, another EBU titleholder will also cancel his London appearance, as high-rated Russian cruiserweight puncher Rakhim Chakhkiev (22-1, 17 KOs) won’t go on with his mandatory defense against Ukrainian Dmytro Kucher (22-1, 16 KOs).

According to the news from EBU headquarters, Chakhkiev chose to relinquish his title. The WBC #1 rated Russian will fight next on May 22 in Moscow, Russia, as a part of a well-packed doubleheader, promoted by the World of Boxing, which will be led by WBC cruiserweight champion Grigory Drozd against former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk and by Alexander Povetkin, who will be featured in a heavyweight match-up versus Mike Perez of Cuba. Oleg Troyanovskiy and Dmytry Kudryashov are also scheduled to appear on the card.

2008 Olympic gold medalist and TBRB #8 rated Chakhkiev, 32, will reportedly contest a vacant IBO title against an opponent to be named, although no official info is available right now. Chakhkiev is also rated #1 by the WBC, #5 by the IBF, #6 by the WBO and #11 by the WBA. Chakhkiev is coming off a brutal kayo of fellow compatriot Valery Brudov on April 10.