By Ben Jacobs
Australia’s Lucas Browne (22-0, 19 KOs) is the mandatory for WBA regular champion at heavyweight, Ruslan Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KOs). Browne relinquished his Commonwealth title last week in order to concentrate on a clash with the Uzbekistan native. Chagaev, who scored a one round knockout over Francesco Pianeta last week is undergoing a rebirth as a fighter, as his trainer Pedro Díaz explained to BoxingScene.
“I wasn’t surprised at the quick knockout,” the Cuban stated.
“We worked with Chagaev hard, we had to get him more muscular so he can be a quick, strong and resistant boxer, we did something similar with Miguel Cotto. It’s the first fight with him but we have been working for three months hard in Florida. Kickboxing champion Tyrone Spong and Prichard Colón were helping him in training camp, also Elias Espadas, a Mexican prospect that I hope will be a world champion.”
Díaz, who also recently worked with current WBC cruiserweight champion Grigory Drozd, feels that Chagaev is now ready for a renewed assault at the best in the division.
“I respect all the heavyweights in the world, but if I send a message to all of them, it would be that there is a new Chagaev. He has shown he’s a warrior and a competitor. I couldn’t miss the opportunity to work with him. He’s an extraordinary person to work with both as a fighter and as a person. Chagaev is living a second career. He went out and looked for the victory straight away. He gives everything in training and sparring.
“I’d say to Lucas Browne and to Fres Oquendo and all the heavyweight competitors, there’s a new Chagaev. All these fights are going to be interesting; he’s going to show the world that he’s in a good place, not with words but with results.”