By Alexey Sukachev
According to Timur Dugazaev, a manager of former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev (31-2-1, 20 KOs), his protégé will fight next on Oct. 5 as a part of a huge Wladimir Klitschko vs. Alexander Povetkin Moscow showdown, promoted by Andrey Ryabinskiy in assistance with Vladimir Hryunov at Olimpiyskiy Palace of Sports.
Chagaev, 34, who is presently rated #5 by the IBF and #8 by the WBA, will take on rugged Bosnia-born Serbia Jovo Pudar (30-3, 17 KOs) for the WBA I/C and Pudar’s PABA titles. According to Dugazaev, the winner of the fight will oppose WBA #2 ranked Cuban Luis Ortiz (19-0, 16 KOs) in a bout either for a vacant WBA “Regular” title or, in case of a draw in the main event, for the WBA interim heavyweight championship (WBA #1 rated contender is David Haye).
WBA #7 Pudar is 42 years of age. Never stopped in his career (including a prime version of Samuel Peter), Pudar retired for good in 2004 after his lopsided loss to Peter but then came back in 2010 and after several wins over non-descript opposition (including three defenses of a minor PABA belt) has been somehow ranked back by the World Boxing Association.
Meanwhile, Chagaev has fought both participants of the show’s main event, losing on points to Povetkin in 2011 and being forced to retire in his corner by Wladimir Klitschko two years before that. The Uzbek boxer is 4-0, 3 KOs, since his latest loss.
