By Jake Donovan
There will be no interim title fight in the interim.
Such claim was made by more than one party upon reading a recent press release distributed by the offices of Don King Productions (click
for DKP press release). The claim being made out of Deerfield Beach, FL is that a heavyweight fight has been ordered between former Kali Meehan and Ruslan Chagaev.
The winner, claims the press release, will be recognized as an interim heavyweight champion, and next in line to face the forthcoming title fight between recently crowned David Haye and former titlist John Ruiz.
It’s possible that such a scenario one day plays out – just not in that order.
“It’s possible that the WBA would order an elimination fight, but not to take effect until after the Haye-Ruiz contest,” stated Anthony Cardinale, who serves as Ruiz’ advisor and attorney.
The language stated in the sanctioning body’s existing rules regarding interim title fights and mandatory eliminators backs up Cardinale’s statement, as was recently brought to the attention of WBA officials.
Little time was wasted in the sanctioning body’s dismissing such a claim.
“The assembly general deferred a discussion of amendments in the rules referring to interim titles,” stated Executive Director Gilberto Mendoza Jr. in a recent e-mail distributed to parties representing both Haye and Ruiz.
“Meehan v. Chagaev bout will not be sanction(ed) as a(n) interim championship.”
According to the rules stated on the WBA’s website, an interim title fight can only be ordered when their main champion “is unable to defend his title within the prescribed time periods for debilitating medical reasons, legal reasons beyond his control, or any other justifiable reason the inactive champion may be named a Champion in Recess, and the Committee may select official contenders who will fight for an Interim Title.”
Speculation of Haye being unable to successfully defend his crown in a timely fashion began moments after his majority decision win over Nikolai Valuev earlier this month. Haye cited an injured hand as an alibi for his less-than-scintillating performance, but insisted that it would not stand in the way of honoring his mandatory obligations in a timely fashion.
Apparently, King’s office was led to believe different, though there remain several holes in their own claims of their fighter being owed a title shot.
It was stated in the press release that Kali Meehan earned a mandatory ranking with the sanctioning body following his sixth round knockout win over DaVarryl Williamson in October 2007, and that he has been waiting more than two years for his alleged mandatory title shot.
However, the win over Williamson only enabled Meehan to advance to the #4 spot in the next set of ratings issued by the sanctioning body, nor has he since participated in a title fight or sanctioned eliminator of any kind.
In fact, Meehan has only fought twice since beating Williamson. Both fights, which occurred six months apart in 2008, were eight-round tune-ups buried on the under card of shows headlined by Nikolai Valuev.
The WBA was involved in both shows, though with Valuev’s fights. A WBA-sanctioned eliminator saw Valuev top Sergei Liakhovich in February 2008, then claim the vacant title with a repeat win over John Ruiz later that August.
Valuev’s championship status came about after Ruslan Chagaev, whom defeated him in April 2007 but subsequently pulled out of several rematch attempts. The southpaw, who has since lost to Wladimir Klitschko earlier this year, was downgraded to champ in recess after several injuries kept him on the sidelines and prevented him from fulfilling his mandatory obligations.
It was feared that Haye’s claim of a fractured mitt would lead to an extended period of inactivity at the top, but representatives for both Haye and Ruiz have acknowledged that all systems are go for their mandatory title fight to take place in a satisfactory time period.
“We expect the fight to take place – according to information from Haye and his promoter Golden Boy – between March 13 and April 3,” insists Cardinale.
Confirmation from Team Haye indicates that the WBA is not only aware of the Brit’s plans to next defend against Ruiz in the first quarter of 2010, but that preliminary contracts are already in their possession.
The concern from Haye’s side is that the designation of an interim title fight would dilute his own claim to the crown, not to mention further confuse boxing fans whom already have a hard time keeping track of all of the current alphabet titlists.
“It appears the WBA is being given incorrect information by parties who stand to gain from the misguided creation of an interim title,” suggested a recent letter sent to the WBA by attorneys representing Sauerland Event, whom obtained options on Haye’s next few fights.
“There are no injuries that would prevent this fight from taking place in the early part of 2010. Both fighters suffered minor injuries in their November 7th fights, but both have proclaimed themselves ready to fight. Anyone spreading rumors about any injury to either boxer is doing so maliciously and without a shred of evidence.”
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.