By Igor Lazorin, tass
According to Umar Kremlev, manager of Russian super middleweight contender Fedor Chudinov, the World Boxing Association (WBA) will return the world title to his fighter in two weeks time. They are also in talks to face WBO super middleweight Gilberto Ramirez, according to Chudinov's manager.
In February, Chudinov lost what many felt was a controversial twelve round majority decision to Felix Sturm. One judge scored it 114-114, while the other two gave the German a victory by a whisker with identical tallies of 115-113.
After the outcome, Chudinov's handlers protested the decision and said there appeared to be some issues and manipulation with the gloves provided to Chudinov.
The two sides were planning to have a rematch in the fall, due to a rematch clause in the contract. Before a third fight was finalized, both parties were informed that Sturm had failed drug test and came up positive for banned substance hydroxy-stanozolol. The doping test was taken after the fight.
In early May, Sturm and his team were required to open up his B-sample and run a test to confirm or eliminate the findings in the first exam. That was never done.
"Storm admitted to doping by never opening the B-sample," Kremlev said.
"In the next week or two Fedor will regain the title, based on a verbal agreement with the WBA. There are negotiations to do a unification fight with Ramirez, and it would take place in the fall in Las Vegas."
Chudinov has a record of 14 wins (10 by KO), and one loss to Sturm, which is going to change over to a no-contest.
Ramirez will make the first defense of his title on July 23 against the German Dominik Britsch. Ramirez has a record of 34 wins (24 by KO) and no losses.