By Hilmar Rojas
The Championships Committee of the World Boxing Association has given "regular" champion Ruslan Chagaev and mandatory challenger Lucas Browne additional time to finalize the terms for their showdown in 2016.
As BoxingScene.com reported a few days ago, the two sides have reached a deal in principle to square off in early 2016 in Grozny, Russia.
A few items related to the deal have to be tightened up.
Chagaev (34-2-1, 21 KO) had scheduled a defense against Fres Oquendo (37-8, 24 KO) in a rematch on November 11. It was not fulfilled due to an injury suffered by Oquendo, who will not be available before May 2016, so the WBA ordered Chagaev to face the official challenger Browne (23-0, 20 KO).
The closing date for negotiations was originally set for November 30, but both sides informed the WBA that they needed a few additional days to finalize some details related to the agreement.
Both parties told the WBA that a signed contract would be submitted in the coming days to avoid a purse bid being called.
