By Alexey Sukachev

Controversial but all-powerful Ramzan Kadyrov, the president of Chechen Republic, is highly interested in bring world heavyweight title to his Homeland. Kadyrov, once a guerilla fighter against Russian Armed Forces but then elevated to the highest status in his native land, supports former WBA heavyweight titlist Ruslan Chagaev (32-2-1, 20 KOs) in his hopes of taking his title back.

This Saturday night at Olimpiyskiy Palace of Sports in Moscow, Russia, IBF #4 and WBA #8 Chagaev, 34, a former two-time amateur world champion with a couple of wins over legendary Cuban Felix Savon, looked rusty but pounded out a solid unanimous decision over veteran Bosnian Jovo Pudar (scoring two knockdowns along the way) to acquire WBA I/C and PABA titles.

“The next fight for Ruslan is (against) the WBA #2 rated Luis Ortiz. We shall make it in Grozny for the WBA regular title, and I’m very positive about Ruslan getting his title back”, wrote Kadyrov in his Instagram.

A regular WBA title became vacant during the same show, where Chagaev defeated Pudar, when then-WBA master Alexander Povetkin was shut out over twelve by the reigning heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko. Ortiz, also 34 and a former Cuban amateur standout, is 19-0, 16 KOs, and was very active in 2011 and 2012, fighting both in the States and in the Dominican Republic. He fought just once in 2013, being held to a NC versus journeyman Joseph Rabotte in July.