By Mark Vester
WBA heavyweight champion "in recess" Ruslan Chagaev says the injury he suffered was very fortunate for Nikolai Valuev. The two were slated to fight each other in July, but Chagaev pulled out after he tore his Achilles tendon in the left foot. The WBA made Chagaev a "champion in recess" and ordered a fight between Valuev and John Ruiz for the vacant WBA heavyweight title. The sanctioning body would later issue an order that Valuev must fight Chagaev by the end of June. Valuev defends his title against Evander Holyfield on Saturday in Switzerland. Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs) returns on February 7 against Carl Davis Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs) at the Stadthalle in Rostock, Germany.
Chagaev called Valuev a substitute champion and plans to prove that he is "real deal" when he faces Drumond.
"My injury was a big mishap for me and very lucky for Valuev," stated Chagaev. "But now I'm fit again now and look forward to the fight against Drumond. This is a good test. Now on Saturday Valuev boxes against Holyfield, and Nikolai claims to be the world champion. But, he is just a substitute champion. He beat Ruiz, whom I also clearly defeated. I will prove to Valuev and all the 'experts' in the next fight that I am the true champion."
Chagaev won't go to valuev's next fight and hopes that Holyfield doesn't pull off an upset. He took a minor jab at WBC champ Vitali Klitschko for selecting David Haye for June.
"Hopefully Holyfield doesn't creates a surprise. For me to drive all the way over there to Zurich (Switzerland) isn't worth it. I watch the fight on television and I hope that Valuev wins because he must fight me again. In 2009 I will show that there are better fighters than have been seen in the last few months. My respects to Vitali Klitschko, who after a long break regained the title against Peter. But at the last fight of his brother Wladimir, he selected an opponent because of a picture. My dream remains to be world champion of all associations and to unify all the belts. For this dream, I will also propose a fight with the Klitschko brothers, whether it's Vitali or Wladimir!"
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