Sauerland on The Chudinov/Feigenbutz/Sturm WBA Mess

by Rick Reeno

Las Vegas - There is still an ongoing dispute over the next person in line to face WBA 'regular' super middleweight champion Fedor Chudinov (13-0, 10KOs).

Chudinov captured the title in May with a twelve round split decision over veteran Felix Sturm (39-5-3, 18KOs).

Chudinov's next step was to schedule a voluntary defense against Frank Buglioni of the UK.

Shortly after the Buglioni fight was announced, a deal was reached between promoter Vladimir Hryunov (for Chudinov) and Sauerland Event, to have Chudinov face WBA interim-champion Vincent Feigenbutz (20-1, 19KOs) - provided Chudinov beats heavy underdog Buglioni.

But then, unexpectedly, the World Boxing Association ordered Chudinov to face Sturm in a rematch.

The WBA's order caught everyone off-guard.

According to Kalle Sauerland, they are fighting that order with the WBA and hope to get a favorable ruling from the sanctioning body.

"It's a very, very messy situation. We have filed a complaint, an appeal [with the WBA] - because I can't simply understand how someone who's won two of his last seven fights - and said immediately after the fight, in the ring, that he clearly lost the fight and he congratulated Chudinov - and suddenly it's been declared as a controversial decision and he should get an immediate rematch," Sauerland said to BoxingScene.com.

"It's an absolute disgrace, but I believe in the WBA and I believe in their supreme ethics and Mr. Mendoza will give this young kid his chance that he's earned with a sensational run of knockouts that have excited a whole of Germany and created a television fighter at the age of 19, and on paper he's been robbed of his chance at a title shot - and that can't be the case, that's not what you want to do in boxing. You want young faces to come through. Felix has had a great run over the years but it's time to hang them up. Against mediocre opposition, he's won two of his last seven fights."