Team Pirog Not Happy With N'Jikam-Bursak WBO Clash

By Ruslan Chikov

A few days ago it was reported that 27-year-old Ukrainian boxer Max Bursak would face 28-year-old Frenchman Hassan N'Dam N'Jikam for the interim world title of the World Boxing Organization. The interim title is usually at stake when the current world champion, for objective reasons (injury), is not capable of staging a mandatory title defense. The full champion is 31-year-old Russian boxer Dmitry Pirog. After suffering a minor injury, Pirog announced his ring return for May 1 - and the mandatory defense is not due until June 25.

Kirill Pchelnikov, the co-promoter for Pirog, doesn't understand the reason for this interim title bout.

"It is not clear as to what basis they are using to organize this fight, if the current world champion is willing to fight," - said Pchelnikov. - "What prevents them from contacting us to fight for the full world title? If we can't reach an agreement, then we can go to a purse bid, as its always done throughout the world. I would understand if Pirog was not capable of fighting, but he is ready to defend his title on May 1."

"We wrote several letters to the World Boxing Organization, requesting [the WBO] to name an official candidate, but we have yet receive a response. The first appeal to the WBO was three weeks ago. Let the WBO appoint an official challenger, and we are ready to fight that candidate at any time. Currently, the nine month period from the last mandatory defense by Pirog is not over, so I believe that Bursak and N'Jikam have no right to fight for the interim title."