WBA’s Gilberto Mendoza Jr. Hits Moscow, Russia
By Alexey Sukachev
According to Allboxing.ru, RIA “Novosti” and Boxko.ru, WBA vice-president Gilberto Mendoza Jr. (there’s some confusion in Russian media but it looks like the notion comes about Gilberto Jr. rather than his reigning father) is presently in Moscow to deal with top-notch Russian promoters Vladimir Hryunov and Andrey Ryabinskiy.
The news has come as little surprise as Russian top promoters established a very fruitful and steady connection with the World Boxing Association. WBA is the home of the cruiserweight champion Denis Lebedev, and Alexander Povetkin and Khabib Allakhverdiev are both ex-WBA champions. Such fighters as the Chudinov brothers, Eduard Troyanovskiy and Arif Magomedov are all rated rather high by the Panama-based organization.
According to Hryunov, he will discuss the WBA future of his protégés: Khabib Allakhverdiev, WBA interim middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov and WBA #2 rated super middleweight Fedor Chudinov.
“Mr. Mendoza’s goal is to establish further fruitful connections with me and Ryabinskiy”, said Hryunov to RIA Novosti. “We have always been loyal friends, and his visit to Russia is a big honor for me. We shall discuss a number of things in connection with our fighters”.
“I need to understand better the WBA's position on a proposed unification fight between (regular champion) Daniel Jacobs and WBO titleholder Peter Quillin, who is fighting Matvey Korobov soon. Meanwhile Dmitry Chudinov is #1 by the WBA and its interim champion. We have started negotiation with the Golden Boy, and I need to understand everybody’s position”, said Hryunov.
Regarding a possible fight for WBA #1 Stanislav Kashtanov’s WBA interim super middleweight title against WBA #2 Fedor Chudinov, situation is also not that clear, Hryunov said: “Stanislav is promoted by Donetsk-based Union Boxing Promotions, but well know how bad is the situation there, However, we haven’t been even contacted by anyone from the Ukrainian party”.
Finally, Hryunov confirmed his previous negotiations regarding a rematch between reigning WBA regular light welterweight champion Jesse Vargas and his protégé Khabib Allakhverdiev.
“We have come to an agreement for a rematch. I wish that Mr. President will confirm that fact and a fact that we’ve filed a protest on the very result of the fight”, added Hryunov.
