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After heavyweight beltholder Ruslan Chagaev underwent surgery this week to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left ankle, the WBA on Thursday approved a match between former titleholders Nikolai Valuev and John Ruiz for the title.
Chagaev was named "champion in recess," clearing the way for Valuev (48-1, 34 KOs) and Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs) to fight for the vacant belt.
Chagaev suffered the injury while sparring last week, forcing a second postponement of a mandatory rematch with Valuev. They had been scheduled to fight Saturday in Germany. Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs) tore the tendon during his final sparring session before the fight.
It was the third scheduled title defense that Chagaev has pulled out of since claiming a majority decision against Valuev to win the belt on April 14, 2007.
The pullout angered Valuev's promoters, Sauerland Event and Don King, and they appealed to the WBA to approve a title bout between Valuev and Ruiz, the organization's leading available contenders.
It was approved Thursday at a hearing in Buenos Aires and, according to the King-promoted Ruiz, negotiations are under way with Valuev.
"We're happy to get an opportunity to fight for the WBA title again," Ruiz said from Argentina.
The first time they met, Valuev defeated Ruiz to win the belt via majority decision on Dec. 17, 2005. In his next fight, Ruiz lost a split decision to Chagaev in an elimination fight. But since then, Ruiz has won two in a row, including a dominant decision victory against Jameel McCline in March.
Chagaev must face the winner of Valuev-Ruiz II by June 26, 2009.
Chagaev's operation, performed by Dr. Tomas Buchhorn, the surgeon for the German national soccer team, was deemed successful, according to his promoter, Universum-Box Promotion.
"I'm grateful to the doctors and my team at Universum," Chagaev said. "They've done everything possible and now it's up to me to be back on my feet as soon as possible. All the forecasts have me back in the ring by the end of the year."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.
Chagaev was named "champion in recess," clearing the way for Valuev (48-1, 34 KOs) and Ruiz (43-7-1, 29 KOs) to fight for the vacant belt.
Chagaev suffered the injury while sparring last week, forcing a second postponement of a mandatory rematch with Valuev. They had been scheduled to fight Saturday in Germany. Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs) tore the tendon during his final sparring session before the fight.
It was the third scheduled title defense that Chagaev has pulled out of since claiming a majority decision against Valuev to win the belt on April 14, 2007.
The pullout angered Valuev's promoters, Sauerland Event and Don King, and they appealed to the WBA to approve a title bout between Valuev and Ruiz, the organization's leading available contenders.
It was approved Thursday at a hearing in Buenos Aires and, according to the King-promoted Ruiz, negotiations are under way with Valuev.
"We're happy to get an opportunity to fight for the WBA title again," Ruiz said from Argentina.
The first time they met, Valuev defeated Ruiz to win the belt via majority decision on Dec. 17, 2005. In his next fight, Ruiz lost a split decision to Chagaev in an elimination fight. But since then, Ruiz has won two in a row, including a dominant decision victory against Jameel McCline in March.
Chagaev must face the winner of Valuev-Ruiz II by June 26, 2009.
Chagaev's operation, performed by Dr. Tomas Buchhorn, the surgeon for the German national soccer team, was deemed successful, according to his promoter, Universum-Box Promotion.
"I'm grateful to the doctors and my team at Universum," Chagaev said. "They've done everything possible and now it's up to me to be back on my feet as soon as possible. All the forecasts have me back in the ring by the end of the year."
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com.