Valuev Confirmed as Champ By WBA, Not Chagaev

%foto2%In response to complaints from Nikolai Valuev and Sauerland Event that Ruslan Chagaev and Universum are spreading incorrect information, the WBA clarified on Tuesday that Valuev is the WBA world champion and Chagaev is merely the champion in recess. A May 30th showdown between Valuev and Chagaev was derailed when Chagaev’s uncertain hepatitis levels caused the Finnish boxing commission to declare him unfit to fight. Since then, Chagaev and Universum issued press releases stating Chagaev is the WBA champion, a claim now refuted by Tuesday’s letter. Chagaev has protested the Finnish ruling, and the matter is in the hands of the WBA. The sanctioning body’s attorneys have now put in writing that Chagaev\'s status as champion in recess is \"under review\" and Valuev remains the world champion. Chagaev is expected to face IBF/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko on June 20th in Germany, where the hepatitis regulations are looser than in Finland and most of the world. The WBA’s attorney letter also states that neither Chagaev, Klitschko nor their representatives have requested a WBA sanction of the event, which “is unlikely to be granted.” Valuev and Sauerland will make no attempt to stop Chagaev from fighting Klitschko, but have demanded that Valuev’s status as champion not be further confused by a WBA sanction of Klitschko-Chagaev.