Valuev to fight Chagaev for WBA heavyweight title

FRANKFURT (AP)—Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev will fight for the WBA heavyweight title on May 30, most likely in the Finnish capital Helsinki.
Sauerland Promotions won an auction to stage the fight by bidding $2.8 million, Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer said Tuesday.
“The fight should take place May 30 and we are looking at Helsinki as the venue,” Meyer said.
Chagaev won the WBA version of the heavyweight title by beating Valuev in Stuttgart on April 14, 2007. He had to pull out of a rematch because of a ruptured Achilles’ tendon and was declared “Champion in Recess” by the WBA. Because of his status, he has to fight Valuev by the end of June.
Valuev won the vacant title in August by beating John Ruiz, then defended it in December against former champion Evander Holyfield.
Chagaev won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond on Feb. 7 in the Uzbekistan-born heavyweight’s first fight in more than a year.
Chagaev was ahead of Drumond on points when the bout was stopped after the sixth round because of a cut over Chagaev’s swollen left eye.
Chagaev’s record is 25-0-1, with 17 knockouts. Valuev is 50-1, with 34 KOs.