Boxing: The much-anticipated rematch between WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev has been called off after Chagaev was unable to fulfil medical requirements ahead of the bout.
The clash between Valuev and ‘champion in recess’ Chagaev, scheduled for tomorrow in Helsinki, was set to be the first heavyweight title fight staged on Finnish soil.
A statement released by promoters Sauerland this evening confirmed Chagaev had been “unable to fulfil the Finnish boxing federation’s medical requirements” but added that local laws prevented the “disclosure of any further private health medical information”.
“Unfortunately, we have no other chance but to call the whole show off,” Sauerland event general manager Chris Meyer said. “Our top priority is Nikolai’s health and it could not be guaranteed.”
Valuev, who will miss out on the chance to get revenge on the only man to beat him in a 51-bout career, added: “I would have loved to make this fight but given those circumstances it is not possible.”
Organisers explored the possibility of drafting in a replacement opponent but with less than 30 hours’ notice before the bout, arrangements could not be finalised with either Kali Meehan or Lamon Brewster.
Sauerland confirmed tomorrow’s entire card at the Hartwall Arena had been cancelled following Chagaev’s withdrawal.
The rematch had already been postponed twice before this latest setback, with injuries forcing Chagaev to pull out of meetings in May and July 2008.
The WBA eventually declared the Uzbeki ‘champion in recess’, while Valuev went on to win the vacant belt against John Ruiz last August.
Chagaev defeated Carl Davis Drumond in February in his first fight since rupturing his Achilles tendon last summer.