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Boxing odds: Chagaev-Valuev
By Jordan WaltersWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
| Sports Betting at WagerWeb Online Sportsbook |
WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev has been forced to pull out of his May 31 rematch against Nikolai Valuev due to illness.
The fight has been rescheduled for July 5.
"Ruslan Chagaev suffers from a protracted virus infection," said his physician, Dr. Michael Ehnert, in a statement. "In medical terms it's a viral laryngitis and pharyngitis. For non-doctors, it's a highly feverish viral infection of the upper respiratory tract with heavy symptoms. The medical treatment makes it absolutely necessary that he stop training."
It is the second time that Chagaev has pulled out of a defense because of illness. He was scheduled for a unification fight against then-titleholder Sultan Ibragimov eight months ago but withdrew because of an undisclosed medical issue.
Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), an Uzbekistan native based in Germany, returned from his illness to defend the title with a lopsided decision against England's Matt Skelton on Jan. 19. He claimed his title with a majority decision against the 7-foot, 320-pound Valuev, 34, in April 2007.
Valuev (48-1, 34 KOs) has fought his way back to become the No. 1 contender for the belt, winning his last two since the defeat to his rival from Uzbekistan, the last win a lopsided decision against former WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich in February.
Check back with WagerWeb.com later this summer for odds on this bout; the winner may get a shot at Wladimir Klitschko.
KHAN-GOMEZ: England's Amir Khan will fight former British super- atherweight champ Michael Gomez on June 21 in Birmingham.
Since turning professional a year after winning the lightweight silver medal at the Athens Olympics, the 21-year-old Khan has won all of his 17 fights, 13 by knockout.
"Gomez will walk forward into my punches and I expect it to be an explosive fight and an interesting buildup," Khan said Tuesday. "But if he starts mouthing off and getting into my face it will be part of the experience for me.
It will be Khan's first fight after hooking up with trainer Dean Powell. He split with longtime trainer Oliver Harrison in April.
Gomez, who turns 31 on the night of the fight, has won 35 times, with 24 knockouts and eight losses.
"Amir's a very good fighter but he's never fought anyone like me," Gomez said. "I'm going to take him out of his comfort zone and get in his face before the first bell has even sounded.
