Chagaev Injured again, fight Vs. Valuev is off
Text and photo by Universum Box Promotions

June 27, 2008 - The much anticipated rematch between WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev and Nikolai Valuev will not take place as scheduled on July 5 as on Wednesday Chagaev injured his Achilles tendon during one of the last sparring sessions os his training camp.

"He tried to step back with his left foot and I heard a "bang," said trainer Michael Timm. "At that moment, I already feared the worst."

Chagaev was immediately transported to the St. George General Hospital in Hamburg, where an MRI revealed a complete tear of the Achilles tendon. An operation is unavoidable. According to the treating doctors, Dr. Ehnert and Dr. Eggers, this will take place on Monday.

"Even though this is a bad injury, there is a positive note," said Dr. Michael Ehnert. "Because the tendon has not torned directly above the heel bone, but almost concentric, a faster healing process is possible."

With this diagnosis, all involved parties are sure that Chagaev can return to the ring by the end of this year. The champion was stunned and near tears. "It is the worst disappointment of my sporting career," said Chagaev. "But, I'll come back!"

It is the second time the Chagaev-Valuev rematch was postponed. They were originally scheduled to fight last May 31, but the bout was pushed back to July 5th after Chagaev came down with an illness and was forced to break off sparring.

The July 5th "Universum Champions Night" event in Halle/Westfalen, originally billed as "Night of Rematches" has now become "Night of the Rematch" headlined by Part II of WBA Middleweight champion Felix Sturm against Randy Griffin.