HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 8, 2009) – Integrated Sports will distribute “The Champion Returns” show, featuring WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev against unbeaten challenger Carl Davis Drumond, February 7th on pay-per-view in the United States live from Rostock, Germany.
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion, will also feature on PPV the WBA light welterweight title fight between title holder Andreas Kotelnik and undefeated No. 1 contender Marcos Rene “El Chino” Maidana, as well as hot Russian prospect Denis Boytsov against a challenger to be determined for the vacant WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship. . The broadcast of the three 12-round title bouts is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 2 PM/ET – 11 AM/PT on cable pay-per-view via iN Demand and TVN for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A same day replay will be shown at 9 PM/ET – 6 PM/ET.
“We thrilled to bring such an exciting PPV card to the United States, featuring the only undefeated world heavyweight champion, Ruslan Chagaev, who if he wins will fight the ‘Russian Giant,’ Nicolai Valuev, in a rematch for the outright WBA championship,” Integrated Sports president Doug Jacobs said. “American fight fans are intrigued by Chagaev and he’s in tough against a very dangerous puncher in Drumond, even though he may not be a household name, yet. The co-feature is a classic match-up between a pure boxer, defending champ Kotelnik, and a feared knockout artist, Maidana. And Boytsov looks like he may be the next great Russian heavyweight. It’s going to be a helluva PPV card for fans to watch in America.”
Injuries have been the only thing to beat Chagaev (24-0-1, 17 KOs), the 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian and The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, who captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 via a 12-round decision against Valuev (46-0). However, due to injuries, Ruslan has fought only once since then, winning a 12-round decision against Matt Skelton (21-1) a year ago. An Achilles tendon injury prevented Chagaev from defending his title last year against Valuev and the WBA has stipulated that WBA Interim champion Valuev and WBA champion (in recess) Chagaev must fight no later than June 26 for the outright WBA championship.
“My injury was a big mishap for me and very lucky for Valuev,” Ruslan said. “But now I’m fit again and I’m looking forward to the fight against Drumond. This is a good test. I will prove to Valuev and all of the ‘experts’ that I am the true champion. My dream remains to be world champion of all associations and to unify all the belts. For this dream, I will also propose a fight with the Klitschko brothers.”
Drumond (26-0, 20 KOs), promoted by Warriors Seminole Boxing, fights out of Costa Rica and presently is rated No. 10 by the WBA. His most notable win was in 2007, when he won a 10-round decision against former world champion Kelvin Davis. Drumond is the former IBF and WBO Latino champion, as well as the ex-WBC FECARBOX title holder.
Ukrainian-born Kotelnik, rated No. 3 by The Ring magazine, won the WBA light welterweight title last March with a 12th round TKO of previously unbeaten Gavin Rees (27-0). Kotelnik, now living in Hamburg (Germany), had previously fought Souleymane M’baye to a draw in their 2007 WBA light welterweight title fight.
WBA No. 1 contender Maidana (25-0, 24 KOs) is a little know yet punishing puncher who has stopped 24 of his 25 pro victims. The Argentinean, rated No. 9 by The Ring, is a former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion.
The undefeated 22-year-old Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Russia now living in Germany, is rated No. 11 by the WBA. He was a decorated amateur whose many titles included the 2004 Junior World Championships in the super heavyweight division.
For more information about the “The Champion Returns” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.