Ruslan Chagaev failed a “medical requirement” on Friday, forcing his challenge for Nikolai Valuev’s WBA heavyweight title to be called off a day before the fight.
Finnish officials said: “Chagaev has been unable to fulfill the Finnish Boxing Federation’s medical requirements,” and gave no further details.
“It was a big shock for us today,” said Wilfried Sauerland, Valuev’s manager.
Local media reports said Chagaev had a hepatitis infection and that all 11 bouts on the card were canceled.
Federation president Pertti Augustin and press spokesman Pekka Kaidesoja refused to offer explanations, saying “it’s against Finnish law to do so.”
Undefeated Chagaev would have netted 55 percent of the US$2.8 million purse.
It’s the third rematch between the pair that’s failed to start since Chagaev gave the 2.14m Russian his only pro defeat by decision in April 2007. The previous two rematches were called off because Chagaev ruptured an Achilles tendon in training.
After Chagaev, as WBA titleholder, withdrew from the two scheduled rematches he was named “champion in recess,” and the WBA vacated the title.
But because of his status, Chagaev has to fight Valuev by the end of next month.
Chagaev’s status remained unclear on Friday.
“It’s a decision that the board of the directors of the WBA has to make,” WBA official George Martinez said. “We will meet as soon as possible and address the problem. We have to collect all the facts and in a proper time we’ll make a decision.”
Valuev won the vacant title last August by beating American John Ruiz in Berlin. Four months later, he defended the title against 46-year-old Evander Holyfield, who had arrived in Helsinki earlier on Friday for the scheduled bout dubbed “The Revenge of the Giant.”
Chagaev returned from his injuries in February and won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond at Rostock, Germany — the Uzbekistan-born boxer’s first fight in more than a year.
Yesterday’s scheduled bout,at 15,000-sear Hartwall Arena would have been only the second world title fight in the Finnish capital.
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