Vladimir Klitschko will not only put his world heavyweight titles on the line in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, against Ruslan Chagaev today, but also his health.
Chagaev is suffering from hepatitis B — the reason for the late cancelation of his WBA title fight against Nikolai Valuev in Finland last month — and the American Association of Professional Ringside Physicians (AAPRP) is recommending the fight be postponed due to medical safety issues.
“Hepatitis B is a very virulent virus and easily transmitted,” the AAPRP said in a statement.
PHOTO: AFP
“It is even more important to be prudent in order to not only protect Mr Chagaev’s opponent, but also the referee, judges, sanctioning body officials, cornermen, ringside physicians and ringside observers who may be at risk of contracting this dangerous virus,” it said. “As boxing is obviously considered a ‘blood sport,’ it is very common for blood to splatter on the individuals immediately adjacent at ringside.”
“The conjunctiva [eye] route of transfer for this virus is well documented, so any person seated at ringside who is not immunized may be at risk,” it said.
Klitschko, though, insists the fight must go on and claims he has the right inoculation to avoid contracting the virus.
“I am inoculated,” said Klitschko, who holds the IBF and WBO titles while his brother Vitali is the WBC champion. “Since I often travel in my role as an UNESCO Ambassador, I am often in the tropical institute getting injections.”
The 33-year-old Vladimir had been scheduled to meet David Haye in an open-air fight in front of 60,000 fight fans, but a back injury ruled out Haye and Chagaev has stepped in.
As the only fighter to beat Valuev, Chagaev, the WBA’s “Champion in Recess” is also keen to prove his credentials.
Chagaev has spent more than a year out of the ring with an Achilles tendon injury and his credibility needs a boost.
Victory tonight would land him both of Vladimir Klitschko’s belts and make up for some of the disappointment of losing out on the Valuev fight and the chance to be undisputed WBA champion.
“I was furious and shocked when I heard the Valuev fight was off,” said the undefeated Chagaev, 30, who has only fought twice since beating Valuev in April 2007, against Matt Skelton in January last year and Carl Davis Drumond last February.
Since he turned professional in 1997, Chagaev has 25 wins, one draw and 17 knockouts to his record.
But Vladimir Klitschko — otherwise known as Dr Steelhammer — has an impressive 46 knockouts from 52 fights and is eager to dispatch Chagaev to silence mutterings from the US the division is dead.
“It’s funny to hear the Americans say the heavyweight division is dead, because in Europe the feeling is different,” Vladimir Klitschko said. “The criticism of the heavyweight division is there, but it’s going to change some day.”
“Forty-six opponents didn’t make the distance out of 55 against me, so is that a boring record? I believe that my timing is getting better and in his thirties a heavyweight fighter is getting stronger,” he said.
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