Boxing News Boxing News
WBA No. 10 rated and undefeated heavyweight contender, Carl Davis Drumond, plans to shock the boxing world February 7 when he fights WBA “Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev, live on pay-per-view in the United States 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.
Drumond, 26-0 (20), promoted by Warriors Seminole Boxing, fights out of Costa Rica and remains a relative mystery to boxing fans outside of Central America.
His most notable win to date 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.
“This is a big opportunity for me and I’m happy to have this chance,” Drumond said from his Florida training camp. “I want to dictate the fight and want to move around. People who haven’t watched me fight will be surprised that I box and move so well. I want to fight in three steps – close, mid-range, and from a distance. I am a complete fighter.”
“We are very excited that Carl is getting this opportunity,” Seminole Warriors Boxing executive director Leon Margules added. “He has been getting great sparring at Lion’s Den Gym in Hollywood, Florida. Drumond’s new trainer, John David Jackson, is fine tuning his technique and the world will see a great fighter against a champion. Carl is very confident that he will win.”
Chagaev, 24-0-1 (17), the 2000 Uzbekistan Olympian and The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 via a 12-round decision against Nikolai Valuev.
However, due to injuries, Ruslan has fought only once since then, winning a 12 round decision against Matt Skelton a year ago. An Achilles tendon injury prevented Chagaev from defending his title last year against Valuev and the WBA regulated him to its “champion in recess.”
“Soccer is No. 1 in my country but I will bring great pride back home when I beat Chagaev,” Drumond remarked. “I’m not concerned about fighting him in Germany. I’ve trained hard and know what I have to do. It’s just going to be me and him in the ring. I could knock him out in the first round or go the full distance. If the fight goes 12 rounds, though, I promise that he will be punished. I will shock the boxing world.”
Ukrainian-born Kotelnik won the WBA light welterweight title last March with a 12th round TKO of previously unbeaten Gavin Ree. Kotelnik, now living in Hamburg, Germany, had previously fought Souleymane M’baye to a draw in their 2007 WBA light welterweight title fight.
Power-punching Argentine Maidana, 25-0 (24), the WBA No. 1 contender, has stopped 24 of his 25 pro victims and is a former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion.
Unbeaten 22-year-old Boytsov, 23-0 (18), a native of Russia now living in Germany, is the latest in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders. The 2004 Junior World Championships super heavyweight winner is rated No. 11 by the WBA.
The broadcast of the three 12-round 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. The event will also be available in Canada on TSN.
Hall of Fame announcer Col. Bob Sheridan will handle blow-by-blow duties and Benny Ricardo, former NFL placekicker, will serve once again as the color commentator.
For more information about the “The Champion Returns” PPV show, go on line to www.integratedsportsnet.com.
