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Undefeated Argentinean knockout artist Marcos Rene “El Chino” Maidana, the WBA No. 1 contender, challenges WBA light welterweight champion Andreas Kotelnik for the title belt and worldwide respect February 7 on “The Champion Returns” card.
The bill is headlined by WBA heavyweight “Champion in Recess” Ruslan “White Tyson” Chagaev versus unbeaten challenger Carl David Drumond, live on pay-per-view in the United States from Rostock, Germany.
Styles make fights and Kotelnik-Maidana shapes-up as a potential classic featuring a pure boxer, Kotelnik, 30-2-1 (13), against a dangerous power puncher, Maidana, 25-0 (24), in the 12 round co-feature
Maidana, the former WBA Fedelatin light welterweight champion, puts opponents to sleep. Twenty-four of his 25 victims to date never went the distance against The Ring’s No. 9 rated 140-pounder, who was the 2002 and 2003 Argentine National champion and reached the quarterfinals of the 2003 World Championships.
“El Chino” has never fought in the United States but he plans to prove to American fight fans Feb. 7 on PPV that he is a legitimate contender. German fans are much more familiar with Maidana because five of his last seven fights have been held in Germany.
Ukrainian-born Kotelnik, rated No. 4 by The Ring magazine, won the WBA light welterweight title last March with a 12th round TKO of previously unbeaten Gavin Rees.
Kotelnik, now living in Hamburg (Germany), had previously fought Souleymane M’baye to a draw in their 2007 WBA light welterweight title fight.
2000 Uzbekistan Olympian Chagaev, 24-0-1 (17), The Ring’s No. 3 rated heavyweight, captured the WBA crown on April 14, 2007 by 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.”
Ruslan has been sparring in Hamburg, Germany with American heavyweights Leo Nolan and Terry “The Troublemaker” Smith. “
The last sparring I had done was in May last year,” Chagaev reported from Hamburg. “Afterwards I had a long rehabilitation period which was quite tiring. But now I am looking to this fight. I can hardly wait to be back in Rostock.”
WBA No. 10 rated 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.
Unbeaten heavyweight Denis Boytsov (23-0, 18 KOs), a native of Russia now living in Germany, faces veteran Israel “King Kong” Garcia (19-2, 11 KOs) in a 12-round bout for the WBA Intercontinental title. The 22-year-old Boytsov, rated No. 11 by the WBA, is the latest hyped prospect in a long line of Russian heavyweight contenders.
“The Champion Returns” card, presented by Universum Boxing-Promotion, will broadcast three 12-round bouts. Integrated Sports is distributing it in the United States 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 as color commentator.
