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WBA #2-rated former WBO Heavyweight Champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs) and his manager, Ivaylo Gotzev, say they’re enraged at the “weak attempts” being made by former WBA Champ John Ruiz and his people to discredit Liakhovich’s hard-earned reputation.
Responding to a press release issued today, in which Ruiz’s legal advisor, attorney, Anthony Cardinale, tries to paint Liakhovich as a reluctant warrior for his refusal to face Ruiz this Saturday in Chicago, Gotzev paints a clearer picture of the situation.
The original offer, until a few days ago, was for two ex-champions to fight each other without any guarantees that it would be for any kind of improved position in the rankings. The most we could have won (by facing Ruiz) was to remain WBA number two. There was nothing to gain other than two ex-champions fighting off-TV. We are in a position in the rankings to fight for a championship soon if we don’t take any stupid offers like this one.”
Gotzev further explains that he has in his possession a letter from the WBA ordering Team Liakhovich to begin negotiating with former champion Nikolay Valuev for an elimination fight to determine the #1 contender.
“Nikolay Valuev has made an open statement that he is ready to fight Sergei. The letter we have orders negotiations between Liakhovich and Valuev or a purse bid would ordered. The WBA later allowed Valuev to take a tune-up bout first, with the provision he would face Liakhovich next. And Valuev now he says he’s ready to face Sergei – that’s the fight we’re angling for and we’re confident the WBA will do the right thing now and enforce their original order.”
