Thread: Anyone know what Ruslan Chagaev's Mystery Illness was?

Every news story continues to refer to it just as an "illness" with no specifics.

It had a long technical name if I recall, I think it was diagnosed as Ibragimovwillbeatus a rare condition that affects the liver and belly and turns them yellow.

Hope Matt beats him

I heard it was a heart issue. Lack of one that is.

He really is "The White Tyson" fights alot of crap opponents.....

I think he had hepatitis.

Haven't heard anything on the illness, but I don't think it's as simple as saying, "oh he was scared"... For all anyone knows he could have been paid off to step aside and let Holyfield challenge for the title, as a fan one can't just sit back and pretend to know what circumstances surround something like this... Maybe he had an illness, maybe it was in his best interest financially and career wise to step aside for the time being. Maybe some big wig was adamant that he not take the fight, it could have jeapordized his future dealings with a certain promoter, sanctioning body, whatever. I just don't think he would have been scared of a mediocre guy like Ibragimov. Not that Chagaev's great but I thought he did pretty well to beat Valuev, and he has the win over Ruiz before that. Just don't see any way he would have passed up a chance to be the first unified champ in donkeys years by fighting Ibragimov.