On July 6th, Ruslan Chagaev won the WBA world heavyweight championship for the second time by outscoring Fres Oquendo in Grozny (Chechnya). After a long summer vacation with his family, Chagaev returned to the gym this week to prepare for his first title defense.
“I feel great after taking so weeks off and I am looking forward to getting back into the ring”, says Chagaev. Date, place and opponent for his first title defense haven’t been set. “We are starting negotiations now”, states Chagaev’s manager Timur Dugazaev. “Ruslan will probably be back in action end of November in Germany.” Word is that a rematch with Oquendo might be on the horizon after Chagaev won the first fight in July only by split decision.
Both Chagaev and Dugazaev – who is a fight himself besides being the champion’s manager – have picked up training and have joined forces with one of the best and most experienced German coaches. Fritz Sdunek will take over the role as head coach for the WBA world heavyweight champion.
Sdunek had already been in Chagaev’s corner in Grozny but only joined Artur Grigorian as second and cutman. Now the 67-year-old will take the lead after he split up with former middleweight champion Felix Sturm this summer.
“We are very happy to work with Fritz. He is the best trainer in Germany, he knows Ruslan very well and he worked with lots of great fighters and champions”, adds Dugazaev.