BREAKING NEWS
Vitali Klitschko Returns!
Former champion approved for title shot against Maskaev!
By Matt Richardson
FightNews has confirmed that former WBC champion Vitali Klitschko will emerge from retirement for a tentative April bout against WBC champion Oleg Maskaev. Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) abruptly retired in the fall of 2005 after suffering a knee injury which forced a third delay with then-interim champion Hasim Rahman. Klitschko will make an official announcement of his comeback at a press conference in Germany this Thursday.
While nothing is signed, negotiations between the two camps are continuing and look promising. Maskaev and his team had originally been in negotiations for a unification bout against Vitali’s younger brother, IBF champion Wladimir. Wladimir suddenly decided to fulfill his mandatory defense against Ray Austin on March 10. Maskaev (34-5, 27 KOs) also had a mandatory defense of his own due against WBC #1 ranked Samuel Peter.
According to the rules of the WBC, Klitschko is allowed a title opportunity due to his status as a former champion. WBC Rule 1.21 concerning championship defense obligations outlines that a champion must defend their title “either in a voluntary or mandatory defense” against a variety of potential opponents, which includes “former or retired world champion (upon majority vote of the Board of Governors)." FightNews has learned that the WBC Board of Governors has approved a title shot for Klitschko against Maskaev.
While the “Nigerian Nightmare” - who paid for two sanctioning fees for WBC eliminators in his bouts against James Toney - will undoubtedly be displeased by the actions of the WBC, there is no legal action the fighter or his promoter can take as the WBC rules allow this situation. Due to this rule, Peter will not receive any “step aside” compensation although the WBC will most likely mandate that the winner of Maskaev-Klitschko face him next.
Wednesday, January 24 2007
