Chagaev to defend against Pianeta AND Oquendo BEFORE mandatory against Browne

WBA orders Chagaev to defend against Browne

The WBA Championships Committee has ordered Ruslan Chagaev and Lucas Browne to begin negotiations for their mandatory fight. If no agreement is reached within 30 days, the fight will go to purse bid. Chagaev has held the WBA “regular” world championship belt since July 6 when he defeated Fres Oquendo. Browne, the highest rated available contender, is 22-0, 19 KOs, while the champion has a record of 33-2-1, 20 KOs.

from Fight News

 

Fairly competitive at this point.

 

Good thing Lucas finally has an opponent. He's been trying to lure Malik Scott lately. Very tough fight.

 

Tough fight. But if Browne is going to progress that's what he's in for. I'm glad the Scott fight didn't get made because Scott's style would not have suited Browne and there is a far bigger reward attached to this fight.

 

:yep

...but Oquendo deserves a rematch! :cus

 

I am looking forward to Browne vs. Oquendo for the WBA kinda sorta world title.

...and by looking forward, I mean I can already feel my stomach doing backflips and taste some bile on the back of my throat.

 

Still holding out hope that winning a "title" again has reinvigorated Chagaev, I always felt that his decline due to laziness/lack of motivation. If he's training full time, and in shape maybe he'll have something to offer? :think

 

Chagaev gave Povetkin(under Atlas, but still) a tough fight in 2011, I don't think he's that far removed as you guys think... Just about work ethic and motivation at this point.

 

That performance, though.. :-( So bad...

 

:good

...and you've probably been the 2nd highest on him (at his best) outside anyone except me. :yep

 

Yeah, I think our only real quibble was on whether he was #2 as of when he met Wlad, to make that one lineage-establishing.

 

Always have respected Chagaev for the way he stepped in against Wlad on short notice. He wasn't scared.