WBA World heavyweight champ Ruslan Chagaev will defend his title against Francesco Pianeta over a scheduled 12 rounds at GETEC Arena in Magdeburg, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, on Saturday, July 11.
Originally from Andijan, Uzbekistan, 36-year-old Chagaev (33-2-1, 20 KOs) now fights out of Hamburg, Germany. “White Tyson” turned pro in 1997, though he returned to the amateur ranks from 1998 to 2000. Chagaev won the WBA World heavyweight title by decisioning Nikolay Valuev in April 2007. Illness and injury suffered by Chagaev postponed and ultimately prevented a rematch, and the champ relinquished his title. He fought Alexander Povetkin for the vacant championship in August 2011, losing by unanimous decision, but was successful when the title once again became vacant, decisioning Fres Oquendo in July 2014. Chagaev’s bout with Oquendo is his most recent.
The Uzbekistani-German’s other loss came at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko, the WBA Super World heavyweight champ, who retired Chagaev in the ninth in June 2009. Chagaev drew against Rob Calloway in October 2002, Calloway suffering a cut due to a headbutt. Chagaev stopped Calloway by second-round KO in their January 2006 rematch.
Like his upcoming opponent, 30-year-old Pianeta (31-1-1, 17 KOs) is a southpaw. A pro since 2005, Pianeta is originally from Corigliano Calabro, Calabria, Italy, but now lives in Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. He most recently fought in December 2014, decisioning Ivica Bacurin. The Italian-German’s sole loss came by way of Wladimir Klitschko, who won by sixth-round TKO in May 2013. Pianeta’s April 2009 bout with Albert Sosnowski resulted in a split draw. There was no rematch. Pianeta is 12th-ranked by the WBA.
Germany’s Sat. 1 will televise the bout live in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, starting at 10:45 p.m. German time.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
