By Gav Duthie: Despite the World Boxing Association organizing a tournament in the heavyweight division to establish a single champion within their establishment the situation at present is more complicated than ever. Tyson Fury is the Super champion but the regular title is very much up for grabs. In the last 10 years the ‘Regular’ title has been held by Nikolay Valuev, Ruslan Chagaev, Alexander Povetkin, David Haye and briefly by Lucas Browne before it was stripped from him for failing a drugs test.
The predicament seemed simple, the title was handed back to Ruslan Chagaev but after failing to respond to requests to face mandatory challenger Fres Oquendo, Chagaev expressed that he has decided to retire from boxing. As a result the WBA can do one of two things:
1. Elevate the title fight between Ortiz and Ustinov to be for a regular title
2. Have a separate fight for the vacant title involving Fres Oquendo and another opponent
WBA Rankings
Super – Tyson Fury
Regular – Vacant
1. Luis Ortiz (International champion)
2. Wladimir Klitschko
3. Alexander Ustinov
4. Fres Oquendo
5. David Haye
6. Shannon Briggs
Haye v Briggs Puzzle
Does David Haye know something we don’t? If there is a shot for the vacant title any potential contest may involve David himself. Oquendo won in court to make himself next in line for the shot after he narrowly lost out to Chagaev back in July 2014. The 43 year old has not fought since. The rankings have everybody tied up Fury v Klitschko, Ortiz v Ustinov so the next highest ranked is David Haye. The Hayemaker is supposed to be fight Shannon Briggs in October. To the knowledge of the fans and media it was a done deal. We saw the press conference with our own eyes, there was no smoke and mirrors, no backhand deals. Haye clearly said if Briggs fought on his undercard then he would fight him next. The fact that this deal hasn’t been announced is puzzling, if they both wanted it surely it would have been easy. Unless David has something better to do?
Whatever is happening speculation is mounting so the WBA better make some decisions and announcements soon.