 |
| Oscar de la Hoya © Gallo Images |
David Haye will not have his WBA heavyweight title diminished by the sanctioning of an interim-title fight, says his promoter, Oscar de la Hoya.
In response to rival promoter Don King's claim that the WBA had agreed to an interim-title bout, De la Hoya said in a statement on Tuesday that he had been assured no such bout would be recognised by the sanctioning group.
"We have complete confidence that the WBA will keep their word and not sanction an interim heavyweight world title bout," De la Hoya said.
"They have assured us that David will remain the only WBA heavyweight champion. He he looks forward to defending the title for the first time in the early part of 2010."
Haye is set to defend against US veteran John Ruiz next year after defeating Russian Nikolai Valuev on November 7 to win the WBA belt.
Kali Meehan, a Fiji-born Australian, will face Uzbek southpaw Ruslan Chagaev, a former WBA champion, for the WBA interim title, said King, adding that the winner would then fight the winner of the bout between Ruiz and Haye for the true crown.
King also claimed he had a valid contract to promote Ruiz.
Retired British star Lennox Lewis struggled for years to obtain a heavyweight unification showdown, in part because fighters backed by King fought one another for most of the major crowns.
Lewis eventually had his day, defeating Evander Holyfield in Las Vegas in 1999 for the undisputed title some eight months after a controversial draw in New York.
 | |  | | | Remember to go to www.supersport.com on your Mobile phone and keep in touch with the latest scores wherever you are. |  |
| |  | |  |
|
