This is funny in a perverse way as only boxing can manage. I received this release from the World Boxing Council (WBC) Friday.
Due to the unavailability of Ray Austin, as declared in testimony given under oath in a court of law, and based in an overwhelming majority vote of the WBC Board of Governors, the WBC is ordering a final elimination fight between the two highest available contenders in the heavyweight division, Odlanier Solis of from Cuba and Nicolay Valuev of Russia, to determine the mandatory challenger in the heavyweight division.
Back to reality: Where would this fight take place? Maybe Cuba? The Ukraine?
It’s not going to happen, trust me. But in some perverse way Solis vs. Valuev…I’m in.
What happened was Don King had WBC No.1 Ray Austin. But Austin wanted to get away from King so he filed for bankruptcy, a tactic that has had some success in the past for boxers trying to break promotional contracts. It didn’t work here.
Valuev already has a rematch clause to fight David Haye again for the WBA Heavyweight Title and has had contact with both Klitchko brothers. Solis will eventually get to fight the next highest available contender for the mandatory right to fight WBC Champion Vitali Klitchko.
Where the WBC is going with this I don’t know, unless to formally rid itself of the repulsive Austin as the mandatory heavyweight contender.
So I thank the WBC of ridding us all of Ray Austin in their ratings.
