Ruiz-Lyakhovich heavyweight bout in doubt

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO (TICKER) —Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz’s fight this weekend with former WBO title-holder Serguei Lyakhovich has been thrown into doubt, just a week after Ruiz signed to take the bout.

WBA No.3 contender Ruiz and his handlers learned last night that Lyakhovich of Belarus, rated No. 2 by the same body, has still not signed the contract to fight as scheduled in Chicago this Saturday.

Now the 35-year-old from Massachusetts, who pulled out of a fight at the end of October against Hector Ferreryo to face Lyakhovich, wants his WBA ranking improved at the expense of the former WBO champion if he fails to sign for the fight.

Ruiz, 41-7-1, 28 KOs, said he and his legal advisor, attorney Anthony Cardinale, first learned about the October 13 fight in the middle of last month, as did Lyakhovich (23-2, 14 KOs), and that both fighters received the revised bout agreement on October 1.

“We’ve heard that they’re claiming there wasn’t enough time to fight me,” said Ruiz, who signed his contract October 3. “We both learned at the same time and I signed to fight him. If he doesn’t sign to fight me on Saturday, we will petition the WBA to drop him from the No. 2 spot and move me up to that position.

“I also plan on fighting Saturday in Chicago against Lyakhovich, if he signs the contract or another suitable opponent if he doesn’t.”

Ruiz lost his title in 2005 to Nikolay Valuev, who in turn lost it to Ruslan Chagaev last April, while Lyakhovich lost his WBO title to Shannon Briggs last November.