Valuev to fight Ruiz for WBA title in Berlin on August 30

MOSCOW, July 22 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Nikolai Valuev is to fight John Ruiz for the vacant WBA heavyweight title in Berlin on August 30, the Russian said on his website on Tuesday.

The right to promote the fight was won by Sauerland Event with an offer of $2,106,401.

"Berlin is very special to me. That is where I defeated Ruiz in 2005 to become world champion. Fighting in the Max Schmeling Halle again will be like a home match," said Valuev.

Valuev, 34, became the first Russian world heavyweight champion in December 2005 when he defeated Ruiz. In April last year he lost his title to Ruslan "White Tyson" Chagaev from Uzbekistan.

Since then Chagaev has held one title defense bout, and a torn Achilles tendon caused the second postponement of a mandatory challenge bout against Valuev. On July 4, the WBA decided to sanction a bout with the Russian's closest contender, the Puerto Rican-American Ruiz.

Chagaev is currently what the WBA calls "champion in recess," and the winner of the Valuev-Ruiz bout will have to face Chagaev before June 26, 2009, if the Uzbek manages to make a return to fitness by then.