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Klitschko targeting Chagaev in belts quest
(By Henry McCall - www.theherald.co.uk)
February 25th, 2008
Wladimir Klitschko, the Ukrainian heavyweight, promised to unify all the division's titles as soon as possible after adding the WBO crown to his IBF and IBO belts.
Klitschko earned a unanimous decision (119-110, 117-111, 118-110) over Russia's Sultan Ibragimov in the first heavyweight unification fight since 1999. That leaves WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev of Russia and the winner of next month's WBC title showdown in Mexico between Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev as obstacles to Klitschko achieving heavyweight domination.
With older brother Vitali Klitschko on the comeback trail and having been promised a match with the winner of Maskaev-Peter, that leaves Chagaev as the next realistic target.
"I'm ready to fight again as soon as possible," Klitschko said. "I fought 12 rounds, but I didn't get hurt and I wish I could get another champion.
"Next month we have Samuel Peter and Oleg Maskaev fighting so we'll see what's happening there, but my brother Vitali will be stepping in so we'll let him handle it.
"The WBA situation is Chagaev fighting somebody so we'll see if we get a chance to unify all the titles."
Klitschko praised Ibragimov for putting his title on the line when he was under no obligation to do so. But both fighters were booed as they failed to give the 14,011 crowd any real fireworks over 12 rounds.
"I thought I was going to knock this guy out but it wasn't easy," added Klitschko, who relied on his jab. "I know you're not satisfied, but I have to keep the belts and knock everybody else out."
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