WBA #1 heavyweight Kali Meehan spoke to Fightnews about John Ruiz’ recent statements and says he will be happy to fight Ruiz for the mandatory position and the right to challenge Nicolay Valuev for the WBA championship. Meehan also claims he got the better of Ruiz in many sparring sessions. “I hear that John Ruiz is not happy at the moment and he has the mandatory challenge,” said Meehan. “If anyone should be angry it is me! I am rated #1 in the WBA, which in their rules means I am the mandatory challenger. I thought I would have got the challenge against Valuev, and somehow Holyfield got it, and then John Ruiz got it again.”

“I was made to fight after the main event between Ruiz and Valuev,” Meehan continued. “I found out later the reason why was because Ruiz was complaining for more money,and there was concern that he might not enter the ring that night, so i was made to fight after the main event, just in case I had to step in as replacement for Ruiz. I found out the reason after my fight.

“I accept that, but when I heard that Ruiz has been made the mandatory challenger — that is a slap in the face. And now he is complaining? That is another slap in the face!

“I take my hat off to you John Ruiz, because even though you have a style the fans dont like to watch because you hold to much, you have fought everyone and anyone. I believe me and you should fight to decide who the real mandatory challenger should be. How about it John? I predict it won’t go past eight rounds. Remember our sparring?”