Heavyweight contender Ray Austin, formerly rated #1 by the WBC until being dropped from the ratings due to legal issues, is prepared to take legal action against the WBC if the organization follows through with plans to stage an elimination bout without Austin’s participation. John Tripp, one of the bankruptcy attorneys involved with Austin issued the following statement:

“Ray Austin is ready, willing and able to fight in the next elimination bout. The WBC decision to announce the title eliminator between Solis and Valuev merely because of Ray Austin filing bankruptcy and rejecting his personal management and promotional agreement with Don King Productions is clearly a violation of Ray’s rights under Federal Bankruptcy Law and we intend to file a complaint in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Ohio against WBC for violating the provisions of the bankruptcy code. I have had some dealings in boxing and this type of abuse has been going on for too long. We previously advised the WBC, on multiple occasions, that Ray was available to box Solis or any other fighter designated by the WBC, but they decided to ignore Ray Austin’s right in his #1 position. Over the weekend we will be investigation possible racketeering, conspiracy, and RICO charges against the WBC and other parties. If Jose Sulaiman wants another debacle like Graciano Rocchigiainni, he is well on his way. The WBC is not going to get away with ignoring its own rules yet again.”