Newsmakers

Replaced In a heavyweight title bout June 20, Ruslan Chagaev will replace David Haye as Wladimir Klitschko ’s opponent. Haye bowed out of the fight Wednesday, saying he had injured his back in training, and said he wanted to push the date back to July. But Klitschko, who holds the IBF and WBO belts, said he was in top form and wanted to keep the date – a 60,000-ticket sellout at Schalke’s soccer stadium in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Chagaev has been the WBA’s “champion in recess” since withdrawing from two scheduled rematches against Nikolai Valuev. A third match between the two fighters scheduled for May 30 in Helsinki was canceled after Finnish boxing authorities said Chagaev failed a “medical requirement.” In February, Chagaev (25-0-1) won a technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond at Rostock, Germany – the Uzbekistan-born boxer’s first fight in more than a year.

Graduated Five-time world champion figure skater Michelle Kwan earned a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in political science from the University of Denver. She received her diploma at a commencement ceremony in Denver. The 28-year-old skater from Torrance, Calif., came to the university in 2006 with a year’s worth of credits from UCLA. Kwan is a nine-time U.S. champion. She won a silver medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics and won a bronze at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Returning All Pac-10 point guard Nic Wise decided to return to Arizona for his senior year and forgo the NBA draft. Wise made himself available for the draft in April but didn’t hire an agent, leaving the door open for him to return to the program. Wise, who averaged 15.7 points last season, called new head coach Sean Miller with the news.

Leaving Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Kenny Gattison is leaving the franchise after six years. Gattison’s contract expires at the end of this month. The team says the Hornets and Gattison agreed he could pursue other opportunities. Coach Byron Scott calls Gattison an integral part of the team’s success. The coach said during predraft workouts Friday he does not have a replacement lined up. Gattison joined the Hornets under previous coach Tim Floyd during 2003 and was retained when Scott became the coach the following year.