FEATURE

Local ‘Beast From the East’ Boxer Prepares for Title Bout

By Johannes Berendt

Special to The St. Petersburg Times

Alexander Belenky / The St. Petersburg Times Nikolai Valuev’s fight against Ruslan Chagaev, to be held in Helsinki on May 30, is seen by many as a grudge match.

Nikolai Valuev will be looking to erase the darkest hour of his career when he comes face-to-face with Ruslan Chagaev on May 30. The first-ever heavyweight title fight on Finnish soil will certainly be a special one as the two rivals go back a long way. Back in April 2007, Chagaev shocked the boxing world by clinching a close majority decision to hand the Russian Giant the first — and only — loss of his glorious career. It killed Valuev?s dreams to tie Rocky Marcioano?s unbeaten record of 49 fights without a loss. “The defeat was a major blow to everyone,” his promoter Kalle Sauerland said. “Nikolai is a gentle giant but I know that deep down this loss really haunts him. For two years, he has been waiting to set the record straight. We are glad that he will finally get the chance to make amends.”

The first defeat in 48 fights changed Valuev?s life completely. He parted company with long-time coach Manuel Gabrielian, replacing him with Alexander Zimin. The Russian trainer has since altered Valuev?s training routine, making him a faster, more mobile and last but not least a better fighter. Zimin?s training methods paid off in February 2008 when Valuev destroyed former world champion Sergej Liakhovich in a title eliminator. Valuev won every single round on every scorecard, shutting out the “White Wolf” in impressive fashion. “I am ready for the rematch with Chagaev,” he announced at the post-fight press conference.

“I cannot wait to get in the ring with him”.

Little did he know that February 2008 marked the beginning of a long waiting period. As the new mandatory challenger, Valuev was set to take on Chagaev on May 31. However, shortly before the fight, Chagaev turned sick. The showdown was postponed to July 5 but Chagaev picked up an Achilles injury in the last sparring, forcing him to cancel the second meeting. “I was very disappointed”, Valuev recalled. “I was very keen to win my title back from the only man who defeated me.”

Valuev got his wish — at least half of it — when the WBA vacated the belt and set up an August clash between the two top-challengers, Valuev and John Ruiz. Just like he had done in their historic first meeting in December 2005 when he became the biggest and tallest champion of all time, Valuev again defeated the “Quietman” on points to notch the WBA heavyweight title. “It is an incredible feeling to be the champion again,” he enthused. “But I still have something to make up for. I want to make amends for the loss against Chagaev and show the world that I am the true WBA heavyweight champion.”

Instead of stripping injured Chagaev of his belt, the WBA made the Uzbek “champion in recess,” ordering him to fight Valuev on his return from injury. However, Chagaev was granted a special permit to take a tune-up fight against Carl Davis Drumond in February. He defended his version of the belt, which left the WBA not just with one but with two rather active champions. “It is about time to end all the confusion,” Valuev said. “Right now, we have a champion and a champion in recess, but after May 30, there will be just one title-holder – me!

”I have been waiting for a long time to make amends for the loss in 2007. I have become a different fighter. I have a new coach, new training methods and new tactics. And I have the incredible will to settle the score with Chagaev. He did well in the first fight, but on May 30, I will leave the ring as the winner.”

Even though he is known for his giant size and weight, Valuev is one of the nicest and friendliest persons you could meet. He is polite, open-minded and relaxed during interview sessions, immediately winning the hearts of everyone around him. Needless to say, it is his family that matters most to him. “I try to spend as much time as possible with my wife and my children,” he said. “Without them, I could never be so successful. They are everything for me.”

The gentle giant even reluctantly admits to winning his wife, Galina, over with poetry, but prefers not to discuss it. “The poems were written for Galina. They are personal and I don’t like to discuss them. I’m a boxer, not a poet.” And he added with a smile: “All I will tell you is that Galina didn’t throw them back at me. She has all of the poems still.” Valuev married his sweetheart in 2000. Their son, Grisha, was born in 2003. In March 2007, Galina gave birth to their second child, Irina. “Having a family helps to put things into perspective,” he added.

Galina will not have to travel far to see her husband in action on May 30. Valuev has drawn sell-out crowds all over the world — from Chicago, where 16,000 fans witnessed his KO victory over Monte Barrett in October 2006, to Zurich, where he edged living legend Evander Holyfield in front of 12,500 fans in Zurich?s Hallenstadion — but has never defended his title so close to home. “I am thrilled that the fight will take place in Helsinki. Finland is a great country and I hope that many fans will come over from St. Petersburg. I want to deliver a good show.”

Valuev fights under the promotional banner of Sauerland Event, one of Europe?s leading boxing stables, and is co-promoted by Don King. On May 30, Sauerland teams up with Pekka Makki?s P3 boxing to deliver a special night of boxing at Harwall Arena. Apart from what has been dubbed “The Revenge of the Giant”, also in action will be WBA/WBC Ladies Welterweight World Champion Cecilia “First Lady” Braekhus, the gifted Finnish heavyweight hopeful Robert “Nordic Nightmare” Helenius as well as Finnish super lightweight boxer Juho “TNT” Tolppola, who challenges European Union super lightweight champion Giuseppe Lauri. Sauerland Event deliver up to 12 boxing shows all over Europe per year.

It was in 2003 that Wilfried Sauerland and his son Kalle signed Valuev to a promotional agreement. “I told Niko that I thought he had been promoted as a circus act but he could be much more than this,” Wilfried Sauerland said. “He had spent his entire career never improving or progressing in the rankings because the people he was with did not believe he was a real fighter with ability.

“I was not thinking world titles at first but the ease with which he destroyed Paolo Vidoz for the WBA European title made me think again.”

Vidoz was an Italian Olympian, Italian heavyweight champion, and a legitimate heavyweight contender with a record of 17-1 when he faced Valuev on Oct. 9, 2004. Although Vidoz succumbed to Valuev via a ninth-round technical knockout, he went on to win the European Boxing Union heavyweight championship.

Valuev never looked back, soon claiming the scalps of more big-name fighters. He eventually edged Larry Donald in a title eliminator before writing boxing history with his first success over Ruiz shortly before Christmas 2005. “It is an unbelievable feeling to be world champion,” Valuev said. “It is the recognition for all the hard work in recent years. But there are still goals to be accomplished and titles to be won.”

Fellow heavyweight champions Wladimir, who holds the IBF/WBO titles, and Vitali (WBC) Klitschko are keen to get in the ring with the Russian Giant as they try to unify all four belts in their family. “I have been asked this questions 1,000 times and my answer is always the same: I am ready to fight the Klitschkos at any time,” Valuev said. “I am sure my promoters will work something out.”.

First things first, though, as Valuev (50-1, 34 KOS) has shifted his full attention on the rematch against Chagaev. “Right now, my whole focus is on him. After May 30, we will see what happens,” said the 35-year-old, while his opponent also remained confident of success. “I have beaten him once and I will beat him again,” Chagaev (25-0, 17 KOs) said.

“I don?t care where this fight takes place. Helsinki is fine with me. I would beat him on the moon. I don?t understand what all the fuss is about – I am the true champion and I’ll be happy to prove it in Helsinki.”

Remaining tickets for the hotly-anticipated fight night at the Hartwall Arena are available at www.lippu.fi as well as +358 600 900 900. VIP packages can be purchased at www.revengeofthegiant.com.

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