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The Beast From the East Towers over Ruiz in Battle for World Title
The Guardian ^ | 12/17/05

Posted on 12/17/2005 10:19:04 AM PST by beyond the sea

If The Beast from the East, Nikolai Valuev, defeats John Ruiz in the Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin tonight to take the World Boxing Association version of the world heavyweight title, he will not only be the first Russian to lay claim to it, but also the biggest man.

Valuev, 32, from St Petersburg, has never lost in 44 professional contests, but it is his size that marks him as truly exceptional. He is 7ft 2in, about a foot taller than Ruiz, and weighs up to 152kg (24st). However, the ans who once laughed when he stepped in the ring have been forced to take him seriously; a fact illustrated by the odds showing Valuev as the 13-8 on favourite to win with bookmakers Stan James.

The Russian has been boxing professionally for 12 years, but made few ripples before his career came under the guidance of the German promoter Wilfred Sauerland three years ago. Since then he has scored a ninth-round stoppage victory over the current European champion Paolo Vidoz of Italy, knocked out the American Clifford Etienne in three rounds and edged a majority decision over Etienne's fellow countryman, the veteran Larry Donald in October to set up this bout.

Ruiz, 33, who is perhaps best known for a fight he lost to Roy Jones, will be in his 10th world title contest and is known as an ugly mauler who tends to wear down his opponents through his physical strength and determination.

(Excerpt) Read more at sport.guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: beast; boxing
"He's got a head the size of a Volkswagen. I can't miss hitting him." ---

If he can reach it.

1 posted on 12/17/2005 10:19:04 AM PST by beyond the sea
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To: beyond the sea

Ruiz has bedeveled many apparently stronger, larger and more skilled boxers with his unorthodox style. On the other hand the heavyweight division has been lacking in a clear leader for years.

Is this being televised?


2 posted on 12/17/2005 10:23:38 AM PST by Jack Black
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To: Jack Black; gondramB; yldstrk; wideawake; pikachu; Mr. Mojo; L98Fiero; Skeeve14; Petronski; ...
This Valuev from St Petersburg is 7 foot 2 inches tall and weighs way over 300 pounds.

This would be good to see.

3 posted on 12/17/2005 10:25:28 AM PST by beyond the sea (Murtha: Redeployment - What .......Surrender? // “Victory is not a strategy”)
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To: beyond the sea

ROCKY 4 redux


4 posted on 12/17/2005 10:30:12 AM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (expell the fat arrogant carcasses of Congress)
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To: beyond the sea
152 kg is ~334lbs

the guy is darn big!

5 posted on 12/17/2005 10:33:03 AM PST by NoClones
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To: NoClones

6 posted on 12/17/2005 10:37:44 AM PST by BushMeister ("We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around." --Ronald Reagan)
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To: beyond the sea

Boxing or WWE?
We knew Heavyweight "Champion" John Ruiz was a joke...but now Don King has decided the only opponent people will watch is a wrestling castoff. Nikolai Valuev is 7-foot, 330-pounds.


7 posted on 12/17/2005 10:47:21 AM PST by HuntsvilleTxVeteran (Giving power and money to Congress is like giving liquor and car keys to teenage boys. - P.J. O'Rour)
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To: beyond the sea
Determining factor will be speed and staying power..

Valuev will have to last into the later rounds..
His weight and size will make that difficult..
Likewise, his size affects his speed and footing..
Ruiz will probably have the advantage there..

Ruiz will be presented with the difficulty of landing hard enough blows to affect such a large opponent..
His best hope is that Valuez turns out to have a glass jaw for this matchup..
44 fights would indicate that he doesn't..

Ruiz will have to hope that he is simply the better boxer, and that Valuev will revert to what has served him best.. The fact that he is very big and very strong..
Not necessarilly a good boxer, all Valuev needs is a solid hit or two.. Strength and Size..

George Foreman was not very fast either..
Watch any of his fights and note the comparatively slow swing..
Foreman's advantage was size and weight..
It only took one or two good hits to take out an opponent..

Ruiz has that to deal with..
Can he take the hits from a 330 pound opponent?
Even glancing blows can wreak havoc..
Ruiz will be incredibly sore by the 5th or 6th rounds..

My prediction, Valuev..
TKO by the 6th or 7th round..

8 posted on 12/17/2005 11:10:42 AM PST by Drammach (Freedom; not just a job, it's an adventure..)
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To: BushMeister

Well, the facial angle seen in that photo you posted does not belong to a homo sapiens.


9 posted on 12/17/2005 11:11:31 AM PST by GSlob
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To: BushMeister

Looks like it will be an uphill battle for Ruiz.


10 posted on 12/17/2005 12:00:23 PM PST by ol' hoghead (it'll only work)
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To: beyond the sea

"I'm gonna break your hands with my face!!"


11 posted on 12/17/2005 12:10:59 PM PST by DainBramage (For a good time call Dainbramage 555-BIG-DUDE)
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To: BushMeister

Yoi, that's one big boxer ........ and one big target.


12 posted on 12/17/2005 2:05:16 PM PST by beyond the sea (Murtha: Redeployment - What .......Surrender? // “Victory is not a strategy”)
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To: CROSSHIGHWAYMAN; NoClones; martin_fierro; BushMeister; Drammach; GSlob; ol' hoghead; DainBramage
Willie Pep, talking to an old opponent years after each retired.

"Do you recognize me?" the old opponent asked.

Willie looked hard and considered before finally replying, "Lie down so I can recognize you."

13 posted on 12/17/2005 2:14:43 PM PST by beyond the sea (Murtha: Redeployment - What .......Surrender? // “Victory is not a strategy”)
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To: All
Well, the missing link won:

"Disputed split decision", according to ESPN. First Russian heavyweight champ.

14 posted on 12/17/2005 7:14:23 PM PST by BushMeister ("We are a nation that has a government - not the other way around." --Ronald Reagan)
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To: BushMeister
"Disputed split decision", according to ESPN. First Russian heavyweight champ.

Considering Mike Tyson's height disadvantage.......I'd like to see Mike come back and take a bite outa da Ruskie......ouch!

15 posted on 12/17/2005 9:56:49 PM PST by CROSSHIGHWAYMAN (expell the fat arrogant carcasses of Congress)
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