That is one big ole boy. Just got beat.
Posted on 04/16/2007 11:05:57 PM PDT by texas booster
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) -- Rocky Marciano's record is now out of the picture and so is a planned unification fight, but the biggest heavyweight champion of all time vows he will come back after losing his WBA title.
Nikolai Valuev, the 7-foot Russian, was outpointed by Ruslan Chagaev, who is 11 inches shorter and 90 pounds lighter. Valuev's record dropped to 46-1 with a no-contest, ending his bid to match Marciano's 49-0 mark at the start of a career.
Chagaev, who is from Uzbekistan and calls himself the "White Tyson," didn't try to hit up at the towering Russian, as opponents did in Valuev's three previous defenses. Instead, he lunged in, threw flurries of punches and turned the bout into a slugfest.
The former amateur world champion solved the left jab, which had kept Valuev's previous opponents at bay, in the fourth round.
He jumped in, catching Valuev with a left, then a right to the temple. That forced Valuev into the fight Chagaev's camp wanted. The big Russian attacked and their fighter countered.
"For everybody who said Nikolai was too big and heavy for me, well it's not important that am I smaller now, is it?" Chagaev said.
Chagaev's only significant win before was a split decision against John Ruiz, and he was a heavy underdog against the unbeaten Russian. IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko, negotiating a unification fight with Valuev, was among those who gave the challenger little chance.
Klitschko has said he wouldn't be interested in fighting Chagaev, because the fight isn't a good sell.
Chagaev was awarded the fight 117-111 and 115-113, with one judge calling it 114-114. Valuev blamed the loss in a bout with a lot of punches thrown on his legs -- because of back problems, he often swims in training instead of jogging.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
As big as he is, he was proven beatable by a better boxer.
That is one big ole boy. Just got beat.
Smaller guy actually kinda looks like Tyson. Big brow, long black shorts, no socks.
Sounded like a pretty decent fight.
He calls himself the White Tyson.
Valuev emerged from the fight with all ears intact.
Not even a Yao Ming could reach that high with his mouth.
Valuev is a little ... hairy ... for my taste.
His back does look groomed compared to some of his early fights.
At least they didn’t braid his back ...
Looks old. Needs some weight room and road time. Though I’d never say that to his face.
My Wife and I love boxing, check out her MYSPACE.
http://www.myspace.com/gingerboxingfan
She loves Arturo Gatti.
Joe Louis would take both of them in the same night.
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