RSSRuslan Chagaev
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Valuev: “This is a New Start for Me”
Nikolai Valuev completed a successful return to the ring on Saturday night when he clinched a unanimous points victory over Jean-Francois Bergeron.
In his first fight since losing the WBA belt to Ruslan Chagaev, the Russian Giant cruised to an uncontested 118-111, 117-111, 118-111 verdict against the previously unbeaten Canadian.
Valuev strongly went for the kill in the last two rounds but Bergeron proved his heart and refused to give in.
“I am pleased with my performance tonight,” Valuev (47-1, 34 KOs) said. “I would have loved to win by knock-out but it wasn´t possible. It doesn´t matter, though. Going twelve rounds against a southpaw was a good test. This was a new start for me.”
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Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Ibragimov Management Furious With Chagaev
Boris Grinberg, manager of WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov, couldn?t believe it when the news hit on Tuesday that WBA titlist Ruslan Chagaev was getting ready to go back into training, with his sights set on a title defense before the end of the year.
?This is disgraceful,? said Grinberg, whose fighter, Ibragimov, was scheduled to unify the heavyweight title with Chagaev on October 13th in Moscow before Chagaev pulled out of the fight with an unspecified ailment. ?We were led to believe that this so-called champion was suffering from some severe sickness that was going to keep him out of action indefinitely, and despite the fact that we put a lot of time, effort, and money into making this fight happen, we believed his excuse. But now that we heard that Chagaev is coming back so soon, it?s obvious that his ailment wasn?t ?an acute inflammation of the body,? but really just a complete
lack of heart, and that he has no intention of fighting the premier heavyweight in the sport, Sultan Ibragimov.?
Grinberg, along with Seminole Warriors Boxing, jumped quickly into action after Chagaev?s withdrawal, and legendary heavyweight Evander Holyfield and his promoter Main Events eagerly accepted the fight with Ibragimov, which will still be held at the Khodynka Arena in Moscow on October 13th, and that will be televised in the United States on DirecTV pay-per-view.
?Holyfield lives up to everything that has been said of him in the past, which is that he is a true warrior who will fight anyone at anytime and place, not like the other ?Champions??, said Grinberg. ?Sultan Ibragimov is the same way and it?s why this fight on October 13th will be a great one. As for Chagaev, he could learn a few lessons from Ibragimov and Holyfield about how a real fighter should act.?
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Tuesday, July 31, 2007
WBO-WBA Unification Bout to Take Place in Russia
Hollywood - For the first time in Russian and International professional boxing history, fighters representing the post-Soviet countries will clash to unite the heavyweight world titles. It is also the first Heavyweight unification bout to ever take place outside the United States. The last heavyweight unification bout was held back in 1999, when the undisputed champion of the world was determined in a clash between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield. Oscar De La Hoya, who is a co-promoter of Sultan Ibragimov, is among many celebrities and special invited guests that have confirmed plans to travel to Moscow on October 13th to witness this battle of epic proportions.
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Wednesday, July 11, 2007
De La Hoya to Attend Chagaev-Ibragimov
LOS ANGELES - Golden Boy Promotions’ President Oscar De La Hoya and CEO Richard Schaefer will be in attendance when Golden Boy co-promoted WBO World Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov and WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev square off to unify their titles on October 13th in Moscow.
De La Hoya and Schaefer are extremely excited about the opportunity to witness what looks to be the beginning of a resurgence of the heavyweight division first hand, as both Heavyweight Champions seek to become the first Unified Heavyweight Champion of the 21st century. Ibragimov and Chagaev will battle to become the first heavyweight to unify the title since November of 1999, when Lennox Lewis defeated Evander Holyfield by unanimous decision. The fight also marks the first time in boxing history that two champions will be attempting to unify in the first defenses of their titles.
“This is going to be a big night for the entire sport of boxing and I am thrilled to travel to Moscow to be a part of it,” said ten-time World Champion and President of Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya. “For the first time in nearly a decade, we are finally getting closer to seeing who the true king of the heavyweight division is.”
De La Hoya continued, “I would like to thank Sultan Ibragimov’s sponsor, Nafta Moskva, for their commitment to Sultan and for making this historic event possible.”
Making the trip with De La Hoya will be Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer who noted “Never before has a fighter attempted to unify belts in his first title defense, and in this case both fighters are trying to earn that honor,” noted Schaefer. “This is a monumental event that Oscar and I can’t wait to witness first hand.”
The Ibragimov-Chagaev World Heavyweight Championship Unification is presented by Nafta Moskva and is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Seminole Warriors Boxing, Golden Grain Promotions and Sampson Lewkowicz in association with Universum Box-Promotion.
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Sunday, April 22, 2007
Chagaev Changes Heavyweight Picture
Ruslan Chagaev’s victory over Nickolay Valuev to capture the WBA version of the title could be the start of a chain reaction that may change the whole landscape of the heavyweight picture. There was immediate talk of a rematch with Valuev but nothing more has been said. There have been rumors of Chagaev meeting former WBO titleholder Sergei Liakhovich but as of right now they are just that, rumors. Current WBO champion Shannon Briggs is set to take on Sultan Ibragimov. WBC title claimant Oleg Maskaev will put his title on the line against dangerous Samuel Peter. The IBF champion and the boxer regarded by most as the best heavyweight in the world, Wladimir Klitschko will defend against previous conqueror Lamon Brewster. It will be very interesting to see which four are left standing after the smoke clears.
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
EEC - April 19, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Former heavyweight champion Chris Byrd made his return to the ring last night and defeated Paul Marinaccio by TKO in the 7th round…
- According to various reports coming from the UK, newly crowned WBA Heavyweight Champion Ruslan Chagaev may possibly make his first title defense this summer against the winner of the May 26th bout between Matt Skelton and Michael Sprott in London.
Chagaev actually took on Sprott in June of 2006 and knocked him out in the 8th round…
- Mark Vester of Boxing Scene is reporting that WBA Cruiserweight Champion Virgil Hill is demanding a third bout against Henry Maske…
- Joe Frazier has filed a lawsuit against his daughter that seeks the return of various contracts, product endorsements, business papers, and various other documents that his daughter has reportedly has in her possession. Frazier’s daughter served as his lawyer and business advisor from 1989-2004.
- Who is Shane Mosley picking to win on May 5th? Oscar De La Hoya by KO…
- Paul Williams has told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he plans on brawling with Antonio Margarito when their scheduled bout goes down this summer:
“If you have the attitude that you won’t accept losing and you’re going to refuse to lose, it makes a difference,” said Williams. “The easy thing would have been to take the money and fight the other guy. But he stepped up like a man. I’m going to be in there and I’ll bang with him. I don’t think he’s going to be used to that. I’m a harder puncher than he’s seen.”
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Monday, April 16, 2007
Valuev: “The Better Fighter Won”
Nikolai Valuev has vowed to bounce back stronger than ever after losing his WBA heavyweight belt to Ruslan Chagaev. The mandatory challenger handed the Russian Giant his first defeat in 48 contests when he clinched a close majority decision in Stuttgart on Saturday night. He was ahead 115-113 and 117-111 on two scorecards while the third judge called the bout a 114-114 draw. “It certainly was an exciting encounter and a great night of boxing - except for the outcome,” manager Wilfried Sauerland stated. “It was very close.”
Valuev (46-1, 34 KOs) was off to the better start and kept marching forward throughout the twelve rounds, working cleverly behind his left jab. However, it was Chagaev who landed the clearer punches. The crowd roared every time he got through with his southpaw left - even though it did little to impress the Russian Giant, who proved his great chin. Chagaev dominated the middle of the fight before Valuev upped pressure towards the end, firing in a few good combinations himself. The pattern remained the same, with Chagaev relying on his speed and counter-punches and Valuev controlling the center of the ring. “I committed too many mistakes,” he admitted. “I did not throw enough punches and also had trouble finding my feet. I am respectful of my opponent and have to admit that the decision was okay. The better fighter won.”
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EEC - April 16, 2007
News, Notes, and Rumors:
- Infamous boxing promoter Don King has a plan to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion through a series of fights before the end of 2008…
“I think the title should be unified. To have one undisputed, identifiable world champion would make everything better,” King told Reuters in an exclusive interview.
“It would restore the magic,” he said.
King made the statement one day after his latest heavyweight client, Nikolai Valuev, lost his WBA Heavyweight Belt to Ruslan Chagaev. He said that Valuev winning would have given him more power in making his plan a reality but is set on doing so anyway.
King said that it would take roughly $30 million in order to make the tournament happen and that it could be very easy to gather the money, even if it has to come out of his own pocket…
The outcomes of the Briggs-Ibragimov, Klitschko-Brewster, and Maskaev-Peter fights this summer will set up the beginning of the projected series of fights according to King.
- For those of you that are wondering, there hasn’t been an undisputed champion since right before Mike Tyson lost to Buster Douglas in 1990…
- The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation is apparently refusing to release the purse values of Manny Pacquiao and Jorge Solis from their featherweight bout on Saturday night to the public…
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Sunday, April 15, 2007
Chagaev Wins Upset Majority Decision for WBA Title
Rocky’s record is safe but I almost have to feel for previously undefeated Nickolay Valuev. Challenger Ruslan Chagaev was awarded a twelve round majority decision and with it the WBA heavyweight title. One judge had it a draw. The other two scored it for Chagaev. I had Valuev winning by a couple of rounds and I thought that I was being generous to Chagaev. Nickolay had his jab out there in Chagaev’s face the entire fight. Ruslan landed the harder shots with occasional straight lefts to the head and body but for the most part Valuev kept him on the outside. Neither man was seriously hurt in a contest I found rather boring.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
MSG Network To Air Valuev-Chagaev
NEW YORK – MSG, a world class sports and entertainment network, has acquired the television rights to air the WBA heavyweight championship fight between WBA champion Nikolai “Giant Russian” Valuev and undefeated heavyweight contender Ruslan Chagaev. The fight will be telecast live on MSG from Stuttgart, Germany on Saturday, April 14 at 4:30 pm ET. It will be re-broadcast on MSG the following Saturday, April 21 at 8:00 pm and 11:00 pm, additional airings will occur throughout the month of April. International boxing commentator Dave Bontempo will call the action for the fight.
This is the second time in the past month that MSG has acquired an overseas boxing match to air live on the network. On March 17 MSG aired the highly anticipated WBC and WBA cruiserweight rematch fight between O’Neil ‘Supernova’ Bell and Jean-Marc Mormeck live from Levallois-Perret, France.
Nikolai Valuev (46-0, 34 KOs) is the biggest and tallest champion of all time, holding an amazing 11 inch height advantage over the undefeated Ruslan Chagaev (22-0, 17 KOs). Valuev is only four wins away from breaking the 49-0 record of legendary boxer Rocky Marciano. Valuev vs. Chagaev is a Sauerland Event and Don King Productions.