Nikolai Valuev

Nikolai Valuev
Statistics
Real name	Nikolai Sergeyevich Valuev
Nickname(s)	Beast from the East
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Reach	85.0 in (216 cm)
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1973-08-21) 21 August 1973 St. Petersburg, Russia
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	53
Wins	50
Wins by KO	34
Losses	2
No contests	1

Nikolai Valuev (born August 21, 1973) is a former Russian professional boxer. He boxed as a professional heavyweight from 1993 to 2009. Valuev is a former Russian and two-time WBA heavyweight champion. He still holds the record as the tallest and heaviest boxing champion in history. At his peak he stood 7' 1" and weighed more than 320lbs. Valuev holds notable wins over John Ruiz, Jameel McCline, Siarhei Liakhovich and Evander Holyfield. He retired at the age of 36, following a majority-decision defeat to David Haye in November 2009.

Biography

Valuev was born on 21 August 1973, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia). He also had a Tatar grandfather.^[1][2][3]

He has three young children, daughter Irina and son Grisha (Grigoriy), his third child, son Sergei, was born on 30 July 2012. In his professional boxing career Valuev has been defeated only twice by Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye.

Valuev is a Russian Orthodox Christian.^[4] During his youth he played water polo and basketball.

Valuev has written a book in Russian called My 12 Rounds, with the help of prominent Russian sports journalist Konstantin Osipov.^[5] The book discusses his life in general and his boxing career in particular. For that book, Valuev received an award from the government of St. Petersburg.^[6] The book was presented in St. Petersburg on 5 February 2007.

In January 2006 Valuev was accused of assaulting a security guard at the Spartak Ice Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia. No criminal investigation was ever launched by local police.^[7][8]

Boxing career

First reign as WBA champion

In 2005, Valuev squared off with WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz, and won a twelve-round majority-decision, becoming both the tallest (2.1 m or 7 ft) and heaviest (323lbs) champion in boxing history.^[9] In his first defence he defeated challenger Owen Beck (25–3, 18 KOs) by a third-round technical knockout in Hannover, Germany. In October 2006, Valuev fought Monte Barrett and defeated him with a technical knockout in the 11th round. In January 2007, Valuev fought Jameel McCline (38–6–3, 23 KOs) in St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland. Valuev won the match, successfully defending his title, after McCline was not able to continue the bout after injuring his knee when throwing a punch near the end of the 3rd round.

Loss of WBA title to Chagaev

The title defence was held on 14 April 2007. Chagaev defeated Valuev by a majority decision (117–111, 115–113 and 114–114).

Valuev changed trainers, from Manuel Gabrielian to Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team.

On 29 September 2007, Valuev won against Jean-Francois Bergeron in Oldenburg, Germany, by a 12-round unanimous decision (118–111 on all three cards).^[10]

Second reign as WBA champion

In a 16 February 2008, title eliminator, Valuev defeated former titleholder Sergei Liakhovich from Belarus, winning every round at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany.^[11] The victory earned Valuev the right to face Chagaev for the WBA title again, the only man who had defeated him in his boxing career. He was scheduled to face Chagaev for his WBA title on 5 July 2008, but Chagaev pulled out with an injury. Valuev instead fought John Ruiz for the vacant title on 30 August 2008 and the WBA decided to make Chagaev "Champion In Recess". Valuev defeated Ruiz by unanimous decision to regain the WBA heavyweight championship, with Valuev and Chagaev set to fight no later than 26 June 2009 to determine whom the WBA regarded as their champion.^[12] Their scheduled rematch on 30 May 2009 was cancelled due to Chagaev's viral infection and on 24 July 2009, when the WBA published their Official Ratings as of June 2009, Chagaev was no longer the "Champion In Recess" but the No. 1 challenger instead.

Valuev's first title defence of his second reign as WBA Champion was against the 46-year old, four-time heavyweight champion of the world, Evander Holyfield, on 20 December 2008, in which Valuev won a controversial majority decision. Before the match, Valuev weighed 310.8 pounds (141 kg), nearly 100 pounds heavier than Holyfield at 214.3 pounds (97 kg).^[13]

Loss of WBA title to Haye

In his second defence, Valuev lost his title on 7 November 2009 against former unified and lineal cruiserweight champion David Haye in Nuremberg on points (114–114, 116–112, 116–112).^[14]

Retirement from boxing and health problems

Valuev announced his retirement from boxing in a Russian newspaper three days after the loss to Haye on 10 November 2009.

In 2010, Valuev's doctor went on record saying that he is treating Valuev for "serious bone and joint problems".^[15] Valuev underwent two operations that required at least six months on the sidelines.

Valuev confirmed in 2013 that medical advice was one of the reasons he is not planning to make a comeback in boxing.^[16]

Acting career and advertising

Valuev's first role in a film was a cameo appearance in the German film 7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug in 2006.^[17] In 2008 Valuev played the main role in the film Stonehead by Philip Yankovskiy, playing an ex-boxer who lost his memory.^[18] The film took the main prize at the film festival "Window to Europe".^[19] After the success of Stonehead, it was announced Valuev is being filmed in two new films at the same time.^[20]

Nikolai Valuev has participated in several photo and video advertisements of various products and services. In November 2009 he signed a promotional contract with a German sausage manufacturer, making Valuev the face of the company's advertisement campaign for five years.^{[citation needed]} Nikolai Valuev is also planning to open a family restaurant in Germany. In August 2010, Valuev signed a promotional contract with Pokerstars poker portal, which is going to achieve professional success in this game.^{[citation needed]}

Valuev's distinctive appearance and fame have occasionally attracted the use of his images in advertising without his permission. In particular, the Penza theatre "Contemporary" for some time before the movie showing the film, where Nikolai Valuev acts as a man who punishes the audience disturbing others. Nikolai Valuev, upon learning about this, sued the theatre for damages amounting to 2 million rubles. In 2011, Nikolai Valuev is involved in the advertising power of "Interskol" as well as in advertising MTS.^{[citation needed]}

Political career

In December 2011 Russian parliamentary election he became a member of Duma through the United Russia Party. On 17 December 2012, Valuev supported^[21] the law in the Russian Parliament banning adoption of Russian orphans by citizens of the US.

Involvement in other sports

In 2011, Valuev became the General Manager of Russia national bandy team and he also has as a task to develop the so-called Russian hockey in the country.^[22][23] He is also the Vice-President of the All Russian bandy federation. Bandy is considered a national sport in Russia.^[24]

Nikolai Valuev Boxing School

In 2009, Nikolai Valuev, together with a group of coaches, created "Nikolay Valuev Boxing School" with offices in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast. The school is based on three types of age groups: pupils (school terms 3-5), students (terms 6-8) and adults. School pupils participate and compete in various boxing matches, including the "Valuev Cup" youth boxing tournament, which became a regular competition in St. Petersburg.^[25]

Valuev Youth Sports Foundation

The Valuev Foundation was opened on 13 September 2010. The fund was established to promote regular physical exercise among young people to enable children of different social backgrounds play sports, to further their education and strengthen the principles of sport, as well as spread the ideals of sports into other areas.

Filmography

• 2001 - The town, Issue № 89
• 2003 - Playing without rules - cameo
• 2006 - 7 Dwarfs: And a little wood
• 2008 - Rock Head - Yegor Golovin "Rock Head"
• 2009 - Path - a prisoner nicknamed "The Beast"
• 2009 - Fight without rules - Nicholas Shafts
• 2011 - Antique Watches - cameo
• 2013 - Bigfoot Files - Himself

Professional boxing record

50 Wins (34 Knockouts), 2 Losses, 1 No Contest[26]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Rd., Time	Date	Location	Notes
Loss	50–2 1 NC	David Haye	MD	11	2009-11-07	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany	Lost WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	50–1 1 NC	Evander Holyfield	MD	12	2008-12-20	Hallenstadion, Zurich, Switzerland	Defended WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	49–1 1 NC	John Ruiz	UD	12	2008-08-30	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Germany	Won vacant WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	48–1 1 NC	Siarhei Liakhovich	UD	12	2008-02-16	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany	WBA Heavyweight title eliminator.
Win	47–1 1 NC	Jean Francois Bergeron	UD	12	2007-09-29	EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Germany
Loss	46–1 1 NC	Ruslan Chagaev	MD	12	2007-04-14	Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany	Lost WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	46–0 1 NC	Jameel McCline	RTD	3 (12), 3:00	2007-01-20	St. Jakob Halle, Basel, Switzerland	Defended WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	45–0 1 NC	Monte Barrett	TKO	11 (12), 2:12	2006-10-07	Allstate Arena, Rosemont, United States	Defended WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	44–0 1 NC	Owen Beck	TKO	3 (12), 2:44	2006-06-03	TUI Arena, Hannover, Germany	Defended WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	43–0 1 NC	John Ruiz	MD	12	2005-12-17	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Germany	Won WBA Heavyweight title.
Win	42–0 1 NC	Larry Donald	MD	12	2005-10-01	EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Germany	Defended WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title and WBA Heavyweight title eliminator.
Win	41–0 1 NC	Clifford Etienne	KO	3 (12), ?	2005-05-14	Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany	Defended WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
Win	40–0 1 NC	Attila Levin	TKO	3 (12), 2:34	2005-02-12	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Germany	Defended WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
Win	39–0 1 NC	Gerald Nobles	DQ	4 (12), 0:42	2004-11-20	BigBox, Kempten, Germany	Defended WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title. Nobles disqualified for repeated low blows.
Win	38–0 1 NC	Paolo Vidoz	TKO	9 (12), 2:33	2004-10-09	Messehalle, Erfurt, Germany	Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental Heavyweight title.
Win	37–0 1 NC	Richard Bango	TKO	6 (10), 1:50	2004-07-24	Brandenburg Halle, Frankfurt, Germany	Won Interim WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title.
Win	36–0 1 NC	Marcelo Dominguez	UD	8	2004-04-17	Max Schmeling Halle, Prenzlauer Berg, Germany
Win	35–0 1 NC	Dicky Ryan	TKO	1 (10), 2:43	2004-02-28	Mehrzweckhalle, Dresden, Germany
Win	34–0 1 NC	Otis Tisdale	KO	1 (8), ?	2003-10-04	Stadthalle, Zwickau, Germany
Win	33–0 1 NC	Bob Mirovic	UD	8	2003-08-16	Nuerburgring Race Track, Nürburg, Germany
Win	32–0 1 NC	Vitali Shkraba	TKO	4 (10), ?	2003-07-18	Belarusian State Circus, Minsk, Belarus
Win	31–0 1 NC	Pedro Daniel Franco	UD	12	2003-03-15	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Defended PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	30–0 1 NC	Kostiantyn Pryziuk	RTD	3 (10), 3:00	2002-10-10	Casino Conti, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Defended Russian Heavyweight title.
Win	29–0 1 NC	Taras Bidenko	UD	12	2002-07-21	Seoul, South Korea	Defended PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	28–0 1 NC	Yaroslav Zavorotnyi	TKO	3 (10), ?	2002-06-15	Druzhba Palace of Sports, Donetsk Ukraine
Win	27–0 1 NC	Toakipa Tasefa	UD	12	2001-09-28	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Defended PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	26–0 1 NC	George Linberger	TKO	1 (12), ?	2001-06-30	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, United States	Defended PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	25–0 1 NC	Vitali Shkraba	TKO	4 (8), ?	2001-03-06	Moscow, Russia	Defended PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	24–0 1 NC	Tone Fiso	TKO	1 (12), ?	2000-10-29	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Won PABA Heavyweight title.
Win	23–0 1 NC	Yuriy Yelistratov	UD	12	2000-06-06	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Won Interim PABA heavyweight title.
Win	22–0 1 NC	Yuri Nikolaev	TKO	2 (6), ?	2000-03-10	Novosibirsk, Russia
Win	21–0 1 NC	Aleksei Varakin	KO	1 (12), ?	1999-12-15	Saint Petersburg, Russia	Defended Russian Heavyweight title.
Win	20–0 1 NC	James McQueen	KO	1 (6), ?	1999-06-25	Prague, Czech Republic
NC	19–0 1 NC	Andreas Sidon	NC	6	1999-05-07	Prague, Czech Republic	NC due to fighting without a referee.
Win	19–0	John Tupou	TKO	4 (10), ?	1999-02-13	Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
Win	18–0	Aleksei Osokin	TKO	6 (10), ?	1999-01-22	Casino Conti, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Won vacant Russian Heavyweight title.
Win	17–0	Evgeny Odolsky	KO	1 (6), ?	1998-12-19	Casino Conti, Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win	16–0	James Gaines	UD	6	1998-06-09	Moscow, Russia
Win	15–0	Jim Huffman	TKO	2 (4), ?	1998-03-14	Olympisky Sport Hall, Moscow, Russia
Win	14–0	Sinclair Babb	TKO	1 (6), 2:05	1997-12-06	Stockland Stadium, Townsville, Australia
Win	13–0	Alarim Uysal	TKO	2 (6), ?	1997-11-08	Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany
Win	12–0	Kevin Rosier	KO	1 (6), ?	1997-09-27	Moscow, Russia
Win	11–0	August Tanuvasa	TKO	1 (6), 2:44	1997-08-21	Bankstown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
Win	10–0	Rodney Harris	UD	4	1997-07-26	Yokohama Arena, Kanagawa, Japan
Win	9–0	Terrell Nelson	TKO	2 (4), 1:26	1997-05-31	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, United States
Win	8–0	Manao Navuilawa	TKO	1 (4), 1:24	1997-05-09	Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney, Australia
Win	7–0	Patrick Slade	TKO	1 (4), 1:59	1997-03-21	Parramatta RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
Win	6–0	Darren Fearn	TKO	1 (6), ?	1996-11-26	York Hall, London, England
Win	5–0	Neil Kirkwood	TKO	2 (4), ?	1996-10-08	Town Hall, London, England
Win	4–0	Sergei Anikeev	KO	2 (4), ?	1995-02-16	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win	3–0	Aleksei Tsygankov	KO	3 (4), ?	1994-04-15	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win	2–0	Aleksandr Vasiliev	UD	4	1994-02-22	Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win	1–0	John Morton	TKO	2 (4), ?	1993-10-15	Sporthalle, Schöneberg, Germany	Valuev's professional debut.

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Nikolai Valuev from BoxRec
• Valuev interview
• Valuev interview
• (German) Personal page from promoter
• (Russian) Official personal site (English)
• Boxing-Encyclopedia