Nikolai Valuev

Nikolai Valuev Никола́й Валу́ев
Valuev in 2009
Statistics
Real name	Nikolái Sergéyevich Valúev
Nickname(s)	Beast from the East The Russian Giant
Weight(s)	Heavyweight
Height	2.14 m (7 ft 0 in)[1][2][3][nb 1]
Reach	216 cm (85 in)
Nationality	Russian
Born	(1973-08-21) 21 August 1973 Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	53
Wins	50
Wins by KO	34
Losses	2
No contests	1

Nikolái Sergéyevich Valúev (Russian: Никола́й Серге́евич Валу́ев; born 21 August 1973) is a Russian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2009. He is a two-time WBA heavyweight champion, having first won the title from John Ruiz in 2005 and losing it to Ruslan Chagaev in 2007. The following year, Valuev regained the now-vacant title in a rematch against Ruiz, losing to David Haye in 2009 in his final fight.

Standing at 2.14 metres (7.0 ft) and a peak weight of 149 kilograms (328 lb), Valuev is best known for being the tallest and heaviest world heavyweight champion in boxing history.^[4][5]

Biography

Valuev was born on 21 August 1973, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia).^[6]

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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] 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.^[10][11]

Professional career

First reign as WBA heavyweight champion

In 2005, Valuev squared off with WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz, and won a twelve-round majority-decision, becoming both the tallest (2.13 m or 7 ft) and heaviest (323 lbs) champion in boxing history.^[12] In his first defense 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 to Chagaev

The title defense 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).^[13]

Second reign as WBA champion

Valuev vs. Liakhóvich

On 16 February 2008, in a title eliminator, Valuev defeated former titleholder Sergei Liakhóvich from Belarus, winning every round at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany.^[14] 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.^[15] 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 vs. Holyfield

Valuev's first title defense 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. Before the match, Valuev weighed 310.8 pounds (141 kg), nearly 100 pounds heavier than Holyfield at 214.3 pounds (97 kg).^[16] After a rather uneventful match with no knockdowns and few punches thrown by either fighter, Valuev won a widely disputed majority decision.^[17][18] In response to the controversial result the WBA announced plans to investigate the decision.^[19]

Loss to Haye

In his second defense on 7 November 2009, billed as 'David vs. Goliath', Valuev faced off against former unified and lineal cruiserweight champion David Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung in Nuremberg. Valuev lost on points (114–114, 116–112, 116–112).^[20]

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".^[21] 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.^[22]

Valuev is one of five heavyweight champions to have retired without having suffered a stoppage loss during his career. The others are Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano, Riddick Bowe and Sultan Ibragimov.

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.^[23] In 2008, Valuev played the main role in the film Stonehead by Philip Yankovskiy, playing an ex-boxer who lost his memory.^[24] The film took the main prize at the film festival "Window to Europe".^[25] After the success of Stonehead, it was announced Valuev is being filmed in two new films at the same time.^[26]

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. Nikolai Valuev is also planning to open a family restaurant in Germany. In August 2010, Valuev signed a promotional contract with the Pokerstars poker portal.

Valuev's distinctive appearance and fame have occasionally attracted the use of his images in advertising without his permission. In particular, a Penza-located theatre, which for some time before a movie showing, had an ad 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.

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^[27] 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.^[28][29] He is also the Vice-President of the Russian Bandy Federation^[30] Bandy is considered a national sport in Russia.^[31]

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.^[32]

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.

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
53	Loss	50–2 (1)	David Haye	MD	12	7 Nov 2009	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany	Lost WBA heavyweight title
52	Win	50–1 (1)	Evander Holyfield	MD	12	20 Dec 2008	Hallenstadion, Zürich, Switzerland	Retained WBA heavyweight title
51	Win	49–1 (1)	John Ruiz	UD	12	30 Aug 2008	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany	Won vacant WBA heavyweight title
50	Win	48–1 (1)	Sergei Liakhóvich	UD	12	16 Feb 2008	Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany
49	Win	47–1 (1)	Jean Francois Bergeron	UD	12	29 Sep 2007	Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Germany	Won WBA–NABA heavyweight title
48	Loss	46–1 (1)	Ruslan Chagaev	MD	12	14 Apr 2007	Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, Germany	Lost WBA heavyweight title
47	Win	46–0 (1)	Jameel McCline	RTD	3 (12), 3:00	20 Jan 2007	St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland	Retained WBA heavyweight title
46	Win	45–0 (1)	Monte Barrett	TKO	11 (12), 2:12	7 Oct 2006	Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, US	Retained WBA heavyweight title
45	Win	44–0 (1)	Owen Beck	TKO	3 (12), 2:44	3 Jun 2006	TUI Arena, Hanover, Germany	Retained WBA heavyweight title
44	Win	43–0 (1)	John Ruiz	MD	12	17 Dec 2005	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany	Won WBA heavyweight title
43	Win	42–0 (1)	Larry Donald	MD	12	1 Oct 2005	Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Germany	Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
42	Win	41–0 (1)	Clifford Etienne	KO	3 (12)	14 May 2005	Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, Germany	Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
41	Win	40–0 (1)	Attila Levin	TKO	3 (12), 2:34	12 Feb 2005	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany	Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
40	Win	39–0 (1)	Gerald Nobles	DQ	4 (12), 0:42	20 Nov 2004	BigBox, Kempten, Germany	Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title; Nobles disqualified for repeated holding
39	Win	38–0 (1)	Paolo Vidoz	TKO	9 (12), 2:33	9 Oct 2004	Messe, Erfurt, Germany	Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
38	Win	37–0 (1)	Richard Igbineghu	TKO	6 (10), 1:50	24 Jul 2004	Brandenburg-Halle, Frankfurt, Germany	Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental interim heavyweight title
37	Win	36–0 (1)	Marcelo Domínguez	UD	8	17 Apr 2004	Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
36	Win	35–0 (1)	Dicky Ryan	TKO	1 (10), 2:43	28 Feb 2004	Mehrzweckhalle, Dresden, Germany
35	Win	34–0 (1)	Otis Tisdale	KO	1 (8)	4 Oct 2003	Stadthalle, Zwickau, Germany
34	Win	33–0 (1)	Bob Mirovic	UD	8	16 Aug 2003	Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany
33	Win	32–0 (1)	Vitali Shkraba	TKO	4 (10)	18 Jul 2003	State Circus, Minsk, Belarus
32	Win	31–0 (1)	Pedro Daniel Franco	UD	12	15 Mar 2003	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Retained PABA heavyweight title
31	Win	30–0 (1)	Kostiantyn Pryziuk	RTD	3 (10), 3:00	10 Oct 2002	Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Retained Russian heavyweight title
30	Win	29–0 (1)	Taras Bidenko	UD	12	21 Jul 2002	Seoul, South Korea	Retained PABA heavyweight title
29	Win	28–0 (1)	Yaroslav Zavorotnyi	TKO	3 (10)	15 Jun 2002	Druzhba Arena, Donetsk Ukraine
28	Win	27–0 (1)	Toakipa Tasefa	UD	12	28 Sep 2001	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Retained PABA heavyweight title
27	Win	26–0 (1)	George Linberger	TKO	1 (12), 1:20	30 Jun 2001	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US	Won vacant PABA heavyweight title
26	Win	25–0 (1)	Vitali Shkraba	TKO	4 (8)	6 Mar 2001	Arena CSKA, Moscow, Russia
25	Win	24–0 (1)	Tone Fiso	TKO	1 (12)	29 Oct 2000	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Retained PABA interim heavyweight title
24	Win	23–0 (1)	Yuriy Yelistratov	UD	12	6 Jun 2000	Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Won vacant PABA interim heavyweight title
23	Win	22–0 (1)	Yuri Nikolaev	TKO	2 (6)	10 Mar 2000	Novosibirsk, Russia
22	Win	21–0 (1)	Aleksei Varakin	KO	1 (12), 1:30	15 Dec 1999	State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Retained Russian heavyweight title
21	Win	20–0 (1)	James McQueen	KO	1 (6)	25 Jun 1999	Prague, Czech Republic
20	NC	19–0 (1)	Andreas Sidon	NC	6	7 May 1999	Prague, Czech Republic	NC after the referee left the ring before the end of the fight
19	Win	19–0	John Tupou	TKO	4 (6), 1:16	13 Feb 1999	Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
18	Win	18–0	Aleksei Osokin	TKO	6 (10)	22 Jan 1999	Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, Russia	Won vacant Russia heavyweight title
17	Win	17–0	Evgeny Odolsky	KO	1 (6)	19 Dec 1998	Tundra Bar, Saint Petersburg, Russia
16	Win	16–0	James Gaines	UD	6	9 Jun 1998	State Circus, Moscow, Russia
15	Win	15–0	Jim Huffman	TKO	2 (6), 0:37	14 Mar 1998	Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
14	Win	14–0	Sinclair Babb	TKO	1 (6), 2:50	6 Dec 1997	Stockland Stadium, Townsville, Australia
13	Win	13–0	Alarim Uysal	TKO	2	8 Nov 1997	Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany
12	Win	12–0	Kevin Rosier	KO	1	27 Sep 1997	State Circus, Moscow, Russia
11	Win	11–0	Aug Tanuvasa	TKO	1 (6), 2:44	21 Aug 1997	Bankstown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
10	Win	10–0	Rodney Harris	PTS	4	26 Jul 1997	Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan
9	Win	9–0	Terrell Nelson	TKO	2 (4), 1:26	31 May 1997	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
8	Win	8–0	Manao Navuilawa	TKO	1 (4), 1:24	9 May 1997	Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney, Australia
7	Win	7–0	Patrick Slade	TKO	1 (4), 1:59	21 Mar 1997	Parramatta RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
6	Win	6–0	Darren Fearn	RTD	1 (6), 3:00	26 Nov 1996	York Hall, London, England
5	Win	5–0	Neil Kirkwood	TKO	2 (4)	8 Oct 1996	Battersea Town Hall, London, England
4	Win	4–0	Sergei Anikeev	KO	2 (4)	16 Feb 1995	State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
3	Win	3–0	Aleksei Tsygankov	KO	3 (4)	15 Apr 1994	State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2	Win	2–0	Aleksandr Vasiliev	PTS	4	22 Feb 1994	State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
1	Win	1–0	John Morton	TKO	2 (4)	15 Oct 1993	Sporthalle, Schöneberg, Germany	Professional debut

Filmography

• 2001: The town – issue #89
• 2003: Playing without rules – cameo
• 2006: 7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug – cameo
• 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

Notes

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Nikolai Valuev from BoxRec