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Gargantuan champ Valuev wows Chicago

World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev, left, of Russia, pumps his fist as boxing promoter Don King, center, and challenger Monte Barrett, right, look on after the boxers' weigh-in on Thursday in Chicago. Barrett will challenge Valuev for his WBA title tonight in Rosemont, Illinois. PHOTO: AP

Nikolai Valuev strode to the weigh-in for his WBA heavyweight title defense against Monte Barrett while a crowd watched outside the Sears Tower on Thursday.

"He's huge," some bellowed.

"Whoa!" said others, as the 2.1m boxer -- the largest heavyweight champion in history -- approached the scale outside the US' tallest building.

Valuev (44-0, 32 knockouts) kept on his black T-shirt and blue jeans as he weighed in at 147.5kg -- about 47kg more than his opponent -- for today's defense at Allstate Arena in Rosemont. A stripped-down Barrett (31-4, 17 knockouts), looking fit and trim, was 100.4kg.

This will be the first defense and third fight in the US for Valuev, who won the belt with a disputed decision over John Ruiz in Berlin last December. The Russian scored a third-round knockout over Jamaican challenger Owen Beck in Hanover, Germany, in June.

Valuev sees this fight as an introduction to US fans.

"I just want them to welcome me and treat me [well] not just because of my size or my eyes, but because of my boxing skills," Valuev said.

"I just want them to welcome me and treat me [well] not just because of my size or my eyes, but because of my boxing skills."

Nikolai Valuev, WBA heavyweight champion

Barrett has not fought since dropping a unanimous 12-round decision to Hasim Rahman at the United Center in August last year, and his record against tall opponents is sketchy. He lost a split decision to the 2.03m Lance Whitaker in 1999, and the 1.98m Wladimir Klitschko scored a technical knockout the following year.

"I'll stick to my game plan, stay focused, stay sharp," Barrett said. "I can fight inside or outside, and that's what you'll see a lot of."

The undercard features WBC light heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek of Poland (30-0, 20 knockouts). He will be defending his title against Paul Briggs of Australia (25-2, 18 knockouts) in a rematch of their bloody bout at the United Center in May last year, when Adamek claimed the then vacant bout in a majority decision.
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