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Valuev gearing up to win back WBA crown in style

John Ruiz poses during a public training session in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. PHOTO: EPA

Russian giant Nikolai Valuev says he is looking to regain his WBA heavyweight world title with a new style when he meets the US’ John Ruiz in Berlin tonight.

“It would take too long to explain all the changes I have made, I will present a lot of it to you on Saturday evening in the ring,” Valuev, 35, told a press conference in Berlin on Thursday.

“I have prepared very hard and very long. I am in very good shape. I want to win,” he said.

At 2.13m tall and weighing more than 140kg, Valuev is one of the world’s biggest boxers.

He won the WBA elimination contest against Belarusian boxer Sergei Liakhovich in Nuremberg last February.

“I feel fit and ready to deliver a good fight again,” said Valuev, who has many good memories against Ruiz.

In December 2005, the Russian beat the US fighter to win the WBA heavyweight crown in Berlin, only to lose his title in April last year on points against Ruslan Chagaev.

Both fighters are brimming with confidence ahead of their rematch and Ruiz has different memories of their last meeting.

Russian boxer Nikolai Valuev poses for photographers before a public training session in Berlin on Monday. Valuev is to face John Ruiz of the US in a WBA world heavyweight title fight at Max Schmeling Halle in Berlin tonight. PHOTO: AFP

“I feel like I won the first fight,” Ruiz said. “I am here in Germany to get the belt back. I have worked very hard in practice with my coach. I am in great shape and I will show that on Saturday.”

His trainer, Manny Siaca Sr, was also confident of success.

“On Saturday the two best heavyweight boxers will meet in the ring,” he said.

“But this time the ending will be different from their last meeting. You will see that John Ruiz will be world champion again,” Siaca said.

The winner of the Valuev-Ruiz showdown at Berlin’s Max Schmeling Halle tonight will face Chagaev in an obligatory defense by June next year after the champion was forced to relinquish his crown through injury.
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