He is the largest heavyweight champion ever and is closing in on Rocky Marciano's perfect record, yet Nikolai Valuev is boxing under a cloak large enough to conceal his massive frame.
Maybe now he can discard it.
The 2.13m, 149kg Valuev stopped challenger Monte Barrett in the 11th round on Saturday night to retain the WBA title and remain undefeated.
PHOTO: EPA
"It has been my dream to get a world title [fight] here in America," Valuev said.
Promoter Don King has a different goal: to unify the heavyweight belts. And he reiterated that desire on Saturday.
He said IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko has a "weak heart and weak chin," while praising Valuev, WBO champion Sergei Liakhovich and WBC titleholder Oleg Maskaev. He also said unifying the belts would give the division an identity it's been lacking.
"The people and the public have to demand that each one of these champions fight each other," King said.
Is Valuev at the level of the other three champions?
"Yes, definitely," said Wilfried Sauerland, his manager and co-promoter.
Valuev is tentatively scheduled to fight on Jan. 27 next year, but Sauerland was not sure where the bout would take place or who the opponent would be. If it's part of a unification series, great.
For now, the only thing set is this: Valuev (45-0, 33 knockouts) plans to spend two weeks in Germany, getting therapy on his surgically repaired knees, then resume workouts in St Petersburg, Russia.
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
RSS