The opinion that Valuev will have no particular problems with Barrett, on the eve of the fight became dominant. Even Nicholas himself did not hesitate to call his opponent strong, but nothing more. The main arguments in favor of the Russian were, as usual, growth and especially weight. At the traditional weigh-in, the champion was almost 48 kilograms heavier than the applicant, which is considered a huge advantage even among rivals of equal class.
But the American promised to the last surprise: “I watched a lot of recordings of Nikolai’s battles. And I watched a lot of fights, where a small boxer opposed a larger one. I will enter the battle with the mentality of the applicant for the title. I wake up as a candidate, I eat as a candidate, and I fall asleep as a candidate for the title. And I have already won more than one fight in which I was assigned the role of an outsider. Valuev better fall and lie in the ring! "
For the proper image, Barrett went to the fray in pink gloves. Glamor in the ring? It turned out that the American company that provides ammunition to Barrett gives 5 percent of the proceeds from the sale of gloves of this color to the cancer fund. Monte decided to support charity. Well, what is not a good hero?
And the American started the battle without embarrassment - from the first gong he began to take out Valuev with sweeping blows from both hands over and over, forcing him to recall his nickname: Two Trunks. But judging by the reaction of Nicholas, who only shook his head at the answer to these bites, Barrett's trunks turned out to be watery that evening. The champion, although he moved more in comparison with previous fights, still the round until the sixth led the fight, as it seemed, was not active enough. A couple of times he got Barrett with a signature combination of a double left jab and a right uppercut, from which the American was noticeably pumped. It was enough a few more of these hits to end the fight ahead of schedule, but the Russian boxer for some reason hesitated.
Valuev’s advantage could not be called overwhelming. Delaying the execution, he played with fire. Coach Manvel Gabrielyan had to bring the giant back to reality: “You have hands, use them! He approached him - left, left, right - and that’s all. Do not disgrace me, champion. And then you will go around the world! ” Impressed by such a monologue, at the end of the seventh round, Valuev made a combination, the final blow of which fell on the left side of the American jaw. Only with incredible willpower did he remain on his feet. The fact that the strike was a knockout in strength became clear during the break. Barrett's seconds could not get him any reaction to questions about sanity. In the eighth round, the applicant ended up in the first knockdown. But he got up and decided to continue the battle in the mode: attack - clinch - defense - clinch. He lasted like this for two more rounds and again, fortunately, did not wait for decisive action from Valuev.
It seemed that the battle would last all 12 rounds. Nicholas was the leader by points and, apparently, was not opposed. But before the 11th round, Gabrielyan was again unhappy: “Hit him, hit! If you don’t hit him now, I don’t know what to do with you. ” The next round was the best for Valuev in recent years. Apparently, Nikolai is more afraid of the coach than any of his rivals. Maximum movement, constant attacks - and two knockdowns on the American, after which he, again in an incomprehensible way, was able to rise. But Barrett's seconds already understood what courage could turn out for their boxer, ran out into the ring and almost drove away Valuev with his hands, admitting defeat.
The Russian retained the championship belt. But he still did not give answers to many questions that his boxing raises. Obviously, Nikolai from battle to battle adds to the technique, and the advantage in height and weight will continue to give him a huge head start over any opponent. But the reaction of the boxer still does not stand up to criticism - he misses too many punches. And, despite the fact that Barrett’s attacks in the last battle angered Valuev as much as possible, he should not be deceived. Monte was never considered a puncher. In the unifying battle for the championship title, to which everything goes, there will certainly not be soft hits, and any attack by the opponent can be decisive. There will be time not only to shake his head, but even to get angry.
Andrey IVANTSOV
SEE ALSO:
Save the Giant
The American press about the fight of Nikolai Valuev and Monte Barrett