Valery Brudov . Born 11/27/1976 in Pskov. He played 34 fights in the professional ring: 33 wins (25 by KO), 1 defeat. WBA interim world champion in first heavyweight.
In Brudov, the chances of becoming a full-fledged champion are most preferable. On December 2, in Paris, he defeated Panamanian Luis Pineda by technical knockout in the 11th round, became the interim WBA champion and is now waiting for an opponent in the title fight. Challengers? - 42-year-old champion Virgill Hill, from whom Brudov suffered the only loss in his career at the beginning of last year, or, in the event of a veteran’s failure, the Turks Firat Arslan. “I really want to once again go to battle with Hill and prove which of us is stronger,” says Valery. - I do not like unresolved matters. There is a feeling that our fight in January 2006, for my part, was not brought to its logical conclusion. "?
Dmitry Kirillov . Born 11/24/1978 in St. Petersburg. He played 31 fights in the professional ring: 28 wins (9 by knockout), 3 defeats. Takes 4th place in the IBF ranking in the first bantamweight.
Kirillov has long been considered almost the most talented boxer in his weight. But fate in the person of Don King cruelly laughed at the boxer. In September 2005, having defeated the Colombian Reynaldo Lopez in Moscow, Kirillov became the official contender for the IBF champion title. But the title fight last spring he controversially lost to Nicaraguan Luis Alberto Perez. “My victory was stolen! - said Dmitry after that battle. “I’m sure these are tricks of Don King, who avenged me for not agreeing to sign a contract with him.” But Kirillov is not going to give up. Recently, he began working with manager Stephen Bash, known for fruitful cooperation with Roman Karmazin, and plans to hold a fight for the world title in St. Petersburg on March 31.?
Alexander Povetkin . Born on September 2, 1979 in Kursk. He played 10 fights in a professional ring: 10 wins (8 by knockout). Takes 26th place in the WBC heavyweight ranking .
Specialists call Povetkin the most promising of the domestic heavyweights, which will surpass both compatriots Valuev and Maskaev, and the Ukrainian Klitschko brothers. Recently, using the American computer program at the Sauerland Events company, Povetkin’s shock technique was studied. And it turned out that in this component he has no equal among the current heavyweights. The peculiarity of the Olympic champion of Athens is that, unlike the vast majority of colleagues betting on one decisive blow, he works in series of 4-8 punches in one attack. At the end of this year, Alexander is going to encroach on the championship belt. And the next rating match will be held March 3 against American Brian Minto.?
Denis Boytsov . Born 02/14/1986 in Orel. He played 16 fights in the professional ring: 16 wins (15 by knockout). Takes 29th place in the WBC heavyweight ranking.
Fighters - the youngest of Russian professionals. In amateur boxing, he was noted perhaps as a junior. I used to win beautifully and quickly. For this, in Germany, where Denis constantly lives and trains, he was nicknamed Russian Tyson. Only health can hinder Boytsov’s successful career: a few years ago the guy had serious problems with his spine, and he even had to interrupt his workouts for a year and a half. A recent medical examination showed that several vessels of Boytsov’s heart literally tied into a knot and at any moment threatened with cardiac arrest. Urgent surgical intervention was required. But after him, the boxer returned to the ring and continued to win no less confidently and effectively than before.?
Andrey IVANTSOV