Will Nikolai Valuev beat Rocky Marciano's imperishable record? Or is there still a boxer who can stop him? This has been almost the main intrigue of professional boxing recently. And each entry into the ring of the Beast from the East, since he became the world champion in December 2005, has caused tremendous interest.
Valuev held three voluntary defenses of the title. And only the American Monte Barrett at the cost of his own health created a semblance of problems for the champion. The fights with Owen Beck and Jamil McCline not only did not become a serious test for Valuev, but also, given the apparent insolvency of the applicants, anecdotal.
Connoisseurs eagerly awaited the first mandatory defense of the champion, when it was no longer the Valuev team who chose him a comfortable counterpart, but the opponent himself, with his own strength and talent, to achieve the title fight. This right was won by 28-year-old boxer from Uzbekistan Ruslan Chagaev.
But how he will be able to defeat an opponent who is superior in height by almost 30 centimeters and more than 40 kilograms in weight, remained a mystery. A powerful knockout punch for which Ruslan received the nickname White Tyson? However, this trump card is unlikely to play against the Valuev dimensions. And even reports from the applicant’s headquarters that he was preparing for a duel with sparring partners of basketball growth were hardly perceived by many as a weighty argument.
Perhaps the only chance Chagaev in Saturday's Stuttgart match was a well-constructed tactics and its clear implementation. Chagaev won his last fight against American John Ruiz tactically - not taking too much risk, but regularly conducting accurate attacks on the body and head of the American. And now such a plan seemed the only true one.
Already in the first rounds, despite Valuev’s left jab activity, it became noticeable that the challenger was boxing more efficiently - his left hooks became more accurate and dangerous. Chagaev quickly adapted to the opponent’s manner, blocking blows and quickly moving away from his lunges on the left.
In the fifth round, Chagaev’s advantage became completely overwhelming. The giant simply stopped keeping pace with his movements. The Russian attacked too predictably and practically did not perform the right uppercuts, about which coach Manvel Gabrielyan reminded him strongly and emotionally from the first minutes of the fight.
Having received from him during the break the first serious scolding, the champion seemed to finally wake up and began to press Chagaev against the ropes over and over, launching the very right uppercuts. But the opponent has already caught courage. Each successful action of Valuev did not go unanswered. Thanks to exchanges of blows, the fight became very spectacular. Passions boiled in the corners of the ring.
- Bro, don't stop! Hit him, hit him! Hit and add right away! He will miss, bro, it’s obvious that he will miss, - Chagaev’s seconds encouraged.
- What are you doing? Why don't you hit right? Now I’ll give you this bottle on the head! Go and drop this Chukchi! Or I'll do it, - Gabrielian was traditionally emotional.
Both boxers strictly followed the instructions of the coaches in the end. A rare attack by Valuev did without a dangerous attack by the right. Chagaev responded with a series of punches, but they were no longer as accurate and crushing as before.
In the eleventh round, Valuev also passed noticeably. His waving gloves often fell into the void. The opponent managed to dodge, and then dangerously counterattacked. It became clear: if the Russian in the remaining time does not send the opponent to the floor of the ring, this will be his last fight in the champion rank.
At the beginning of the final round, Valuev succeeded in an effective deuce. “Finish it!” Gabrielian yelled heartily from the corner. But Nikolai no longer had the strength. Chagaev also understood this. He looked fresher, reacted to all oncoming blows. And when, in the last seconds, Valuev still managed to drive him into a corner, Ruslan even, mocking his opponent in the spirit of Roy Jones, spread his arms to the sides: "Well, at least get in that way." Nikolay did not hit.
With the blow of the gong, Chagaev fell to his knees, triumphantly throwing up his hands. And his whole team poured into the ring with congratulations. The advantage of the Uzbek boxer was too obvious to doubt the outcome of the fight.
Valuev tried not to lose heart and until the results of scoring were announced, even out of habit, he greeted the audience a couple of times. But an extinct look betrayed hopelessness and recognition of the first defeat in his career. He lost what he deserved, not only not surprising, but not even using objective advantages over his opponent.
The giant is defeated. The tale is over.
Andrey IVANTSOV