Nikolai Valuev


Nikolai Sergeyevich Valuev is a Russian politician and former professional boxer. He competed in boxing from 1993 to 2009, and held the WBA heavyweight title twice between 2005 and 2009. Standing at a height of and a peak weight of, Valuev is best known for being the tallest and heaviest world champion in boxing history.

Biography

Valuev was born on 21 August 1973, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. He is of ethnic Russian descent, but he also had a Tatar grandfather. Although his own parents are short—both tall—his Tatar great-grandfather has been described as "of mountainous proportions" and "a warrior giant of Russian folklore." His own size and appearance are due to gigantism complicated by acromegaly. Valuev has three children, daughter Irina, son Grisha, and third child, son Sergei. In his professional boxing career he was defeated only twice, by Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye.
Valuev is a Russian Orthodox Christian. During his youth he played water polo and basketball.
Valuev has written a book in Russian called My 12 Rounds, with the help of prominent Russian sports journalist Konstantin Osipov. The book discusses his life in general and his boxing career in particular. For that book, Valuev received an award from the government of Saint Petersburg. The book was presented in Saint Petersburg on 5 February 2007.
In January 2006, Valuev was accused of assaulting a security guard at the Spartak Ice Palace in Saint Petersburg. No criminal investigation was launched by local police.

Amateur career

Highlights

Russian National Championships, Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 1994:
Goodwill Games, Saint Petersburg, July 1994:
Valuev is one of a few boxers to try to resume his amateur career after the original pro debut.

Professional career

First reign as WBA heavyweight champion

In 2005, Valuev squared off with WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz, and won a twelve-round majority-decision, becoming both the tallest and heaviest champion in boxing history. In his first defence he defeated challenger Owen Beck by a third-round technical knockout in Hannover, Germany. In October 2006, Valuev fought Monte Barrett and defeated him with a technical knockout in the 11th round. In January 2007, Valuev fought Jameel McCline in St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland. Valuev won the match, successfully defending his title, after McCline was not able to continue the bout after injuring his knee when throwing a punch near the end of the 3rd round.

Valuev vs. Chagaev

The title defence was held on 14 April 2007. Chagaev defeated Valuev by a majority decision.
Valuev changed trainers, from Manuel Gabrielian to Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team. On 29 September 2007, Valuev won against Jean-Francois Bergeron in Oldenburg, Germany, by a 12-round unanimous decision.

Second reign as WBA champion

Valuev vs. Liakhovich

On 16 February 2008, in a title eliminator, Valuev defeated former titleholder Siarhei Liakhovich, winning every round at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany. The victory earned Valuev the right to face Chagaev for the WBA title again, the only man who had defeated him in his boxing career. He was scheduled to face Chagaev for his WBA title on 5 July 2008, but Chagaev pulled out with an injury. Valuev instead fought John Ruiz for the vacant title on 30 August 2008 and the WBA decided to make Chagaev "Champion In Recess". Valuev defeated Ruiz by unanimous decision to regain the WBA heavyweight championship, with Valuev and Chagaev set to fight no later than 26 June 2009 to determine whom the WBA regarded as their champion. Their scheduled rematch on 30 May 2009 was cancelled due to Chagaev's viral infection and on 24 July 2009, when the WBA published their Official Ratings as of June 2009, Chagaev was no longer the "Champion In Recess" but the No. 1 challenger instead.

Valuev vs. Holyfield

Valuev's first title defense of his second reign as WBA Champion was against the 46-year-old, four-time heavyweight champion of the world, Evander Holyfield, on 20 December 2008. Before the match, Valuev weighed 310.8 pounds, nearly 100 pounds heavier than Holyfield at 214.3 pounds. After a rather uneventful match with no knockdowns and few punches thrown by either fighter, Valuev won a widely disputed majority decision. In response to the controversial result the WBA announced plans to investigate the decision.

Loss to Haye

In his second defense on 7 November 2009, billed as 'David vs. Goliath', Valuev faced off against former unified and lineal cruiserweight champion David Haye at the Arena Nürnberger Versicherung in Nuremberg. Valuev lost on points.

Retirement from boxing and health problems

Valuev announced his retirement from boxing in a Russian newspaper three days after the loss to Haye on 10 November 2009.
In 2010, Valuev's doctor went on record saying that he is treating Valuev for "serious bone and joint problems". Valuev underwent two operations that required at least six months on the sidelines.
Valuev confirmed in 2013 that medical advice was one of the reasons he is not planning to make a comeback in boxing.
Valuev is one of five heavyweight champions to have retired without having suffered a stoppage loss during his career. The others are Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano, Riddick Bowe and Sultan Ibragimov.

Personal life

Acting career and advertising

Valuev's first role in a film was a cameo appearance in the German film 7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug in 2006. In 2008, Valuev played the main role in the film Stonehead by Philip Yankovskiy, playing an ex-boxer who lost his memory. The film took the main prize at the film festival "Window to Europe". After the success of Stonehead, it was announced Valuev is being filmed in two new films at the same time.
Valuev has participated in several photo and video advertisements of various products and services. In November 2009, he signed a promotional contract with a German sausage manufacturer, making Valuev the face of the company's advertisement campaign for five years. Nikolai Valuev is also planning to open a family restaurant in Germany. In August 2010, Valuev signed a promotional contract with the Pokerstars poker portal.
Valuev's distinctive appearance and fame have occasionally attracted the use of his images in advertising without his permission. In particular, a cinema in Penza, which for some time before screening a film, had an advertisement where Valuev acts as a man who punishes the audience disturbing others. Valuev, upon learning about this, sued the cinema for damages amounting to 2 million rubles. In 2011, Valuev was involved in the advertising power of "Interskol" as well as in advertisements with MTS.
In August 2016 Valuev became a presenter in “Good Night, Little Ones!”, Russia’s long-running TV program for small children.

Political career

In December 2011 Russian parliamentary election, Valuev became a member of the State Duma through the United Russia Party. On 17 December 2012, Valuev supported the law in the Russian Parliament banning adoption of Russian orphans by citizens of the US.
Following the IOC's decision to suspend Russia from participating in the Olympics under its flag due to the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal, Valuev said that Russia should go to the Olympics and "tear everyone apart to spite these bastards who want to kill our sport."

Involvement in other sports

In 2011, Valuev became the general manager of the Russia national bandy team, and is tasked with developing the sport in the country. He is also the Vice-President of the Russian Bandy Federation. Bandy is considered a national sport in Russia.

Nikolai Valuev Boxing School and Youth Sports Foundation

In 2009, Valuev, together with a group of coaches, created the Nikolay Valuev Boxing School, with offices in Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Oblast. The school is divided into three types of age groups: pupils, students and adults. School pupils participate and compete in various boxing matches, including the "Valuev Cup" youth boxing tournament, which became a regular competition in Saint Petersburg.
The Valuev Youth Sports Foundation opened on 13 September 2010. The fund was established to promote regular physical exercise among young people to enable children of different social backgrounds play sports, to further their education and strengthen the principles of sport, as well as spread the ideals of sports into other areas.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
53Loss50–2 David HayeMD127 Nov 2009 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, GermanyLost WBA heavyweight title
52Win50–1 Evander HolyfieldMD1220 Dec 2008 Hallenstadion, Zürich, SwitzerlandRetained WBA heavyweight title
51Win49–1 John RuizUD1230 Aug 2008 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyWon vacant WBA heavyweight title
50Win48–1 Siarhei LiakhovichUD1216 Feb 2008 Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany
49Win47–1 Jean Francois BergeronUD1229 Sep 2007 Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, GermanyWon WBA–NABA heavyweight title
48Loss46–1 Ruslan ChagaevMD1214 Apr 2007 Porsche-Arena, Stuttgart, GermanyLost WBA heavyweight title
47Win46–0 Jameel McClineRTD3, 3:0020 Jan 2007 St. Jakobshalle, Basel, SwitzerlandRetained WBA heavyweight title
46Win45–0 Monte BarrettTKO11, 2:127 Oct 2006 Allstate Arena, Rosemont, Illinois, USRetained WBA heavyweight title
45Win44–0 Owen BeckTKO3, 2:443 Jun 2006 TUI Arena, Hanover, GermanyRetained WBA heavyweight title
44Win43–0 John RuizMD1217 Dec 2005 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyWon WBA heavyweight title
43Win42–0 Larry Donald121 Oct 2005 Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, GermanyRetained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
42Win41–0 Clifford EtienneKO3 14 May 2005 Oberfrankenhalle, Bayreuth, GermanyRetained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
41Win40–0 Attila LevinTKO3, 2:3412 Feb 2005 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, GermanyRetained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
40Win39–0 Gerald Nobles4, 0:4220 Nov 2004 BigBox, Kempten, GermanyRetained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title;
Nobles disqualified for repeated holding
39Win38–0 Paolo VidozTKO9, 2:339 Oct 2004 Messe, Erfurt, GermanyWon vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
38Win37–0 Richard IgbineghuTKO6, 1:5024 Jul 2004 Brandenburg-Halle, Frankfurt, GermanyWon vacant WBA Inter-Continental interim heavyweight title
37Win36–0 Marcelo DomínguezUD817 Apr 2004 Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany
36Win35–0 Dicky RyanTKO1, 2:4328 Feb 2004 Mehrzweckhalle, Dresden, Germany
35Win34–0 Otis TisdaleKO1 4 Oct 2003 Stadthalle, Zwickau, Germany
34Win33–0 Bob MirovicUD816 Aug 2003 Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany
33Win32–0 Vitali ShkrabaTKO4 18 Jul 2003 State Circus, Minsk, Belarus
32Win31–0 Pedro Daniel FrancoUD1215 Mar 2003 Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, RussiaRetained PABA heavyweight title
31Win30–0 Kostiantyn PryziukRTD3, 3:0010 Oct 2002 Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, RussiaRetained Russian heavyweight title
30Win29–0 Taras BidenkoUD1221 Jul 2002 Seoul, South KoreaRetained PABA heavyweight title
29Win28–0 Yaroslav ZavorotnyiTKO3 15 Jun 2002 Druzhba Arena, Donetsk Ukraine
28Win27–0 Toakipa TasefaUD1228 Sep 2001 Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, RussiaRetained PABA heavyweight title
27Win26–0 George LinbergerTKO1, 1:2030 Jun 2001 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USWon vacant PABA heavyweight title
26Win25–0 Vitali ShkrabaTKO4 6 Mar 2001 Arena CSKA, Moscow, Russia
25Win24–0 Tone FisoTKO1 29 Oct 2000 Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, RussiaRetained PABA interim heavyweight title
24Win23–0 Yuriy YelistratovUD126 Jun 2000 Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, RussiaWon vacant PABA interim heavyweight title
23Win22–0 Yuri NikolaevTKO2 10 Mar 2000 Novosibirsk, Russia
22Win21–0 Aleksei VarakinKO1, 1:3015 Dec 1999 State Circus, Saint Petersburg, RussiaRetained Russian heavyweight title
21Win20–0 James McQueenKO1 25 Jun 1999 Prague, Czech Republic
2019–0 Andreas SidonNC67 May 1999 Prague, Czech RepublicNC after the referee left the ring before the end of the fight
19Win19–0 John TupouTKO4, 1:1613 Feb 1999 Ariake Colosseum, Tokyo, Japan
18Win18–0 Aleksei OsokinTKO6 22 Jan 1999 Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, RussiaWon vacant Russia heavyweight title
17Win17–0 Evgeny OdolskyKO1 19 Dec 1998 Tundra Bar, Saint Petersburg, Russia
16Win16–0 James Gaines69 Jun 1998 State Circus, Moscow, Russia
15Win15–0 Jim HuffmanTKO2, 0:3714 Mar 1998 Olympic Stadium, Moscow, Russia
14Win14–0 Sinclair BabbTKO1, 2:506 Dec 1997 Stockland Stadium, Townsville, Australia
13Win13–0 Alarim UysalTKO28 Nov 1997 Ballsporthalle, Frankfurt, Germany
12Win12–0 Kevin RosierKO127 Sep 1997 State Circus, Moscow, Russia
11Win11–0 Aug TanuvasaTKO1, 2:4421 Aug 1997 Bankstown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
10Win10–0 Rodney HarrisPTS426 Jul 1997 Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Japan
9Win9–0 Terrell NelsonTKO2, 1:2631 May 1997 Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
8Win8–0 Manao NavuilawaTKO1, 1:249 May 1997 Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney, Australia
7Win7–0 Patrick SladeTKO1, 1:5921 Mar 1997 Parramatta RSL Club, Sydney, Australia
6Win6–0 Darren Fearn1, 3:0026 Nov 1996 York Hall, London, England
5Win5–0 Neil KirkwoodTKO2 8 Oct 1996 Battersea Town Hall, London, England
4Win4–0 Sergei AnikeevKO2 16 Feb 1995 State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
3Win3–0 Aleksei Tsygankov3 15 Apr 1994 State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2Win2–0 Aleksandr Vasiliev422 Feb 1994 State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia
1Win1–0 John Morton2 15 Oct 1993 Sporthalle, Schöneberg, GermanyProfessional debut

Filmography

  • 2001: The town – issue #89
  • 2003: Playing without rules – cameo
  • 2006: 7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug – cameo
  • 2008: Rock Head – Yegor Golovin "Rock Head"
  • 2009: Path – a prisoner nicknamed "The Beast"
  • 2009: Fight without rules – Nicholas Shafts
  • 2011: Antique Watches – cameo
  • 2013: Bigfoot Files – himself