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Nikolai Valuev | |
|---|---|
| Никола́й Валу́ев | |
 Valuev in 2018 | |
| Member of theState Duma forBryansk Oblast | |
| Assumed office 12 October 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Boris Paykin |
| Constituency | Bryansk (No. 77) |
| Member of the State Duma (Party List Seat) | |
| In office 21 December 2011 – 12 October 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1973-08-21)21 August 1973 (age 51) Leningrad, USSR |
| Political party | United Russia |
| Spouse | Galina Valuyeva |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Lesgaft National University Moscow State University of Technology and Management |
| Boxing career | |
| Other names |
|
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Heavyweight |
| Height | 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)[a][1][2][3][4] |
| Reach | 213 cm (84 in)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 53 |
| Wins | 50 |
| Wins by KO | 34 |
| Losses | 2 |
| No contests | 1 |
Nikolai Sergeyevich Valuev (Russian:Никола́й Серге́евич Валу́ев,IPA:[vɐˈlujɪf]; born 21 August 1973) is a Russian politician and formerprofessional boxer. He competed in boxing from 1993 to 2009, and held theWorld Boxing Association (WBA)heavyweight title twice between 2005 and 2009. Standing at a height of 2.13 metres (7 feet) and a peak weight of 151 kilograms (333 pounds),[5] Valuev is best known for being the tallest and heaviest world champion in boxing history.[6][7]
Valuev was born on 21 August 1973, inLeningrad, Soviet Union (nowSaint Petersburg, Russia).[8] His parents are short—both 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) tall—, unlike hisTatar ancestor "of mountainous proportions", and Valuev has denied that his own size is due to medical issues such asgigantism complicated byacromegaly, instead arguing for it being a question of genetics.[9]
Valuev is aRussian Orthodox Christian.[10]
Valuev has written a book inRussian calledMy 12 Rounds, with the help of Russian sports journalist Konstantin Osipov.[11] The book discusses his life in general and his boxing career in particular. For that book, Valuev received an award from the government ofSaint Petersburg.[12]
In January 2006, Valuev was accused of assaulting a security guard at the Spartak Ice Palace inSaint Petersburg. No criminal investigation was launched by local police.[13]
Russian National Championships (+91 kg),Saint Petersburg, Russia, May 1994:
Goodwill Games (+91 kg), Saint Petersburg, July 1994:
In 2005, Valuev squared off with WBA heavyweight championJohn Ruiz, and won a twelve-round majority-decision, becoming both the tallest (7 ft or 2.13 m) and heaviest (324 lbs or 147 kg) champion in boxing history.[14]
The title defense was held on 14 April 2007. Chagaev defeated Valuev by a majority decision (117–111, 115–113 and 114–114).
Valuev changed trainers, from Manuel Gabrielian to Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team. On 29 September 2007, Valuev won againstJean-Francois Bergeron inOldenburg,Germany, by a 12-round unanimous decision (118–111 on all three cards).[15]
On 16 February 2008, in a title eliminator, Valuev defeated former titleholderSiarhei Liakhovich, winning every round at theNuremberg Arena inGermany.[16] 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 theWBA 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.[17] The scores were 114–113, 116–113, and 116–111. The result was initially declared a split decision win for Valuev with the 114–113 score by ringside judge Takeshi Shimakawa was announced in favor of Ruiz rather than for Valuev. One of the scorecards had the names of the fighters in opposite order, resulting in the confusion. The decision was once again unpopular with the live crowd, as some booed the outcome, much like in the first bout.
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 (141 kg), nearly 100 pounds heavier than Holyfield at 214.3 pounds (97 kg).[18] After a rather uneventful match with no knockdowns and few punches thrown by either fighter, Valuev won a widely disputed majority decision.[19][20] In response to the controversial result the WBA announced plans to investigate the decision.[21]
In his second defense on 7 November 2009, billed as 'David vs. Goliath', Valuev faced off against former unified and linealcruiserweight championDavid Haye (22-1, 21 KOs) at the ArenaNürnberger Versicherung inNuremberg. Valuev lost by a majority decision (114–114, 116–112, 116–112).[22]
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".[23] 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.[24]
Valuev's first role in a film was acameo appearance in theGerman film7 Zwerge – Der Wald ist nicht genug in 2006.[25] In 2008, Valuev played the main role in the filmStonehead by Philip Yankovskiy, playing an ex-boxer who lost his memory.[26] The film took the main prize at the film festival "Window to Europe".[27] After the success ofStonehead, it was announced Valuev was being filmed in two new films at the same time.[28]
In August 2016, Valuev became a presenter onGood Night, Little Ones!, Russia's long-running TV program for small children.[29] He replacedDmitry Malikov as the host.
In December2011 Russian parliamentary election, Valuev became a member of theState Duma through theUnited Russia Party. On 17 December 2012, Valuev supported[30] the law in the Russian Parliament banning adoption of Russian orphans by citizens of the US.
Following theIOC's decision to suspendRussia from participating in the Olympics under its flag due to theRussian 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."[31]
In September 2022, Valuev revealed he had been drafted to serve in the Russian armed forces.[32]
In 2011, Valuev became the general manager of theRussia national bandy team, and is tasked with developing the sport in the country.[33] He is also the Vice-President of theRussian Bandy Federation.[34]Bandy is considered anational sport in Russia.[35]
In 2009, Valuev, together with a group of coaches, created the Nikolay Valuev Boxing School, with offices in Saint Petersburg and theLeningrad Oblast. The school is divided into three types of age groups: pupils (school terms 3-5), students (terms 6-8), 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.[36]
| 52 fights | 50 wins | 2 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 35 | 0 |
| By decision | 15 | 2 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round,time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Loss | 50–2(1) | David Haye | MD | 12 | 7 Nov 2009 | Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany | Lost WBA heavyweight title |
| 52 | Win | 50–1(1) | Evander Holyfield | MD | 12 | 20 Dec 2008 | Hallenstadion,Zürich, Switzerland | Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 51 | Win | 49–1(1) | John Ruiz | UD | 12 | 30 Aug 2008 | Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany | Won vacant WBA heavyweight title |
| 50 | Win | 48–1(1) | Siarhei Liakhovich | UD | 12 | 16 Feb 2008 | Nuremberg Arena,Nuremberg, Germany | |
| 49 | Win | 47–1(1) | Jean Francois Bergeron | UD | 12 | 29 Sep 2007 | Small EWE Arena, Oldenburg, Germany | WonNABA heavyweight title |
| 48 | Loss | 46–1(1) | Ruslan Chagaev | MD | 12 | 14 Apr 2007 | Porsche-Arena,Stuttgart, Germany | Lost WBA heavyweight title |
| 47 | Win | 46–0(1) | Jameel McCline | RTD | 3 (12),3:00 | 20 Jan 2007 | St. Jakobshalle,Basel, Switzerland | Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 46 | Win | 45–0(1) | Monte Barrett | TKO | 11 (12),2:12 | 7 Oct 2006 | Allstate Arena,Rosemont, Illinois, US | Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 45 | Win | 44–0(1) | Owen Beck | TKO | 3 (12),2:44 | 3 Jun 2006 | TUI Arena,Hanover, Germany | Retained WBA heavyweight title |
| 44 | Win | 43–0(1) | John Ruiz | MD | 12 | 17 Dec 2005 | Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany | WonWBA heavyweight title |
| 43 | Win | 42–0(1) | Larry Donald | MD | 12 | 1 Oct 2005 | Small EWE Arena,Oldenburg, Germany | Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 42 | Win | 41–0(1) | Clifford Etienne | KO | 3 (12) | 14 May 2005 | Oberfrankenhalle,Bayreuth, Germany | Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 41 | Win | 40–0(1) | Attila Levin | TKO | 3 (12),2:34 | 12 Feb 2005 | Max-Schmeling-Halle, Berlin, Germany | Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 40 | Win | 39–0(1) | Gerald Nobles | DQ | 4 (12),0:42 | 20 Nov 2004 | BigBox,Kempten, Germany | Retained WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title; Nobles disqualified for repeated holding |
| 39 | Win | 38–0(1) | Paolo Vidoz | TKO | 9 (12),2:33 | 9 Oct 2004 | Messe,Erfurt, Germany | Won vacant WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title |
| 38 | Win | 37–0(1) | Richard Igbineghu | TKO | 6 (10),1:50 | 24 Jul 2004 | Brandenburg-Halle, Frankfurt, Germany | Won vacantWBA Inter-Continental interim heavyweight title |
| 37 | Win | 36–0(1) | Marcelo Domínguez | UD | 8 | 17 Apr 2004 | Max-Schmeling-Halle,Berlin, Germany | |
| 36 | Win | 35–0(1) | Dicky Ryan | TKO | 1 (10),2:43 | 28 Feb 2004 | Mehrzweckhalle,Dresden, Germany | |
| 35 | Win | 34–0(1) | Otis Tisdale | KO | 1 (8) | 4 Oct 2003 | Stadthalle,Zwickau, Germany | |
| 34 | Win | 33–0(1) | Bob Mirovic | UD | 8 | 16 Aug 2003 | Nürburgring,Nürburg, Germany | |
| 33 | Win | 32–0(1) | Vitali Shkraba | TKO | 4 (10) | 18 Jul 2003 | State Circus,Minsk, Belarus | |
| 32 | Win | 31–0(1) | Pedro Daniel Franco | UD | 12 | 15 Mar 2003 | Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Retained PABA heavyweight title |
| 31 | Win | 30–0(1) | Kostiantyn Pryziuk | RTD | 3 (10),3:00 | 10 Oct 2002 | Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Retained Russian heavyweight title |
| 30 | Win | 29–0(1) | Taras Bidenko | UD | 12 | 21 Jul 2002 | Seoul, South Korea | Retained PABA heavyweight title |
| 29 | Win | 28–0(1) | Yaroslav Zavorotnyi | TKO | 3 (10) | 15 Jun 2002 | Druzhba Arena,Donetsk Ukraine | |
| 28 | Win | 27–0(1) | Toakipa Tasefa | UD | 12 | 28 Sep 2001 | Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Retained PABA heavyweight title |
| 27 | Win | 26–0(1) | George Linberger | TKO | 1 (12),1:20 | 30 Jun 2001 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | Won vacant PABA heavyweight title |
| 26 | Win | 25–0(1) | Vitali Shkraba | TKO | 4 (8) | 6 Mar 2001 | Arena CSKA, Moscow, Russia | |
| 25 | Win | 24–0(1) | Tone Fiso | TKO | 1 (12) | 29 Oct 2000 | Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Retained PABA interim heavyweight title |
| 24 | Win | 23–0(1) | Yuriy Yelistratov | UD | 12 | 6 Jun 2000 | Yubileyny Sports Palace, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Won vacantPABAinterim heavyweight title |
| 23 | Win | 22–0(1) | Yuri Nikolaev | TKO | 2 (6) | 10 Mar 2000 | Novosibirsk, Russia | |
| 22 | Win | 21–0(1) | Aleksei Varakin | KO | 1 (12),1:30 | 15 Dec 1999 | State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Retained Russian heavyweight title |
| 21 | Win | 20–0(1) | James McQueen | KO | 1 (6) | 25 Jun 1999 | Prague, Czech Republic | |
| 20 | NC | 19–0(1) | Andreas Sidon | NC | 6 | 7 May 1999 | Prague, Czech Republic | Referee left the ring before the end of the fight |
| 19 | Win | 19–0 | John Tupou | TKO | 4 (6),1:16 | 13 Feb 1999 | Ariake Colosseum,Tokyo, Japan | |
| 18 | Win | 18–0 | Aleksei Osokin | TKO | 6 (10) | 22 Jan 1999 | Casino Conti Giant Hall, Saint Petersburg, Russia | Won vacant Russiaheavyweight title |
| 17 | Win | 17–0 | Evgeny Odolsky | KO | 1 (6) | 19 Dec 1998 | Tundra Bar, Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| 16 | Win | 16–0 | James Gaines | UD | 6 | 9 Jun 1998 | State Circus, Moscow, Russia | |
| 15 | Win | 15–0 | Jim Huffman | TKO | 2 (6),0:37 | 14 Mar 1998 | Olympic Stadium,Moscow, Russia | |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Sinclair Babb | TKO | 1 (6),2:50 | 6 Dec 1997 | Stockland Stadium,Townsville, Australia | |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Alarim Uysal | TKO | 2 | 8 Nov 1997 | Ballsporthalle,Frankfurt, Germany | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Kevin Rosier | KO | 1 | 27 Sep 1997 | State Circus,Moscow, Russia | |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Aug Tanuvasa | TKO | 1 (6),2:44 | 21 Aug 1997 | Bankstown RSL Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Rodney Harris | PTS | 4 | 26 Jul 1997 | Yokohama Arena,Yokohama, Japan | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Terrell Nelson | TKO | 2 (4),1:26 | 31 May 1997 | Etess Arena,Atlantic City, New Jersey, US | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Manao Navuilawa | TKO | 1 (4),1:24 | 9 May 1997 | Bankstown Sports Club, Sydney, Australia | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Patrick Slade | TKO | 1 (4),1:59 | 21 Mar 1997 | Parramatta RSL Club,Sydney, Australia | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Darren Fearn | RTD | 1 (6),3:00 | 26 Nov 1996 | York Hall, London, England | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Neil Kirkwood | TKO | 2 (4) | 8 Oct 1996 | Battersea Town Hall,London, England | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Sergei Anikeev | KO | 2 (4) | 16 Feb 1995 | State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Aleksei Tsygankov | KO | 3 (4) | 15 Apr 1994 | State Circus, Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Aleksandr Vasiliev | PTS | 4 | 22 Feb 1994 | State Circus,Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | John Morton | TKO | 2 (4) | 15 Oct 1993 | Sporthalle,Schöneberg, Germany |
Valuev insists he is not a physical freak suffering from a pituitary gland disorder; he is a genetic throwback, the son of parents who each are 5ft 5in tall, with a Tatar ancestor of mountainous proportions.
Through care, as well as health and medical recommendations, I was advised that fighting would not be good for me and so I will stay retired.
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Nikolay Kulpin | Russiaheavyweight champion 22 January 1999 – June 2000 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Alexey Osokin | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Justin Fortune | PABA heavyweight champion Interim title 6 June 2000 – 30 June 2001 Won full title | Vacant Title next held by Taras Bidenko | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Kirk Johnson | PABA heavyweight champion 30 June 2001 – July 2004 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Rob Calloway | ||
| New title | WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion Interim title 24 July 2004 – 20 November 2004 Won full title | Title discontinued | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Wladimir Klitschko | WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight champion 20 November 2004 – 17 December 2005 Won world title | Vacant Title next held by Ruslan Chagaev | ||
| Preceded by | NABA heavyweight champion 29 September 2007 – November 2007 Vacated | Vacant Title next held by Friday Ahunanya | ||
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Preceded by | WBA heavyweight champion 17 December 2005 –14 April 2007 | Succeeded by Ruslan Chagaev | ||
| Vacant Title last held by Ruslan Chagaev | WBA heavyweight champion 30 August 2008 –7 November 2009 | Succeeded by | ||
| Records | ||||
| Preceded by | Tallest world champion 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) 17 December 2005 – present | Incumbent | ||
| Previous: Primo Carnera vs. Tommy Loughran 84 lb (38 kg) | Largest weight disparity in a title match 105.5 lb (47.9 kg) vs.Monte Barrett 7 October 2006 – present | |||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
