Valuev is one of only a very very small number of successful HWs north of 6'7/6'8. When you look at someone like Tyson Fury he gets all the love associated with being "the best HW this size we've ever seen". The case for Usyk being an ATG is really based on this notion that Fury is this unpeneterable glass ceiling. This despite losing to a debutant and causing imeasurable embarassment to the sport of boxing. So why doesn't Valuev get any of this credit? When you see lists of the top 10 2000s HWs either Valuev is either not on it or right at the bottom. Hes the best HW of Wlads 2nd reign that Wlad did not beat. He is at a minimum a top 2 HW in the history of mother Russia. Why isn't Valuev valued more?
He's awful in terms of skills, speed and IQ, simple as that. Just a 7'0'' giant who happened to have great chin. If his chin was average, he'd be less successful than Tye Fields cause Valuev ate punches in every fight. Here is his fight vs 5'9'' CW Marcelo Dominguez who was well past his best at that time. IMO Dominguez clearly won the fight but was blatantly robbed. This content is protected
I don’t want to disrespect him. But he was extremely uninspiring to watch. Very boring. Often won unimpressively despite that huge size advantage. And while there are a few decent names in his win column his record was heavily padded.
46-0 is one of the longest undefeated streaks in the history of HW though. Its not just a padded win streak its the padded win streak!
If this was true there would be many his size or close to his size. Of course a 300 pounder has a good chin. What do you expect?
Was kind of like Makhmudov (better though), just had huge size and a "scary" look to him plus some very dodgy decisions that went his way. Usyk would absolutely mesmerise him with his footwork.
I remember Roy Jones singing Valuev's praises at one point and recognizing his skills. Valuev's weakness was the severe lack of speed. Especially in later fights.
He is kind of like the modern day Primo Carnera where people were enamored with how big he was and not his skills. And he was more a novelty then anything else. He could not punch hard at all.
So 185 pound Rocky Marciano is too small to beat 215 pound Sonny Liston but 220 pound Usyk is not too small to beat 300 pound Valuev
Some didn’t, I think I read a majority in attendance were okay with it? I don’t know though I’ve watched it once personally, I didn’t bother to score it - was it a good fight?
The 210+ lbs = diminishing returns baloney is anti Marciano propaganda.Liston was beat by a LHW as a novice, if the skill level is high enough the big dummies can fall to David. Dempsey was 180lbs when he flattened Willard, Moore got Valdez etc - Liston would probably lose to a couple exceptional 175lber’s if they walked into the ring at 185lbs - Conn on film took punches from JOE LOUIS at 170ish lbs and almost took the gold.
Slow, boring but for me Holyfield boxed to a game plan and won the fight. Question is, was Valuev EVER in a good fight?