A retrospective look at the largest HW beltholder in history

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by McGrain, Aug 30, 2012.


  1. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Nikolay Valuev.

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    Now he's retired, what do we make of his career? He posted wins over a past it Ruiz, Donald and Etienne and posted three successful defences of his WBA strap. His final record is a respectable 50-2 posted over mostly poor oppositions with both losses close on paper, fairly in the case of Haye, in reality he was pretty firmly beaten by Chagaev.

    As far as the controversial win over Holyfield goes, i don't want to rehash that here, but just to say that almsot every pair of eyes in the venue saw it for Valuev, including Ring (116-112).

    He showed some reasonable technical improvements when he stepped up in class, especially where the jab was concerned, although it still failed him against Haye and Chagaev, the fights where he needed it the most.

    What does Valuev tell us about size, its worth, the limitations it places upon a fighter technically and what is Classic's general observations as far as the fighter himself is concerned?
     
  2. Legend X

    Legend X Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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  4. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    He was a good contender, and by far the best heavyweight of his size that there has ever been. A Valuev sized contender pops up every couple of decades, and he was the first to establish himself as one of the top few heavyweights in the world. He is noteworth in that respect.
     
  5. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

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    His win over Liakovich (spelling?) was the 'best' for me.

    But for a man that big to be feather fisted there's something going wrong.
     
  6. Squire

    Squire Let's Go Champ Full Member

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    Good against static big guys used to having a size advantage. Liakhovich was coming off a win against Brewster and then a 12th round KO loss to Briggs while ahead on points, but didn't even get a look in against NV. Without saying he'd win, he'd do best against guys like Foreman, Liston and Bowe, and worst against guys like Ali, Holmes and Wlad. Needless to say, a fighter doesn't have to be near that level to beat him, but those fighters in particular would move, land at will and throw enough to win every round.
     
  7. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    He looked good against lyak, actually an impressive performance.

    He got a gift against holyfield as far as i'm concerned, also the first fight with ruiz and the donald fight where gifts.

    But all in all he was worthy of his top 5 ranking imo. I don't think he ever wanted to be a boxer, the phrase circus freak is wholly applicable here.
     
  8. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Carnera would school him......
     
  9. Legend X

    Legend X Boxing Addict banned Full Member

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    I remember seeing Valuev back in 1996.
    He was a freak. There was no way he'd ever be a contender, or so I thought.
    He was fighting tomato cans in obscurity for about 10 years or more, (and not looking great doing it), before some big promoter got hold of him and elevated him to contender status overnight.
    It was about 2004 or 2005, when the division was at its lowest point.

    He was far more of a manufactured fighter and a hoax than anything Primo Carnera could be accused of.

    A series of dodgy decisions established him as a WBA title holder.
    He got his shot with a very dubious win against Larry Donald, and followed it up with another gift in the first title fight with Ruiz.
     
  10. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    I don't think you can call what Valuev got versus Ruiz a gift, at all. There are plenty of people who were in attendance that thought Valuev won.


    I could definitely see scoring it for Ruiz, that's fine, but I wouldn't see grounds for it being either a gift or a robbery based upon what I remember.

    Or maybe i'm mixign them up.
     
  11. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    For whatever its worth, I thought he deserved both wins over Ruiz.
     
  12. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    You know me McGrain. If I score a fight opposite the judges i'll call it a gift. I'm not saying it was clear or outrageous, I'm saying that imo the wrong man won :good
     
  13. MrOliverKlozoff

    MrOliverKlozoff The guy in shades Full Member

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    Valuev: He may look awful, but that's only because he is.
     
  14. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    I think it tells us that after a certain limit, size, and weight can get you positive results that you would not achieve if you were a normal size for a heavyweight . That, and judicious matching against, " past prime names" and, "never really were that good," opponents can give you a respectable run for your money.
    Valuev developed some semblance of boxing skill with the jab, but never could manage to get his weight behind his punches properly.

    He did alright ,made some ££££ , now he can go back to his hunting ,and his poetry.

    He has achieved more than I ever will ,so I can't knock him.
     
  15. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    I am holding out for a dual comeback of the two greatest heavyweights I have ever witnessed...

    Valuez-Ruiz II

    moments of ecstasy...
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