Why Muhammad Ali would Clown Vitali Klitschko

Chagaev-Valuev was pretty close. I'm a big Chagaev fan and whilst I had him as the clear-cut winner, I don't think there was much between them. I might have a card here actually.

 

Ruslan Chagaev MD12 Nikolay Valuev

This is an interesting and underated fight. Chagaev is giving up 90lbs in weight, ten inches in reach and a foot in height - that's an interesting combination when you're after a guys title.

Valuev starts the fight on a weird half-backfoot with Chagaev circling. Chagaev's plan is basically to avoid prolonged contact, to engage often for very short periods, raids. He keeps Valuev beautifully off-balance with small moves making it very difficult for the giant to get set, then launches his jab or straight on the outside and a variety of winging punches on the inside against a big, undefended target.

He starts of counter-punching for the main part, but is soon leading off slips and ducks, Chagaev has good head-movement. This combination, married to a good technical guard, keeps Valuev from landing a combination until the tenth round. Always a little vulnerable to uppercuts, Chagaev makes the size difference work for him here, keeping out of the way of that punch for a change. Pouncing suddenly from new angles he really makes Valuev look pretty awful.

The rounds Valuev wins (and there are a few) is generally off pressure and persistence but he never eally bares down on Chagaev, he never really gets to own him for any kind of stretch, in part this is earned as Chagaev is being clever about his raiding strategy. That raiding does cost him in the later rounds however, as Valuev, fighting more aggressively, scores with punches that go unanswered as Chagaev (mostly) avoids retaliation in situations where he probably could have landed.

Chagaev certainly looks better against Valuev than Haye did. He also never really reclaimed this form with his medical problems and injury right behind it. He genuinely looks a different fighter to the one that struggled for fitness versus Drummond and Skelton.


CHAGAEV: 1,3,4,5,6,7,9

VALUEV: 2,8,10,11,12