Boxers Nicolay Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev Met in Helsinki

In the first ever heavyweight title fight on Finnish soil, the Uzbekistan Ruslan Chagaev, the current WBA heavyweight champion in recess and the Russian Nicolay Valuev, who also holds the WBA heavyweight belt, met today in Helsinki, Finland.

Set to meet on May 30 at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki both fighters claim to be the true WBA heavyweight champion, as they both curry the WBA heavyweight belts. Reports are coming in that Valuev is very determined to avenge the first loss of his career that occurred on April 14, 2007, against the same Ruslan Chagaev. “I am coming to Helsinki to show that I am the real champion,” Valuev said. “I have made a lot of key changes since the defeat two years ago. I have appointed a new head coach, Alexander Zimin. He has changed my training routine completely and has made me a much better fighter. I have improved a lot. I have no doubts that I will leave the ring victorious this time out.” The 6’1” Ruslan Chagaev, however, stated: “I have beaten Valuev once and I will beat him again,” he said. The WBA officially lists Valuev as the WBA heavyweight champion and Chagaev being the champion in recess. Both fighters were supposed to meet in 2008, but Chagaev pulled out from injury sustained during the preparation of that fight. The World Boxing Association named him champion in recess and ordered Nicolay Valuev and former American heavyweight world champion John Ruiz to meet for the vacant WBA ordinary world heavyweight title bout, which Nicolay Valuev won via a 12- round split decision. Manager Wilfred Sauerland of Sauerland Event said that they are expecting a gigantic interest in the fight. “This will be a global happening which people all over the world will be eager to see,” he stated. “We expect a worldwide TV audience of roughly 100 million people.” The 7’0 Russian Nicolay Value is the first ever Russian professional boxer to win a world heavyweight title when he defeated, in their first meeting, John Ruiz in December of 2005 by a 12-round majority decision. Nicolay Valuev is coming off a 12-round majority decision over 5-time boxing world champion Evander Holyfield. Chagaev, however, scored a 6-round technical decision over Carl Davis Drumond of Costa Rica when he returned to the ring after recovering from his injury.