Boxer Ruslan Chagaev to Fight Nicolay Valuev in Helsinki

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Roger

By Roger Tshiamala Tubajiki

May 27, 2009 in Sports

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By Roger Tshiamala Tubajiki.

On Saturday in Helsinki, Finland, the Uzbekistan WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev, and the Russian Nicolay Valuev, who holds the vacant WBA heavyweight belt, will meet in a rematch of their April 2007 WBA Heavyweight Championship bout.

A few days prior to their meeting, which is the first ever boxing world heavyweight championship on Finnish soil, both fighters claim to be in good shape and ready for their meeting on Saturday.

At today’s press conference Nicolay Valuev stated that he is eager to set the record straight as he is ready to avenge the only loss of his professional boxing career in a bout that he considered being the most important fight of his career.

Ruslan Chagaev, 27-0, 1, 17 KO’s, who reportedly boycotted the official media work-out held on Tuesday and also left right the location after the end of the today’s press conference held at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, looks calm and focused. Chagaev’s trainer, Michael Timm, stated that the 6′ 1″ Ruslan Chagaev proved in the first fight that he can overcome the size difference between him and the 7’0 Nicolay Valuev. According to Michael Timm, Ruslan Chagaev has recovered from his Achilles injury and is pleased that the fight will finally take place.

Also on the card, former WBO heavyweight champion Lamon Brewster of Indianapolis, IN, USA, will meet Juho Haapoja of Finland and recently crowned WBA/WBC female welterweight champion Cecilia Braekhus of Norway will make the first defence of her titles against Amy Yuratovac of Hammond, Indiana, USA. Cecilia Braekhus scored a 10-round unanimous decision over the Dannish Vinni Skovgaard to win her titles.

Pleased to stage the first-ever boxing heavyweight title fight on Finnish soil, Nicolay Valuev’s manager Wilfried Sauerland stated at the today’s press conference that Helsinki will be in the centre of the boxing world on Saturday night and that Valuev will leave the ring victorious on Saturday. In 2007, Ruslan Chagaev scored a 12-round majority decision over Nicolay Valuev to capture the WBA heavyweight title from Nicolay Valuev.