Chagaev dethrones Valuev!

April 14, 2007

By Wolfgang Schiffbauer
Photos: Eroll Popova

The first round started slowly, as Valuev tried to find the range with his jab. It was Chagaev, however, who was having success with good straight left hands out of his southpaw stance. Chagaev continued to circle around the champion in the second and was again able to find the target with some good straight shots, while Valuev was pressing the action by fighting mainly with his jab.

In the third stanza, it was again Chagaev who was mounting quick attacks to the body and the head of Valuev. But the "Russian Giant" was able to get his jab working a bit. It was however target practice for the first three for Chagaev's left straight. The same picture repeated in the fourth, as Valuev was moving forward but not landing often. Chagaev again connected with straight lefts to the body and the head of the seven-foot WBA titlist.

The challenger had excellent rounds in the fifth and sixth, countering and landing power punches. Valuev's jab was still short in the seventh and Chagaev was starting to show some good reflexes as he was ducking the punches of the champion and time after time countered with great shots.

For the very first time in the fight, Valuev started to connect more regularly with his shots in the eighth. Chagaev was waiting a lot at the ropes and it seemed like he wanted to take the eighth off a bit. Round nine again went to Chagaev, who fought the same way like he did in the first few rounds and had once again great success with it.

The mandatory challenger continued to outland the huge Valuev in the tenth. Going into the championship rounds, it seemed to many ringside observers that Chagaev already had the fight in the bag. However, in the eleventh, "The White Tyson" landed his best punches although he still couldn't hurt the durable champion.

The twelth and final round turned into a wild slugfest as the atmosphre in the packed arena became electric. It was close, but at the end Chagaev hurt the giant to capture the round. After twelve exciting rounds of heavyweight championship boxing, the judges scored it 114-114, and 115-113, 117-111 in favor of the winner by majority decision and new WBA heavyweight champion of the world Ruslan "The White Tyson" Chagaev.

Valuev suffered the first loss of his career, as he falls to 46-1 with one no-contest. Chagaev stayed unbeaten and his record stands now at 23-0-1.

Chagaev spoke briefly after the fight, thanking his fans, countrymen and promoter among others before walking over to congratulate Valuev. The former champion was gracious in defeat. "I agree with the decision of the judges," stated Valuev. "My opponent found a tactic with which he was successful. Now I'll take a break and then begin training again."

* * *

In an interesting battle of junior middleweights, 19-year-old German talent Dominik Britsch scored a six round unanimous decision over Karl-Heinz Scheibe. The young prospect nearly stopped his 17 year older foe in the sixth and final round but Scheibe made it out of the fight on his feet. Another good win for Britsch, who stands now at 5-0.

German heavyweight Rene Dettweiler defeated Ivica Perkovic by disqualification in round eight. It was a lackluster bout with few meaningful blows thrown. Dettweiler now stands at 20-1.

Heavyweight Francesco Pianeta stayed unbeaten with a extremly close split decision over eight rounds against Paolo Ferrara. It was a tough bout for both fighters. Ferrara lost a point in round seven for repeated head-butts. Pianeta is now 10-0.

Cuban cruiserweight prospect Yoan Pablo Hernandez (10-0, 5 KOs) had an harder than expected night with Hector Alfredo Avila (15-7-1) in winning a eight round unanimous decision. The Cuban hurt his foe in the opening round but faded down the stretch and was stunned himself in the seventh. It was a tough fight but Hernandez was able to outwork and outland Avila in the majority of the eight rounds. Scores were 78-75, 78-74 and 79-76 in favor of the Cuban.

Former European welterweight champion and world title challenger Michel Trabant returned to the ring with a unanimous decision over tough Albert Starikov in an eight round welterweight fight. Trabant, who suffered cuts over both eyes during the later rounds, moves his record to 43-2.

German cruiserweight KO Artist Alexander Frenkel scored a spectacular first round knockout over Ferenc Zsalek of Hungary. Frenkel knocked his foe down twice before the referee halted the action. Time was 1:31. Frenkel moves to 8-0 with 7 knockouts.

Heavyweight prospect Oleg Platov scored a tenth round stoppage over game journeyman Colin Wilson. It was a hard-fought affair, with both fighters rocked on several ocassions. In the tenth, Platov badly hurt Wilson with body shots but got caught with a right hand by the Australian. Platov, however, came back strong with a huge combination to the head that finally sent Wilson to the canvas. The time was 1:43. With the victory, Platov retained his IBF Intercontinental heavyweight title and moved to 25-1 with 21 KOs. Wilson falls to 33-20.

Unbeaten Polish cruiserweight Lukasz Janik scored a second round TKO over Tomislav Juric-Grgic from Croatia in a bout scheduled for four rounds.