By Mark Vester
This Saturday in Basel, Switzerland, 7-foot, 330-pound Russian Nikolai Valuev (45-0, 33 KOs) defends the WBA heavyweight title against 6-6, 270-pound Jameel McCline (38-6-3, 23 KOs).
McCline has been in high spirits and does not think Valuev will be able to keep up with his much faster hands. He even promised to stay in Switzerland if he loses.
"There have been more downs than ups in my career," McCline said. "When I first started this training camp, I remember saying to myself, 'I'm just tired of losing the big fights. I'll come home with this one.' If not, I'm staying in Switzerland. I'm not coming home."
Heavyweight contender Monte Barrett, who was stopped by Valuev in 11 rounds on October 7, tells the New Jersey Herald News that Valuev should win this fight.
"On paper, I don't think Jameel can win," said Barrett. "But you never know. Styles make fights. Jameel has an awkward style that maybe Valuev won't be able to adapt to. We'll just have to see which Jameel shows up, the Jameel of old or the Jameel of new. Because the Jameel of new hasn't been doing too well."
