How good is Nikolay Valuev?

He's better than you think. I've seen him in one fight and he possesses more skill than he's credited for. He actually punches pretty well for an absolute titan of a guy. With his size and strength, I think he will go further than Michael Grant. He isn't a knockout puncher but previous opponents and their cracked ribs indicate he has heavy hands. I think people are forgetting two things. 1. The division sucks. Even Jimmy Braddock was a better technical fighter, tougher, and all around better than maybe one or two (Toney and Vitali) guys in the division. I'm not saying Braddock was great either. Heavyweights are just garbage today. 2. When you are 7' tall and a natural 320 lbs, you don't need to be that great. Remember that Carnera, the worst HW champion of all time, legitamately (that one wasn't fixed) beat Loughran, who was an all time great light heavyweight. The reason? Da Preem had ninety pounds on the guy. I predict that Valuev will develop to the point where he will beat opponents at the level of Rahman, Monte Barrett, and Calvin Brock. I'm not sure how he'll do against Vitali however. Hell I'd even favor him against Toney, who was outmuscled by John Ruiz in every clinch. Toney doesn't have the strength or hitting power to get Valuev's respect. There comes a point where a size disparity is too great for superior skill to bridge the gap. I think Valuev is catching a lot of heat for his skin color. If he was that big and black people would be building him up as the future of the division like they did with Michael Grant. Truth be told, people are very suspicious of all white heavyweights and have been since an ancient Jeffries was forced out of retirement and was KO'ed by Jack Johnson. White America loves to put its faith in caucasian heavyweights but is sick of being let down. If Valuev were a seven foot black guy with no skills, he still be a sideshow just like Nikolai. Michael Grant had the body, charisma, and look of the next heavyweight champion of the world. Plus he had a lot of heart before the Lewis fight. Valuev is catching heat because white America is building him up as the next big thing. He's big, but he is nothing.

Im kind of hoping this guy is pretty good. So we could see a Vitali fight with him. I mean..cmon..the HW division is lacking.big time...

he looks like a beast outside but not yet proven being a beast with his skills

I don't think he'd beat them yet but notice I said "will develop to the point where he will". He just needs to step up the level of his competition. Just remember that not too long ago Nobles was being regarded as a prospect himself and is a man of some talent and boxing ability. Etienne is no bum himself. The guys Tyson was blowing away on his way up were much worse than Nobles or Etienne. You have to remember that Valuev started boxing relatively late in life and is still learning a lot of things.

He's better than you think. I've seen him in one fight and he possesses more skill than he's credited for. He actually punches pretty well for an absolute titan of a guy. With his size and strength, I think he will go further than Michael Grant. He isn't a knockout puncher but previous opponents and their cracked ribs indicate he has heavy hands. I think people are forgetting two things. 1. The division sucks. Even Jimmy Braddock was a better technical fighter, tougher, and all around better than maybe one or two (Toney and Vitali) guys in the division. I'm not saying Braddock was great either. Heavyweights are just garbage today. 2. When you are 7' tall and a natural 320 lbs, you don't need to be that great. Remember that Carnera, the worst HW champion of all time, legitamately (that one wasn't fixed) beat Loughran, who was an all time great light heavyweight. The reason? Da Preem had ninety pounds on the guy. I predict that Valuev will develop to the point where he will beat opponents at the level of Rahman, Monte Barrett, and Calvin Brock. I'm not sure how he'll do against Vitali however. Hell I'd even favor him against Toney, who was outmuscled by John Ruiz in every clinch. Toney doesn't have the strength or hitting power to get Valuev's respect. There comes a point where a size disparity is too great for superior skill to bridge the gap. I think Valuev is catching a lot of heat for his skin color. If he was that big and black people would be building him up as the future of the division like they did with Michael Grant. Truth be told, people are very suspicious of all white heavyweights and have been since an ancient Jeffries was forced out of retirement and was KO'ed by Jack Johnson. White America loves to put its faith in caucasian heavyweights but is sick of being let down. Valuev couldn't beat Rahman, Brock, or Barrett now. So call him a prospect if you wish, but he shouldn't be in a title eliminator right now, even if it is for Ruiz's belt...

He's better than you think. I've seen him in one fight and he possesses more skill than he's credited for. He actually punches pretty well for an absolute titan of a guy. With his size and strength, I think he will go further than Michael Grant. He isn't a knockout puncher but previous opponents and their cracked ribs indicate he has heavy hands. I think people are forgetting two things. 1. The division sucks. Even Jimmy Braddock was a better technical fighter, tougher, and all around better than maybe one or two (Toney and Vitali) guys in the division. I'm not saying Braddock was great either. Heavyweights are just garbage today. 2. When you are 7' tall and a natural 320 lbs, you don't need to be that great. Remember that Carnera, the worst HW champion of all time, legitamately (that one wasn't fixed) beat Loughran, who was an all time great light heavyweight. The reason? Da Preem had ninety pounds on the guy. I predict that Valuev will develop to the point where he will beat opponents at the level of Rahman, Monte Barrett, and Calvin Brock. I'm not sure how he'll do against Vitali however. Hell I'd even favor him against Toney, who was outmuscled by John Ruiz in every clinch. Toney doesn't have the strength or hitting power to get Valuev's respect. There comes a point where a size disparity is too great for superior skill to bridge the gap. I think Valuev is catching a lot of heat for his skin color. If he was that big and black people would be building him up as the future of the division like they did with Michael Grant. Truth be told, people are very suspicious of all white heavyweights and have been since an ancient Jeffries was forced out of retirement and was KO'ed by Jack Johnson. White America loves to put its faith in caucasian heavyweights but is sick of being let down.

u got no proof that says hes a sidweshow cause he hasnt lost a fight yet. He will kill Golota... His last two fights have been sideshows. It was like Andre the Giant vs. a jobber, but with fewer rules...

41-0 doesn't hurt either. Records can be deceiving. Even a shot Golota can probably give him problems...

I had never heard of him until recently. He is 7'0 tall 332 lbs and resembles George the Animal Steele. This guys is just scary as hell looking. Anyway how good is he? Can he compete with the top heavy weights? Can he beat Vitali? If you haven't seen him take a look at this link. He rarely smiles and I think he probably murders innocent people when he is not boxing. http://www.boxnews.com.ua/person.php?id=1015&lng=en This guy sucks. Watch one of his fights.

i think golota has the skills to beat slow ass valuev. valuev is a sideshow. u got no proof that says hes a sidweshow cause he hasnt lost a fight yet. He will kill Golota...

I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt.... I am hoping that he is the real thing. Why? Because the division is in need of a saviour. My historically favorite division has to depend on the likes of Rahman and a few overachieving middle-weights?? SAD!

Never seen him fight but from everyones posts Ill go with him sucking and just have size.

i saw him fight once , he was rocked twice by gerald nobles and escaped with a friendly DQ. all he does is jab jab right . any decent HW, not over the hill like etienne , will beat him up . wait , is there still such thing like a decent HW ?

All the guy has to do is stay active and Golota is done. i think golota has the skills to beat slow ass valuev. valuev is a sideshow.

All the guy has to do is stay active and Golota is done.

ye i think hes a big flop he sux hasn't beat anyone big..l like his biggest win is against etienne... which doesn't say much atall

41-0 doesn't hurt either. especially against his level of competition :rolleyes:

I wonder if the boxing commission overseeing this fight is going to force Valuev to wax his back before the fight. i don't know if he is great because i haven't ever seen him fight, but ii know he could beat Golota. That guy is a waste just like pretty much every other heavyweight out there.

I wonder if the boxing commission overseeing this fight is going to force Valuev to wax his back before the fight.

He is supposedly fighting Golota on August 13 2005. If Golota had his head on straight he would probably defeat this guy but Golota is liable to be intimidated by this guy's size and just quit in the ring before the fight even begins.