Nicolay Valuev: Nice Guy

From Fightnews: WBA heavyweight champion Nicolay Valuev achieved his dream of becoming the first heavyweight champion from Russia and of the Sauerland team. With his 7' 325lb combat weight, he is also the largest and heaviest champion of all time. The Russian giant is spending time in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia, before heading out to training camp to prepare for his first title defense. In this special interview, Valuev speaks about boxing, the reception in his homeland, his private life and the possible comeback of Axel Schulz. Fightnews: Nicolay, with our last interview before the world championship fight, you answered the question 'what you would like to do first after winning the title?' You said "sleep in." Did that happen? Valuev: Not really. The celebration after the world title victory went until the early morning, and in the afternoon I was already in the TV Studio again in Leipzig with the MDR. Up to my takeoff, the time was completely filled with press dates. And since I've been here again, it's become still worse. A day doesn't pass without interviews. But that was to be expected. Russia did not have ever a heavyweight world champion, and to that extent it is clear that the media interest is very large. Fightnews: How was the reception at the airport? Valuev: That was great. I landed at the Wednesday evening after the fight in St. Petersburg, and very many people had come in order to greet me. The airport was full and hundreds congratulated me. The first Russian heavyweight world champion comes from St. Petersburg and the people are very proud in my hometown. I felt that since then on each day. The mayor received me in the city hall, there were invitations to appear on television broadcasts of the title fight, which is really a topic in Russia. Fightnews: Can you go out in public in peace? Valuev: Honestly, I'd say no. I was already quite well known here in St. Petersburg, but since winning the title, it's like a state of emergency prevails. After the first few meters on the Newskij Prospekt, our main boulevard, come the first congratulators. Everyone wants to take photos, get autographs... Going shopping with my wife Galina in peace is now in the past. This morning I had about 120 autographed pictures with me and gave out all of them. Fightnews: You have always said that your homeland beside Russia is also Germany. You live half of the year in Berlin, but has St. Petersburg has always had a special meaning for you? Valuev: Yes, naturally. I was born here and grew up here, they called the city Leningrad then. Here is where the center of life for my family is. My son came to the world here and that will always be in my heart. And I love also people in St. Petersburg. They are quite special. Fightnews: Why? Valuev: St. Petersburgers are friendly, open minded, tolerant. And we know one another, also anywhere in the world. Difficult to express, but we are like a large family. That is probably among other things because of history. Not only the long blockade during the war, it goes back to Czar Peter the first. Petersburg, and that is unusual in Russia, because since this time many western influences have come and mixed with the Russian mentality. That becomes apparent in history, the culture and the architecture. Therefore the city and people that live here are special. Fightnews: As world champion in the heavyweight division, you have hero status in Russia. Do you feel a certain responsibility there? Valuev: On all accounts. With this title I stand in a row with the greatest boxers of the world, without wanting to compare myself with them. Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, all carried the title heavyweight champion, and that means naturally responsibility also for me. Not only to do everything I can to keep the title but also humanly. I hope that I can meet these high requirements. Fightnews: Arnold Schwarzenegger, after his sports career became a film star then a politician. Would that be also conceivable for you? Valuev: No. Although I've already played in films, in Russia that would be not at all necessary. Here one can be a sportsmen and also an equal politician. Our Sport Minister Vjatscheslav Fetissow, for example, was in former times a famous ice hockey player. And president Putin was in judo. But for me there's nothing. The business with politics is a little too dirty. Without wanting to judge the people, they surely have all their obligations, but I believe one can go into politics with really progressive, good goals and stand at the end nevertheless with dirty hands. Fightnews: You have spoken to President Putin. What do you make of him? Valuev: I admire him. That doesn't mean that I tolerate everything he does, or that I find the means which he uses always good, but I admire him because he keeps this enormous country in order, brings it together, organized and unified. That was very necessary after the Yeltsin era. As I said, Putin also does things which I don't call good, but special circumstances require special actions. And at the moment there is no one who would be a better president than he. Fightnews: In Russia, Christmas is celebrated in January. How was your Christmas? Valuev: You know, I personally don't overdo it on gifts. To dedicate to me a high pressure area called Nicolay, I found the idea of the Sauerland team very original. I hope that my high can bring people in spring much sun and beautiful weather. Over the holidays I've been twice training, so these days of recovery I gave myself as a gift. I could switch off wonderfully and rest. For my son Grischa, who is now three years old, Christmas was naturally an experience. He got a fishing rod and a sled. And my wife I gave clothes, which always pleases her and I can never go wrong. Fightnews: The fight against Ruiz was not particularly good, and afterwards there was some criticism toward your achievement. How do you stand there? Valuev: The criticism is surely to a large extent justified. It was not a beautiful fight. It was simply difficult for me coping with Ruiz' style of fighting, always with the left and the head to the body. I accept constructive criticism, that I must box better, and above all, throw my rights much more frequently. I have now two months up to the next fight, and I will use this time. Fightnews: When do you begin with the preparation for your next fight? Valuev: The next fight is planned for April 1. At the end of January, my personal trainer Manuel Gabrielian comes from Armenia to St. Petersburg, and we begin with conditioning. On February 10 we move to Berlin and start the phase of direct preparation. Fightnews: As world champion, they can now select your opponents to a certain degree. Is there someone in particular whom you would like to box against? Valuev: Yes, against Wladimir Klitschko. That would be surely just as interesting for the fans in my boxing homeland of Germany as well as for the spectators in this country. This fight would get it straight, who the best boxer from Eastern Europe is. And it would be interesting for me to box against Wladimir, who is two meters tall, and to see how we get along on an eye level with one another in the ring. Fightnews: Who of your three world champion colleagues do you regard as the best and who would you like to face? Valuev: The world champions are all good, but I think Lamon Brewster the best and the most dangerous opponent. I don't have any preferences there, however, Brewster, Byrd or Rahman, I'll go against any boxer. Fightnews: We know that you don't particularly like the nickname "The Beast from the East." Other nicknames you've been called include "Power Tower," "the Eighth Wonder of the World," and now Don King wants to bring you to America as "King Kong." How do you stand there? Valuev: My opinion did not change. My parents called me Nicolay, and my surname is Valuev. I am Nicolay Valuev, everything else is a number for the kindergarten. Fightnews: One of your predecessors in the heavyweight division at the Sauerland team, Axel Schulz, is said to have an oral offer from Don King and is thinking about a comeback. What do you make of that? Valuev: Really? That greatly surprises me! Honestly, I heard nothing of it here in Russia. Anything is possible if one has the will and works hard. I also don't know Axel's motives. But if I was in his place, I would be careful. Very much time has passed since he last boxed, and he's no longer the youngest. You can never underestimate a heavyweight though. Fightnews: Nicolay, thank you very much for the interview and good luck!