An Exclusive Interview with Nicolai “The Beast from the East” Valuev
16.09.05 - Interview by Izyaslav “Slava” Koza: Approximately 14 years ago the Soviet Union collapsed and many of its former citizens found themselves without jobs, prospects, or the ability to predict their future. Some turned to immigration as a way out, others turned to crime, and yet others like Nicolai Valuev turned to sport, or more precisely to boxing.
A lot of the fans that first heard of Nikolai Valuev, wrote him off as the Primo Carnera of this generation. The Russian Joe Calzaghe if you will. The problem is what these fans thought of the big man, was exactly what every promoter, critic, commentator, and trainer thought of him. In one of his more recent interviews he even said as much in that most everybody laughed him at when starting out, and he didn’t blame them because at that time, he was not much of a fighter. He entered boxing as a means of supporting himself and his family, but the problem was nobody was supporting him and his potential..
That was really the key problem in his inability to develop for so long. For 12 years, he traveled all over the world, fighting in any country that would have him to try and garner decent support from a decent promoter, but until he met Wilfredo Sauerland about 3 years ago there really was no light at the end of the tunnel. Instantly his level of opposition grew from laughable to respectable. Yes perhaps not the best in the world, but his last 5 opponents can compete with any fighter’s last five opponents as a win streak. Now after a decade plus of struggling to prove that he has more to offer fans then just his height, Nikolai Valuev, of Russia, is only one win away from fighting for one of the four prestigious world titles.
Today for the first time I had a chance to conduct an interview with Nikolai by phone, and find out a bit more about the “little known” giant. As far as I know this is the first interview with Nikolai Valuev that was conducted solely for the purpose of English Speaking readers, and especially for those of us who visit ******** Boxing. Special thanks to everybody at Sauerland Promotions and especially Heiko Malwitz.
Slava: Hello? Nikolai Sergeevich?
N.V.: Yes?
Well First off I want to thank you for allowing me to conduct this interview with you.
N.V: Well….you're welcome
Slava: My first question to you is how is your training coming along for the bout with Donald?
N.V.: If I would have to describe it in 2 words I would say its really “active” and we are getting good “intense” work done in sparring.
Slava: Can you tell us whom you’re sparring with?
N.V: I can’t really say that unfortunately, sorry.
Slava: Can you tell our readers why you prefer spending part of your time training in Armenia?
N.V.: Well I really like the conditions there. There are less distractions and people bother me a lot less in Armenia so I can focus better on my training. Also there are plateaus and inclines that allow me to train at a high altitude. Some of them are really up there; some are 800 meters, still as you can probably tell that helps, especially in your physical development.
Slava: As far as I know you have never been knocked down in your career as a professional, just like WBC champ Vitali Klitschko. However against the former champ Lennox Lewis, a cut, not a knockdown cost Klitschko the victory. Were you ever knocked down as a pro?
N.V: No…Thank God
Slava: (laugh) Have you ever had any serious injuries in a fight, like cuts, breaks, or other severe injuries?
N.V.: Also no, I have been quite lucky in that respect.
Slava: Did you happen to see the Mohammed Abdullaev vs. Emanuel Clottey, I believe it was, fight?
N.V.: no I don’t think so.
Slava: Well that was his first loss. What happened was he took a knee and didn’t understand the ref and was therefore counted out. The reason I ask is, I wanted to know if you have ever had any problems understanding the referee in the ring?
N.V.: I have never really had such problems I usually understand the referee’s instructions quite well.
Slava: After the fight with Etienne, he was very talkative to say the least. Did you understand what he said to you?
N.V.: Well he wasn’t really saying much, he was gesticulating a lot and from what I understood offered some sort of recommendations.
Slava: In 1999 in the Czech Republic you fought the only fight in your career that wound up as a NC (no contest)
N.V.: Yup that did happen.
Slava: Well I read in one of the fight reports a long time ago that you were declared the winner and the referee left, at which point Sidon offered to continue the contest.
N.V.: To be honest I am still confused myself as to what happened in that fight. I mean I was declared the winner and the ref left, although maybe they were right it was more of an exhibition show.
Slava: and then Sidon offered to continue fighting?
N.V.: Yes. They had some unknown guy ringing the bell.
Slava: Was it a fan from the crowd or something?
N.V.: I really couldn’t tell you know. The clock wasn’t working, so my trainer was telling me about how much time we had in the round. Maybe we fought 2, 2:30 minutes a round.
Slava: So you did actually fight rounds after the ref had left? Do you remember how many rounds?
N.V: I believe 4. Anyway it was more of a show a spectacle, that’s why I guess they didn’t consider the result fair.
Slava: I am pretty sure you heard that James Toney was stripped of the WBA belt for using steroids.
N.V.: Yea I heard about it.
Slava: So how do you react to the use of Steroids and banned substances in boxing?
N.V.: All I know is that I am not a dope addict and I don’t do drugs.
Slava: (laugh) lets move on. You fought in many countries around the world. In which country that you haven’t fought in would you like to fight?
N.V. Antarctica!
Slava: (laughing) Why?
N.V.: Well I mean it would be a big expensive show. I mean how many people would we get to watch that? Nobody has ever done something like that before; I think it would be interesting.
Slava: Were you able to watch the Corrales vs. Castillo fight?
N.V.: Unfortunately no I was in Armenia at the time I believe. The TV there didn’t broadcast it. I did hear that it was a really great fight. I think Russian TV later re-broadcasted it.
Slava: How do you react to Corrales’ tactic of spitting out the mouthpiece to buy time after each knockdown?
N.V.: Well he had nothing left to do so he did what he had to really to win.
Slava: Would you have reacted the same way if you found yourself in the same situation?
N.V.: I could never pull off something like that. My trainer has trouble removing my mouthpiece in the corner, so I don’t think I can spit it out like that.
Slava: Speaking of which how do you react to dirty fighters, say like Hopkins or Golota?
N.V.: The problem I see with it is that it makes the fight ugly and uninteresting. Its just not “great” boxing.
Slava: Do you believe in “Winning at all costs” or in winning without any so-called “tricks”?
N.V.: It’s hard to say, but I mean you have to be ready for these sorts of things. Just recently I had a fight of this nature.
Slava: oh you mean against Nobles?
N.V.: Yea
Slava: I remember you pushed him or something in the first round?
N.V.: I pushed him? No I was trying to get him off me and move away, and he couldn’t maintain his balance.
Slava: Again speaking of dirty fighters don’t you think that Ruiz’s tactic of throwing a punch, and clinching, or putting his hands underneath his opponent’s arms qualifies as dirty boxing?
N.V.: That is really the definition of dirty boxing.
Slava: Wouldn’t that be grounds for a DQ then?
N.V.: Well I don’t make the rules so I don’t think they could disqualify him for that. I know you just have to be ready for these sorts of fights though.
Slava: From what you can remember what is the best single fight that you have ever seen?
N.V. Out of the really interesting ones that spring to mind right away I would say Marvin Hagler versus…oh jeez I can’t remember who.
Slava: Hearns?
N.V.: who?
Slava: Tommy Hearns?
N.V.: (asking somebody besides him if they can remember) no no.
Slava: Was it a full 12 round fight?
N.V.: Yea it was. It was against the Olympic champion…
Slava: Leonard?
N.V.: That’s it! “Sugary” Ray Leonard.
Slava: heh Sugar Ray. Why did you like that fight?
N.V.: it was just a beautiful demonstration of great boxing skills.
Slava: What about the most boring and horrible fight?
N.V.: hmm…nothing comes to mind
Slava: Nothing where you just wanted to turn off the TV?
N.V.: No nothing I can remember.
Slava: Maybe Ruiz Oquendo did you see that?
N.V.: No I don’t think I did. Also I think the thing is they don’t show many bad fights on TV. If its on TV it can’t be that bad.