Nikolay Valuev - the destructive giant of world professional boxing

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When you hear about a person with a height of 213 cm and a weight of 149 kg, you hardly imagine the figure of a professional athlete. Rather, your first association will be with a retired basketball or volleyball player. There will be logic in such thoughts, but these are the exact data from the highest body weight of the boxer Nikolay Sergeevich Valuev, while he was still a professional. Even more impressive for the 1973-born Russian is that he is a two-time WBA world champion. We hardly need to specify that this happens in the heavyweight division.

Valuev developed his success in professional boxing in the period 1993 - 2009. Born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), the boxer did not enjoy a particularly successful amateur career, unlike some of the stars in the modern era at the heaviest such as Wladimir Klitschko, Anthony Joshua and Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev. The "Beast from the East" does not reach medals from major championships. A notable element of his biography is that he tried to revive his amateur career while already competing in the professional ranks - a rare decision. Nikolay Valuev failed in this task, but he definitely gained popularity in the professional ring. On it, he remains in history as the tallest and heaviest world champion.

In his career, Nikolay Valuev appeared in the professional ring 53 times. He won his two world titles thanks to a total of 50 victories, of which 34 were by knockout. In his illustrious career, the Russian giant defeated some of the biggest stars in the history of the sport – the American Evander Holyfield, his compatriot John Ruiz, the Jamaican Owen Beck and many other boxers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Mexico and Great Britain.

In 16 years in the professional ring, only two opponents beat the 213-centimeter champion. Both defeats cost him the world heavyweight title. The first is from the 25 cm shorter Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev. The second came in what turned out to be the last match of Chagaev's professional career. Then the much-loved Great Britain David Haye got to his 23rd win in his 24th pro fight. What Valuev's two losses have in common is that they were by decision in favor of the opponent after a full 12 rounds. Thus, the "Beast from the East" leaves the professional ring without a single knockout against him.

In addition to his impressive dimensions, Valuev is gaining success in the ring thanks to his remarkable technique for his height, as well as a daring mind. In 2011, he entered politics. He also publishes a book, the title of which is "My 12 Rounds".

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