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Ruslan Chagaev

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Ruslan Chagaev
File:Ruslan chagayev.jpg
Born
Ruslan Chagaev

(1978-10-19) October 19, 1978 (age 45)
Andijan, Uzbekistan
NationalityUzbekistan Uzbekistani
Other namesWhite Tyson
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights24
Wins23
Wins by KO17
Losses0
Draws1
No contests0
Ruslan Chagaev
Medal record
Representing  Uzbekistan
Men’s Boxing
World Amateur Championships
Gold medal – first place Belfast 2001 Super Heavyweight

Ruslan Chagaev (Russian: Руслан Чагаев; born October 19, 1978 in Andijan, Uzbekistan) is a professional boxer, currently holding the WBA heavyweight title. As an amateur fighter, he has won the Asian and World Championships in the heavyweight (81-91 kg) category.

Chagaev originally won the gold medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships after beating boxing legend Félix Savón in the final, but when it was discovered that Chagaev had been boxing professionally, he lost the title and was suspended for a year. In 1998, he returned to win gold in the 1998 Asian Games and another world title in the superheavyweight category in the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Chagaev is an Honored Sportsman of the Republic of Uzbekistan and nicknamed "White Tyson."

Amateur achievements

Chagaev, a two-time world amateur champion, defeated legendary Cuban boxer Félix Savón to capture the gold medal at the 1997 World Championships. After being stripped of his crown for having two pro fights prior to the championships, Chagaev was reinstated as an amateur when the fights were declared exhibitions. In summary, Chagaev won 82 of his 85 amateur fights.

Chagaev vs Savon

Chagaev is notorious for being the only foreign fighter to defeat Savon twice in the international competitions. First, at the age of 19 he beat the then 2-time Olympic champion 14-4, capturing the 1997 World Heavyweight title. In 1999, he defeated him again 7-2 in the final of an international boxing cup in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Savon was able to avenge defeats in the 1999 World Championship, beating Chagaev 9-1.

Professional achievements

Although he fought twice in 1997, Chagaev did not start fighting regularly until 2001. The only flaw on his record came in 2002 against Rob Calloway in Michigan. At the end of third round, the fight was stopped due to Calloway having a cut caused by headbutt. Michigan boxing rule mandated that the fight be called a Technical Draw (TD) since the bout ended by an accidental foul. Usually four rounds are needed to go to the score cards for decision.

Chagaev slowly but steadily climbed up the heavyweight ranks, first avenging the no-contest with a brutal second round knockout of Calloway, then beating Klitschko-like Ukrainian prospect Vladimir Virchis in a close and intense punchfest, and slowly took apart prominent British boxer Michael Sprott, who many thought upset Virchis a year earlier.

In November 2006, he fought the former WBA champion John Ruiz, and prevailed in a close contest. He took a split decision with scores of 117-111 and 116-112 for Chagaev, and 115-114 for Ruiz. Chagaev became the mandatory challenger for a shot at Nicolay Valuev. Chagaev defeated Valuev on April 14, 2007 by a majority decision (117-111, 115-113 and 114-114) to become the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World.

On June 26, 2007, it was announced that Ruslan Chagaev would partake in a heavyweight unification bout with WBO Heavyweight Champion Sultan Ibragimov. The fight was due to take place in Moscow on October 13, 2007 and would have been the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999[1], however Chagaev had to drop out of the fight after contracting hepatitis B.[citation needed]. At that point, it was not clear whether he would have been able to compete at all, with WBA considering a championship tourney for Chagaev's crown[2]. After Ibragimov defended his crown against Evander Holyfield, however, it was announced that Chagaev was able to recover, and is now set to fight Matt Skelton in February 2008.

Ruslan Chagaev (center) inside the ring with his coach Michael Timm (right) challenging Rob Calloway (left). January 7, 2006).

Nationality

Chagaev's parents, Shamil and Zamira Chagaev, are from the Tatar village of Kalda, Barysh, Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, who moved to Uzbekistan in the 1950s.

See also

Inspired by the victory of Ruslan Chagaev over Nikolai Valuev, Uzbekistani gamers created a flash game called "Zabei Valueva" (Russian for 'Beat Valuev'). It can be found here: http://www.beer.uz/game/331

References

  1. ^ "ESPN - Ibragimov, Chagaev to unify heavyweigh titles - Boxing". Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  2. ^ "Boxing Commentary: The WBA Tournament - Are These Guys Crazy?".
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