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“The side show that is
Nikolay Valuev.”
Mike Casile
Philadelphia boxing report |
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(SEPT 8) Ok, so you wanted some
excitement in the Heavyweight division. You wanted to see something.
Well, here is – something? Nikolay Valuev is over 7ft tall, and weighs
320lbs. He does not look like anything of this world; in fact, I think
before people worry about Tommy Morrison passing his HIV test, they
should be more concerned about Nikolay passing his DNA test. I am pretty
sure they just thawed him out of a chunk of Ice in Siberia.
I have seen some of his fights, and what I asked myself was, how do they
make him look so big? That is creative. I really found it hard to
believe, that this guy could actually be real, much less a professional
fighter. Maybe a wrestler, but not a bonafide, highly ranked
heavyweight. I was wrong. He actually is here, In the USA. When I’ve
seen him on T.V. walking the streets of Manhattan, I was wondering if he
was going to grab Katie Couric, and climb to the top of the Empire State
Building. All kidding aside he is 44 - 0 (32 ko's), and obviously
somebody that is hard to take down.
He has not fought the stiffest competition though, but then again, who
has? Who has fought anybody that deserves mentioning? Yes, Valuev is
more caveman than fighter, yes, he is getting a career from carnival
like size, yes, I hope he doesn’t have three older sisters, but
seriously, he deserves as much, or more credit than any of the Champions
now. He is undefeated, and maybe he has a really great translator! How
much more can we hope for? His boxing skills are marginal at best. He
kind of has a jab, the way Ruiz, kind of has a big punch, the way James
Toney kind of has stamina, and the way Klitschko kind of has a beard.
Maybe we can trade talent and boxing ability for a few “big” surprises,
no pun intended. Lord knows this division is taking a standing eight
count. Fans are wandering through the dark room of the glamour division,
with arms extended, looking for a switch. Well maybe this guy is the
light needed, in an era of Heavyweight boxing that is so boring, even
the fighters themselves are bored. So, ok Mr. Valuev. You have our
attention, now let’s see if you can revive a dead division, or keep us
in the dark, on a grandiose scale. (Originally written 09/06/06)
Mike Casile
The Philadelphia Boxing Report
ESPN RADIO 920AM (weekends) |
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