"White Tyson" amped up to face "Russian Giant"

In an intriguing battle of unbeaten heavyweights, WBA mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev (22-0-1, 17 KOs) is prepared to face seven-foot world champion Nikolai Valuev (46-0, 34 KOs) on Saturday night at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Standing 6'1, the 230-pounder Hamburg-based Uzbek will be giving away eleven inches and nearly 100 pounds. Known as "White Tyson," Chagaev is quick to point out that ring great Iron Mike Tyson was also a smaller heavyweight who dominated the division in his prime.

He enters Saturday's fight with consecutive wins over current European champion Vladimir Virchis, current European Union champion Michael Sprott, and former world champion John Ruiz, whom he defeated in a WBA eliminator in November. This fight is widely viewed as by far Valuev's toughest challenge to date. Here's what Chagaev had to say...

Have you prepared anything special to turn the extreme size differential between you and Valuev to your favor?

In the main preparations, everything was as usual. We trained nearly two months at the training center in Schwerin, the home area of my trainer Michael Timm. Then the sparring phase was a bit different: Every day a NBA basketball team came into the gym, headed by seven-footer Julius Long. With them I trained my neck muscles for the look upwards.

And why is the size difference an advantage for you?

Well, first of all, the clear advantage appears to lie with the "giant" Valuev. But, I am the quicker, more mobile boxer and I have a hard punch. Previously, in both my world championship victories as an amateur against the legendary Cuban Felix Savon (6'5), I had no problems with the size difference. In the professionals, I have almost always had bigger opponents and am still undefeated. A model is Mike Tyson. I always enjoy seeing his fights and in 1997 I met him in Las Vegas. Mike was also always the smaller boxer, and nevertheless he has become a world champion several times.

Do you think the fight will go the full distance? If not, in which round will it end?

I won't make a prediction - it is ultimately about a world championship. My training was and is aimed at 12 rounds. You can't train for an early end or even predict the round.

Where do you see the strengths of Nikolai Valuev?

It's clearly his height and above all his weight. Boxingwise, I'd rather not say anything about him now.

Where do you see the weaknesses of your opponent?

My trainer Michael Timm and our team have already agreed on those. The trainer was at Valuev's last fight in Basel and picked up some important knowledge there. More I can't give away.

You both have families. Will your wife and child be at ringside? And if not, where will they be on the 14th of April?

Ordinarily it's no problem, but currently my wife is pregnant with our second son and she prefers to stay home in Hamburg with our son Artur, who is now three years old. But they both have been nearby often, for example, they were with me at training camp in Schwerin. Especially Artur is happily with me in the gym where he enthusiastically drives a slalom with his tricycle.

How do you explain the domination of boxers from the former Soviet Union in the heavyweight division?

Quite simply: We are good workers, can crack down upon ourselves and are above all hungry.

You are the heavyweight stars of your boxing stables and the fight is a duel between the biggest German promoters. Do you feel additional pressure?

No, zero problem - it really makes no difference to me. I fight for myself and Universum. Whomever it's against doesn't matter.

With this fight also rolls in the rubles – do you have a long-preserved personal wish you want to come true after the fight?

No big personal wishes are waiting. Most important is my family. There will be a nice vacation with them and a bigger apartment, maybe with a garden. That has become necessary already because of our second child.

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