Valuev V Chagaeav in Helsinki

[MacTavish]

Anyone going to this? Will it sell out?

[Dioufy]

Strange place to have a heavyweight world title fight, when both aren't from this country.

[Scrap]

Its a great venue, but F**king cold in December DD

[Coco]

Has the date been confirmed? If so what is it?

[Carbo]

You know, this is bizarre. Helsinki is just over the border from St Petersburg, where I think Valuev lives, but the strange thing is that Russians need a visa to go to Finland, which isn't exactly cheap or easy to get, and it means that they probably won't get many travelling fans.

I've been to Helsinki a few times (I got the train from Moscow, which is great), and I have to tell you that while it's a lovely city, it's not exactly what I'd call a boxing fan's heaven: beer is six euros and up for half litre in the bars, and everything else isn't exactly cheap.

I can only imagine that they've got some cash from the local council or tourist board or something.

[MacTavish]

Carbo - how much are return trains / buses from St Petersburg to Helsinki? Train much quicker I would imagine?

[Carbo]

Carbo - how much are return trains / buses from St Petersburg to Helsinki? Train much quicker I would imagine?

Yes, there are a few every day, of differing standards. I think it takes about six hours on a non-too fast track.

But remember, if you're English, you'll need a visa to get to St P. You'll probably be able to get one at the Russian consulate in Helsinki, but better to do so in London/Edinburgh, which you can do by post.

There are also busses, I know, which are cheaper and not so much slower, but I've never done the bus, and wouldn't fancy it so much, either.

St P is an amazing city, though, so if you're ever in the hood I would recommend it.

[MacTavish]

Cheers, think if I go might just do helsinki. Tickets go on sale on monday, hope they are not too expensive. The arena is approx. 12,000 but can't see it selling out unless I'm underestimating the Finns love of boxing!

[brian13]

I don't blame them the arena looks very nice and they can test the market for the finnish boxing fans aswell.

[glahn]

It's probably the only place where people will pay to see such a tedious plodfest.

[Carbo]

OK, I've just come up with a brain wave about why this fight's in Helsinki: Currency.

The ruble is not floated freely like the pound, euro and dollar, but is instead managed against a basket made up of 45% euros and 55% dollars. Basically, the central bank of Russia intervenes on the Forex market to buy dollars with rubles when the ruble looks like getting too strong and buys rubles with dollars when it looks like getting too weak. Now, because of the falling price of oil last autumn, they were forced to let the ruble fall below it's lower band against the basket -- but they didn't want to let it fall freely incase it caused a run on the banks where every Russian, remembering when they lost all their savings in the 90s, all at once wanted to withdraw rubles and tried to convert into dollars. So, they slowly let it fall by about 40% against the basket.

So, now the ruble is far weaker than the euro compared to where it was in the summer -- about 45%. If the fighters are being paid in dollars or euros -- which is likely -- perhaps they don't want to hold it in Russia where all gate receipts will be in rubles. It would mean they would have to set ticket prices higher to get the same money as if they sold them in euros.

Perhaps that's the reason.

And after Valuev -- Holyfield, they probably felt they couldn't expect much interest from the Swiss market...

[MacTavish]

This one's lining up to be a cracker

[crusader]

Potential Fight of the Year candidate

[Carbo]

Cheers, think if I go might just do helsinki. Tickets go on sale on monday, hope they are not too expensive. The arena is approx. 12,000 but can't see it selling out unless I'm underestimating the Finns love of boxing!

BTW, if you're planning to fly to St P and then go to Helsinki bear this in mind: cross border trains aren't cheap; second, buying train tickets in Russia without Russian is a nightmare -- take it from me. The staff at the ticket kiosks are implacably rude and inpatient, and the way ticket allocations work in Russia are weird. It's not like the UK, where you can go to Waterloo and buy a ticket to get to Newcastle from Kings Cross. You might have to go to Finlandskiy Vagsal (station) to get them, because that's where the train would probably leave from. However, if, for instance, they've run out, you might be able to get one from Moskovskiy Vagsal because they have a fast train that goes from Moscow to Helsinki through St P. It's all FUBAR.

I'd far rather fly to Helsinki direct. Saves on visas, too.

[Shirow]

Anyone going to this? Will it sell out?

I'm organising a trip for this, i've sent you a pm.

[MacTavish]

Potential Fight of the Year candidate

Yep, should be a good one, who you got to win?

[crusader]

Potential Fight of the Year candidate

Yep, should be a good one, who you got to win?

Well I was just joking about the fight of the year part

But I think Chagaev will win. I think his performance against Drummond was largely due to his time out of the ring and I believe he is talented enough to get inside the long reach of Valuev and score well. In the first fight he showed this and I think he will do it again.

[MacTavish]

I agree, Chagaev should be too quick and will get inside, are you going out for it?

[crusader]

I agree, Chagaev should be too quick and will get inside, are you going out for it?

No, I have school and I can't afford to miss any

Have you ever been to a German promoted show? The atmosphere there seems much different from any fight Ive ever been to. The crowd look like more like one you would see at the opera.

[MacTavish]

Yep went to Skelton Vs Chagaev in Dusseldorf - you're right about the crowds! Tickets were meant to go on sale today - I have a feeling chagaev has pulled out AGAIN!

[El Raincoat]

I'm intending to head over to this one. Nothing booked yet but have tentative plans

I live in Cardiff and will be heading to Heathrow on the Thursday (28 May) get to the weight in on the Friday & the fight Saturday home on the Sunday.

Does anyone know how far the airport is from the City Centre? How far the Hartwell arena is from the City centre? are they easy to commute to and from? Also anyone know any good places to stay? I was looking at a Radisson £66 on two of the night double on the Thursday though.

Any feed back welcome.

[Bard of Boxrec]

God, what a horrific fight to contemplate travelling that far to see.

[MacTavish]

Cheapest seat is 75 euros, giving it a miss!

[The_Don1]

OK, I've just come up with a brain wave about why this fight's in Helsinki: Currency.

The ruble is not floated freely like the pound, euro and dollar, but is instead managed against a basket made up of 45% euros and 55% dollars. Basically, the central bank of Russia intervenes on the Forex market to buy dollars with rubles when the ruble looks like getting too strong and buys rubles with dollars when it looks like getting too weak. Now, because of the falling price of oil last autumn, they were forced to let the ruble fall below it's lower band against the basket -- but they didn't want to let it fall freely incase it caused a run on the banks where every Russian, remembering when they lost all their savings in the 90s, all at once wanted to withdraw rubles and tried to convert into dollars. So, they slowly let it fall by about 40% against the basket.

So, now the ruble is far weaker than the euro compared to where it was in the summer -- about 45%. If the fighters are being paid in dollars or euros -- which is likely -- perhaps they don't want to hold it in Russia where all gate receipts will be in rubles. It would mean they would have to set ticket prices higher to get the same money as if they sold them in euros.

Perhaps that's the reason.

And after Valuev -- Holyfield, they probably felt they couldn't expect much interest from the Swiss market...

You put a lot of thought into that one!

But if that is the case...why not just hold the fight in Germany where both boxers are based, which would make more sense.

[Carbo]

OK, I've just come up with a brain wave about why this fight's in Helsinki: Currency.

The ruble is not floated freely like the pound, euro and dollar, but is instead managed against a basket made up of 45% euros and 55% dollars. Basically, the central bank of Russia intervenes on the Forex market to buy dollars with rubles when the ruble looks like getting too strong and buys rubles with dollars when it looks like getting too weak. Now, because of the falling price of oil last autumn, they were forced to let the ruble fall below it's lower band against the basket -- but they didn't want to let it fall freely incase it caused a run on the banks where every Russian, remembering when they lost all their savings in the 90s, all at once wanted to withdraw rubles and tried to convert into dollars. So, they slowly let it fall by about 40% against the basket.

So, now the ruble is far weaker than the euro compared to where it was in the summer -- about 45%. If the fighters are being paid in dollars or euros -- which is likely -- perhaps they don't want to hold it in Russia where all gate receipts will be in rubles. It would mean they would have to set ticket prices higher to get the same money as if they sold them in euros.

Perhaps that's the reason.

And after Valuev -- Holyfield, they probably felt they couldn't expect much interest from the Swiss market...

You put a lot of thought into that one!

But if that is the case...why not just hold the fight in Germany where both boxers are based, which would make more sense.

Maybe because they're based there??

I mean, if everyone knows them, everyone will know what a dreadful fight it'll be.

Joking aside, this seems to fit into some kind of strategy for Valuev, who seems to be on a tour of pleasent, affluent, cold-climate European cities.

BTW, while I know Valuev has traditionally fought out of Germany, I thought he lived in St Petersburg?