That was said at the time, he apparently tried everything to dodge the fight as he was said to be mortified that he had to go in and supposedly beat up one of the all time greats and someone who he grew up watching.Asterix wrote:Raff The Frenchman reckoned Valuev wasn't "up" for the Holyfield fight, because he was fighting one of his boxing idols. Interesting take.
To clarify I had been told this 6 weeks before the fight that he really did not want it but was being pressurised into it, think King was involved if memory serves with the US angle.
He was not himself that night that is for sure, it was by far and away the worst he has ever performed.
People need to watch the Ruiz x 2 and Chagaev fights with the blinkers off and forget the downer everyone has on him because of his size.
They were very close fights particularly the first one but Valuev won the second fight in my mind clearly and thats if memory serves only about 15 months ago or so, thought he looked ok in that one.
Had Chagaev by a round personally and whilst many will disagree and say it was wider the second half of the fight was largely the Russian's on my card.
I thought he was troubled by Chagaev's speed early doors and it was only as Chagaev slowed the fight became more even down the stretch.
Booth said something interesting about Haye having a certain body make up which makes him more of a sprinter type than a distance man (in athletic parlance) he said it was something they could not change so perhaps he will be true to his word and go out for the ko for six rounds, knowing how Valuev fights and stays on late so to speak.
Hope he wins but still fancy Valuev ko around the half way point.
