Heavyweight champs agree unification bout

Eurosport - Wed, 24 Jun 17:49:00 2009

WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev will meet WBC title holder Vitaly Klitschko in a unification fight this year.

BOXING Vitaly Klitschko (left) and Nikolai Valuev - 0

"I've talked to Vitaly on the phone recently and we agreed to meet each other in a ring," said Russian Valuev, 35.

"As far as the dates we're talking about the end of September or early October."

Ukrainian Klitschko confirmed his prospective opponent's claim.

"Yes, it's true," he said. "Nikolai had offered to fight and I've accepted his challenge."

Klitschko, 37, became eligible to fight Valuev after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that he did not have to make a mandatory defence against former champion Oleg Maskaev.

Valuev's fight with Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev was cancelled last month because Chagaev had tested positive for hepatitis B.

Klitschko's younger brother Vladimir, who holds the IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight belts, retained his titles when he knocked out Chagaev in a fight in Germany on Saturday.

In a fragmented heavyweight division, boxing fans worldwide have long been hoping that an undisputed champion will emerge.

"I think everyone in the boxing world would want to see this fight because people are tired of having so many different title versions," Valuev said.

Reuters

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. true KARL, that would be the only decent heavyweght­ fight, but wont happen.

    From neilsenti55, on Wed 1 Jul 9:27PM

  2. what do people keep talking about unifying for? are the­ brothers going to fight each other? no.

    From KarlB, on Wed 1 Jul 4:52PM

  3. Justin.tv online is a website that has sport shown that­ Sky misses out on...
    Could be worth a try to watch the­ boxing on there, not great pictures but good enough now­ setanta are gone.

    Hope it helps,

    From Joe, on Wed 1 Jul 12:36PM

  4. haye is too small to tangle with these ukraine­ bangers!!...and the heavyweight division is better now­ than it was when it was dominated by fat overhyped­ yanks!!so there!!

    From sean d, on Sun 28 Jun 10:33PM

  5. Nice 1 james i think you will find round 8 IS between 7­ and 9 NICE BIT OF ROCKET SCIENCE YOU WROTE THERE

    From matbutler81, on Sat 27 Jun 3:11PM

  6. Does anyone no what channell the abraham fight will be­­ on on satuday, as setanta have gone tits up?

    From neilsenti55, on Thu 25 Jun 10:44PM

  7. Hmmm.... This might be the most boring fight EVER.­ Jab,jab,jab,jab,jab, jab. plod plod plod. jab jab­ jab.Vitali will win, probably on points, but to be­ honest i dont care. I couldnt care less about anyone in­ the heavyweight devision except haye. The only one who­ brings a bit of life to the division.

    From neilsenti55, on Thu 25 Jun 10:42PM

  8. Could be an interesting fight, my money is on Vitali to­ stop Valuev beween R7 and R9 but in saying that my gut­ says R8. But it could be fun to watch.
    Anyway, have a­ good night guys, peace J.

    From JamesH, on Thu 25 Jun 8:51PM

  9. clean up the streets of virulent trash lets get rid of­ sirstevejones and neilsenti,the offensive twosome,or is­ it one? know F UCK ALL about boxing so just keep­ blabbing on about British Nuclear Power.Lads we 've­ got your point,now just go away and continue on your­ ill content sad little bigoted lives and let us folk­ who actually enjoy living in England and enjoy our­ sport talk about it in peace,take your co ckeyed­ misjudged political oppinions somewhere where people­ give a s hit about them.Here's a suggestion,go over­ to Germany and Austria could probably find a few 80­ year olds to chat about the good ole days with,while­ you're there remind them how my grandad kicked­ their a rses in two world wars,Facists are fa ggots­ always have been always will be.Back to boxing,Valuev­ will be stopped in r9

    From jack torrance, on Thu 25 Jun 7:07PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Enzo Mac does possess an amazingly fast and­ heavy-handed jab. He lost to Afolabi because he­ wasn't motivated, looked lethargic and didn't­ train properly (maybe Enzo Calzaghe hasn't got the­ hunger as a trainer since his son's retirement)­ hence, why he left their gym straight after the fight.­ And Afolabi did land an amazing punch. But Mac has the­ hunger and desire to succeed but I don't feel­ he's interested in the Cruiserweight division­ anymore (after that defeat to Haye). And Mac smashed­ Ellis in two rounds when he did have his only fight at­ Heavyweight (Banks cancelled his title fight with an­ injury and then moved up to heavyweight). And would a­ slow Chagaev (who's meant to be one of the­ Heavyweight's best) really hurt Fury, Maccarinelli­ or Haye? The answer is no.

    From The Xentertainer, on Thu 25 Jun 2:47PM

  11. In the pic they have the wrong brother, the Klitcho­ they are showing is Wladimir. But I guess it does not­ matter

    From seriousness_one, on Thu 25 Jun 2:34PM

  12. Steve you are an idoit...this forum isn't the place­ to spout your racist mumbo jumbo. Get lost!

    From Tai P, on Thu 25 Jun 10:54AM

  13. vote BP keep britain moving out with Shell and Esso

    From jack torrance, on Thu 25 Jun 8:53AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Vote BNP. To stop racism and to promote equal rights.

    From neilsenti55, on Thu 25 Jun 5:47AM

  15. Does anyone no what channell the abraham fight will be­ on on satuday, as setanta have gone tits up?

    From neilsenti55, on Wed 24 Jun 11:21PM

  16. Ho him again.

    From iancampbell11, on Wed 24 Jun 10:58PM

  17. Klitshko in 11!

    From jas, on Wed 24 Jun 6:14PM

  18. suprise suprise never saw that one coming NOT! another­ boring fight it will be like watching two cart horses­ plodding around the ring for 12 rounds zzzZZZ boring,­ how the heavyweight scene needs new talent fast before­ these lot kill it off for good..

    From johnherbert80, on Wed 24 Jun 4:23PM

  19. Macarinelli has already been banged out by Haye and­ Afolabi (the latter who nobody had even heard of until­ they fought on Khan's undercard) - so to suggest­ he's good enough now to mix it with the Klitschkos­ etc. is just plain stupid. How can he no longer be­ motivated in a division where he's been doing­ badly? What, he needs to move up a weight and get­ KO'd even quicker?!?! And as for Vitali being­ similar in size to Holyfield.... yeah, Vitali is 5­ inches taller and over 2 stone heavier than Holyfield,­ so you don't know your arse from your elbow either.­ Muppets.

    From tlarocca09, on Wed 24 Jun 4:18PM

  20. i might buy the rights for this fight and sell it as a­ cure for insomnia! il be an overnight millionare!

    From gerrymurphymurphy, on Wed 24 Jun 4:10PM
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