AFP Photo / Clemens Bilan
“Knockout is Chagaev’s only chance against Klitschko”
Published 18 June, 2009, 12:42
Uzbek heavyweight Ruslan Chagaev can triumph over IBF and WBO champ Wladimir Klitshcko only if he knocks him out in the beginning of the fight, says Aleksandr Zimin, coach of Russian boxer Nikolay Valuev.
But if the fight last for the whole 12 rounds and Klitschko (52-3, 46 KOs) will be able to keep his rival on distance, the Ukrainian will convincingly win on points.
Taking to sportbox.ru, the specialist also said that he doesn’t know in which physical conditions the fighters are coming into the June 20 bout in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, but added that a lot will depend on Chagev’s (25-0, 17 KOs) motivation.
Zimin’s charge – the 2.13-meter Nikolay Valuev – was to face Chagaev on May 30 to decide which of them is the ‘real’ WBA champ, but the fight was cancelled due to hepatitis infection found in the Uzbek’s blood.
Meanwhile, Chagaev’s coach, Michael Timm, suggests the chances are fifty-fifty.
“Two high class boxers will enter the ring on Saturday, both having great techniques. They are both excellent punchers, and we are about to see who the best heavyweight in the world is,” he said.
But Chagaev was not so circumspect.
“I’ll win this fight. This is what I cane here for. I have no other goal,” the Uzbek said after an open-work out in the German city of Essen.
“I’m prepared to go 12 rounds. But only God knows what will happen,” he added, fightnews.com report.
Wladimir Klitschko’s coach Emanuel Steward left the open training session, where both boxers were present, in a positive mood, saying he saw a lot of interesting things there.
The American explained that his man – Wladimir – can move, but his Uzbek rival is unable to do so.
Klitschko appeared at the session wearing a T-shirt saying "Fit und Geimpft" (“Fit and vaccinated” in German), showing he’s not afraid of either Chagaev or his disease.
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