Ruslan Chagaev: biography of the boxer

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

Ruslan Shamilovich Chagaev is an Uzbek ex-boxer (nicknamed "White Tyson"), whose career lasted from 1997 to 2016. He is a two-time WBA world champion heavyweight division. Carried the WBA title from 2007 to 2009. In addition, he is the regular heavyweight champion of the World Boxing Association from 2014 to 2016. During his amateur career, Ruslan Chagaev won gold medals at the 2001 World Cup and the 1999 Asian Championship in the heavy weight category. The boxer's height is 185 centimeters, the arm span is 188 cm. He has a strong punching technique and power, is very technical and smart in terms of boxing intelligence.

July 28, 2016 announced his retirement from big boxing. The reason for the end of a career was a progressive eye disease.

Biography

Ruslan Chagaev was born on the nineteenth of October in 1978 in the city of Andijan, the Uzbek SSR (now the Republic of Uzbekistan). From a young age, he started boxing. From the first years of training, the guy began to showa worthy result, in connection with which he began to take part in many amateur tournaments. In 1995, Ruslan won his first serious title - the champion of Asia in the heavy weight category among amateurs. In total, he won many titles in amateur boxing. Between 1995 and 2001 he became a two-time world champion and a two-time Asian champion.

In 1997, Chagaev became the world champion, however, later he was deprived of this title, because before the amateur “mundial”, the Uzbek boxer had two fights in pro boxing. By the way, Chagaev's pro debut took place on August 21, 1997 against the American Donnie Penelton in the city of Aurora (Illinois, USA). In this fight, Ruslan got an easy and unconditional victory.

Professional career

After the triumph at the World Championship Ruslan Chagaev re-qualified back to the pro league.

On September 21, 2001, the third pro-fight in the career of Chagaev took place. The opponent was the American Everett Martin. The fight ended in the fourth round with a knockout - Ruslan Chagaev won. After this fight, Everett Martin ended his career (the difference between the boxers was 15 years). Until January 2006, he had 15 more fights, among which he won 14 times and once boxed in a draw with American Rob Calloway.

On March 11, 2006, a fight took place against Ukrainian Vladimir Virchis in Hamburg (Germany). At stake were two international titles according to the WBA and WBO. During the fight Ruslan Chagaev dominated, but the opponent adequately responded. ByAt the end of 12 rounds, the victory was given to the Uzbek boxer by the decision of the judges. In the next fight on July 15, 2006, Chagaev defended his WBA and WBO titles against British boxer Michael Sprott.

Title fight: Ruslan Chagaev vs. Nikolai Valuev

On November 18, 2006, the WBA contenders fight between John Ruiz (USA) and Ruslan Chagaev took place in Dusseldorf (Germany). The winner of this pair went to the WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. The fight ended with a technical knockout in the eighth round (on the 2nd minute 54th second) in favor of "white Tyson".

The title fight against Nikolai Valuev took place on April 14, 2007. Until the moment of this meeting, both boxers had unbeaten fight statistics. During the duel, Ruslan was noticeably superior to his opponent. The fight lasted all 12 rounds, after which the victory was awarded to Chagaev on points. At a press conference after the fight, Russian boxer Nikolai Valuev admitted that his opponent was stronger and that he considers the decision of the judges fair. Thus, Ruslan Chagaev won his first WBA belt in the heavyweight division.

Frustrated rematch with Valuev, fight against Wladimir Klitschko

In 2009, a revenge against Nikolai Valuev was planned, but the Russian could not be ready for the fight due to an injury. At the same time, Wladimir Klitschko could not find an opponent either. Due to the fact that both boxers had a top rating, they signed a contract with each other for a fight. Before the fight with Klitschko, Chagaev was stripped of the WBA championship title. The fight took place on June 20, 2009, with such titles as The Ring, IBO, IBF and WBO at stake. The Ukrainian won in the 9th round according to RTD rules (Chagaev's side flew a white flag).

July 6, 2014, the fight for the title of WBA regular champion between Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo and Ruslan Chagaev took place in Grozny at the Akhmat Arena. During the 12-round duel, Chagaev won. The following year, "white Tyson" defended his title against Italian Francesco Pianetta - a knockout in the first round. In total, Chagaev held the title of regular WBA champion for almost two years. On March 5, 2016, Ruslan lost to Lucas Brown and lost his title. In the same year, Chagaev ended his boxing career.