Translated material
Favorite color and size
The time has come for Nikolai Valuev to defend his title for the second time
On Saturday, WBA world champion Nikolai Valuev will be officially presented to America. In Chicago, the Russian will try to do everything to win the hearts of American boxing fans. This is exactly the plan of Don King, who decided to make Valuev a new heavyweight superstar. After all, no matter how many fights Nikolai wins in Europe, real recognition of professional boxing can only be achieved in the USA. The rival of the “beast from the east” will be the American Monte Barrett. It was him that Don King, who bought part of the rights to Nikolai Valuev’s fights, prepared as the first victim for his ward.Don King knows better than anyone how to make a real event out of a fight, and, having brought the “big white guy” to America, he made sure that he did not lack advertising. King calls this battle “the big red October” - apparently, he is well aware of all the red days of the calendar celebrated in the USSR. “Well, red is my favorite color,” Monte Barrett is not embarrassed. But it would hardly even occur to him to say that Valuev is his favorite size. Just looking at the fight poster is enough. On it, Valuev and Barett stand with their backs to each other, and the advertising slogan reads: “They will never look each other in the eye.” In this, by the way, one can find some hint of the difference in height between Valuev and Barrett - the American really needs to jump high to be face to face with the champion. But the American is playing on his home field, and this is his main chance. Valuev has yet to become his own in America.
Nikolai Valuev has already been to the USA. A month ago, the Russian walked around New York, Chicago and Los Angeles and everywhere, thanks to his size, he was a noticeable figure. He even showed up at the US Open Tennis Championships. Valuev also wandered into a boxing match in which Samuel Peter and James Toney met. And not for the sake of idle curiosity: as coach Manvel Gabrielyan explained, it was important for Nikolai to feel the atmosphere that reigns in American boxing gyms. But then Valuev was behind the ropes. Now he has to step into the ring himself.
His rival Monte Barrett is also doing his best, saying in the press everything that is required in such cases. “Success is almost in my pocket, I just have to get into the ring and show everyone what I can do,” Barrett fuels interest in the fight. - I watched a lot of fights with the participation of the Russian and over the past month I have been replaying our fight with him in my head all the time. I want you to know that this will be an easy fight for me. Yes, he is a world champion, but I did my homework.”
At the same time, however, one cannot deny Barrett at least some chance of winning - the 35-year-old American is rightfully considered a fairly strong boxer. Of his 35 fights, he lost only four. However, among them is the most important fight of his life - a year ago, Barrett lost to Hasim Rahman in the fight for the interim WBC title.
Now Barrett has another chance to take the championship belt, and he is very pleased with it. “For the previous two months I lived without thinking about tomorrow, and it will be the same during my fight on Saturday,” says Barrett. - I really like that no one puts any pressure on me. Few people think that I have any chance in the upcoming fight.”
Among the majority is Valuev’s coach Manvel Gabrielyan. “There is a decline in American boxing,” says the Russian’s mentor. - There are few promising boxers there now. There is practically no one in the heavyweight division. I want Nikolai to become the absolute world champion. I think we have a chance to make this dream come true.” But to make your dreams come true, you first need to beat Barrett.