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posted May 30, 2008 at 13:37 in Other Articles

Nicolay Valuev, a native of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in Russia, will take on Uzbekistan's Ruslan Chagaev in an attempt to win back the World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title in sports betting action when the two tangle on Saturday in Halle, Germany. The fight is scheduled for twleve rounds.

These fighters were matched up against each other a little more than a year ago, with Chagaev emerging the winner by decision.

BetUS boxing betting odds:

WBA Heavyweight Title

May 31 -- Halle, Germany

NICOLAY VALUEV -135
RUSLAN CHAGAEV +105

 

OVER 9.5 ROUNDS -450

UNDER 9.5 ROUNDS +275

For online sports betting purposes, let's size up the contestants:

VALUEV (47-1, 34 KO's), the -135 favorite in the BetUS sportsbook boxing betting odds, is a behemoth, to say the least, having been officially measured at 7'2" by the New Jersey commission. Originally exploited as a sideshow freak, he has turned into a serviceable boxer who has an ability to use his size against most opponents. He turned pro back in 1993 and rolled through a number of fights that may or may not have been legitimate. But he later chalked up wins over veterans like Dicky Ryan, Cliff Etienne, Attila Levin and Paolo Vidoz, a former Olympian. Valuev's big chance took place in October 2005 when he fought Larry Donald, another Olympian. He scored a majority decision in what was billed as a WBA title eliminator. Two months later he won a controversial majority decision over John Ruiz to win the WBA title. He made defenses against Owen Beck, Monte Barrett and Jameel McCline before losing a majority decision to Chagaev last April. He's come back with two victories, the latest of which was a 12-round decision over former WBO champion Sergei Lyakovich on February 16.

CHAGAEV (22-0-1, 15 KO's), the +105 underdog at BetUS, is a southpaw with quite a different background than Valuev. Known as "The White Tyson," he had a long amateur career, first emerging on the scene at the '96 Olympics for Uzbekistan, then winning the 1997 World Championships at heavyweight a year later. Chagaev won yet another World Championship tournament, this time at super heavyweight, in 2001. He turned pro, at least officially (two earlier fights were ruled exhibitions, allowing him to keep his amateur standing) in September of 2001, and aside from a technical draw against Rob Calloway (whom he later knocked out), he's been perfect. Chagaev's opponents, however, were weak until he won a majority decision over previously undefeated Vladimir Virchis in Match of 2006, and he followed that with a decision over John Ruiz in an elimination fight. Chagaev got a chance to fight for the WBA crown in April of last year and defeated Valuev on a split decision, with two cards going to him (by scores of 117-11 and 115-113) and the third a draw. Chagaev has made one title defense, a twelve-round decision win over Matt Skelton on January 19. He was supposed to face Sultan Ibragimov last October but had to pull out when he contracted Hepatitis B.

When these two fought last year, it's Chagaev's movement, popping in with combinations and staying out of harm's way for the most part, that made the difference. But Valuev's size sometimes made it impossible for Chagaev to avoid being caught against the ropes. If Chagaev can avoid that mistake, he can once again make Valuev do a little "sleepwalking" in there. Since Valuev does not throw a lot of multiple-punch combinations, it gives Chagaev time to get out, be he can also get under Valuev's jab and counter with his own combinations, which were sometimes too quick for Valuev to react to.

Chagaev showed himself to be the craftier boxer the first time around, and managed to overcome a 90-pound weight disadvantage. Valuev is not the bumbler and stumbler some would make him out to be, but he is not the kind of ring general who can improvise sufficiently either. I don't see where he is going to prevent Chagaev to carry out a similar game plan, so in recognizing some value here, I will go with Chagaev, the +105 underdog in the BetUS boxing betting odds, to retain his title.

JAY'S PLAY: CHAGAEV TO WIN (+105) **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

Betting on boxing has never been so easy and you can get your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook. Go to Other Sports: Boxing. Find tons of props on the fight and the fighters in the Future / props section as well!

(Charles Jay of eBookies.com is a former manager, matchmaker and color commentator in professional boxing. He currently pulls no punches in the BetUS Locker Room)