Nikolai Sergeyevich Valuev is a professional boxer and former two-time WBA heavyweight champion. Valuev was born on August 21, 1973, in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). He is of Russian descent, but he also had a Tatar grandfather.
He wooed his wife, Galya, with poetry that he composed himself. He has two young children, daughter Irina and son Grisha. In his professional boxing career Valuev has been defeated only twice by Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye.
Valuev is a Russian Orthodox Christian. During his youth he played water polo and basketball.
After an amateur career he became a professional fighter in 1993. His debut bout was against American John Morton, and Valuev beat him by knockout in the second round. In 1999 he took the Russian heavyweight title and in 2000 he won a Pan-Asian title.
Valuev propelled himself into a position to fight for a world title with victories over Bob Mirovic, Otis Tisdale, Paolo Vidoz, Gerald Nobles, Attila Levin, and Clifford Etienne.
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He wooed his wife, Galya, with poetry that he composed himself. He has two young children, daughter Irina and son Grisha. In his professional boxing career Valuev has been defeated only twice by Ruslan Chagaev and David Haye.
Valuev is a Russian Orthodox Christian. During his youth he played water polo and basketball.
After an amateur career he became a professional fighter in 1993. His debut bout was against American John Morton, and Valuev beat him by knockout in the second round. In 1999 he took the Russian heavyweight title and in 2000 he won a Pan-Asian title.
Valuev propelled himself into a position to fight for a world title with victories over Bob Mirovic, Otis Tisdale, Paolo Vidoz, Gerald Nobles, Attila Levin, and Clifford Etienne.
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