23.08.06 – “Russian Giant” Nikolai Valuev is going to finish his high-altitude training camp tomorrow in Armenia. On Friday he is going to travel to Berlin to accept the Russian ambassador´s invitation to be the guest at the Russian-German ball of politics, economy and culture (Russisch-Deutscher Ball der Politik, Wirtschaft und Kultur). On Monday, the WBA heavyweight world champion is going to fly to the USA to start a six-day promotion tour together with his manager Wilfried Sauerland and co-promoter Don King..
At the Armenian mountain village at a height of 2000 meters, the tallest and heaviest boxing champion ever (2,13 m, 150 kg) and his trainer Manuel Gabrielian have prepared for the defense of the title against Monte Barret (USA) on October 7 at Chicago´s Allstate Arena (Illinois).
“We have absolved our daily program,” Valuev says, “and we have made good progress. We have just been distracted by a Russian television team that visited me for one day and by the well-wishers to my birthday” – On Monday Valuev became 33-years old.
The world champion is going to visit the Russian-German ball of politics, economy and culture accompanied by his manager Wilfried Sauerland and Sauerland´s wife Jochi. “The Russian Giant” enjoys his special position even at this official event – he is the only man for whom the dress code to wear a tuxedo is going to be cancelled.
“Nikolai possesses no smoking yet. He just owns suits,” Jochi Sauerland explains, “and it wasn´t possible to buy one because there´s none in his size. Our Berlin outfitter is closed because of summer break at the moment. That´s why we couldn´t have a tux made there too. Now, Nikolai is allowed to come in a suit.”
The Russian ambassador in Germany, Vladimir V. Kotenev, is a sports fan and mainly interested in boxing. “The ambassador has been guest of honor at the Max Schmeling Gym when I became world champion”, Valuev tells. “Although I don´t like finding myself in society circles it has been a matter of honor for me to take this invitation.”
On Monday, Valuev is going to fly to the USA to be at the American media´s disposal for a week. “We’re planning press conferences and entrances in television and radio at New York, Chicago and Los Angeles,” Manager Wilfried Sauerland reports. “The American’s interest in Niko and his world championship fight is really great. That’s why it’s necessary to show presence already now and to give the U.S media the opportunity to get to know our champion.”
On September 3rd, Valuev is going to return from Los Angeles to Berlin to start his preparation for the competition at Max Schmeling Gym near Berlin Olympic Stadium.
This week tickets go on sale for the fight in the USA. The tickets cost between $ 35,- and $ 250,-. They are available on-line (Ticketmaster.com) and by telephone hotline (001-312-5591212).
The fight of Valuev, called “The Russian Giant,” in the United States, against the challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett is going to be broadcasted by the ARD (“Boxen im Ersten”) in Germany. In America the fight is going to be broadcasted live by the pay tv station HBO.