04.09.06 – When the “Russian Giant” had finished his promotion tour through the United States and when the days past went through his mind during the long flight from Los Angeles to Berlin, he thought everything over, “It’s been a fantastic journey,” the champion said. “Everything has been organized very well and made an unbelievable impression to me. I’d like to thank Don King very much and I’m proud of working together with such an important promoter.”
Nikolai Valuev, after an intensive week that led him through the USA, he got to the boxing country number 1. The entire week has been organized extremely well by Don King. On the last evening in L.A., Wilfried Sauerland testified that Don King went one up on the Germans in terms of organization, but the Germans at least became world champions in organization during the football world cup.
“I’ve been in the USA for the 5th time but this time I really got to know the country,” Valuev said at the final press conference in Los Angeles. “I’ve seen New York, Chicago and L.A. and everything has impressed me. I’m very thankful for that and it’s been a great and important experience for me.”
The Americans themselves had inspired him the most. “They met me with kindness and openness. It was a very nice feeling. I met a lot of nice people, most of them with a positive smile. But I also have been at Ground Zero and I saw the people’s sadness. I thought a lot about terror.”
Already on the first day, Don King had organized an interesting program. Interview for the tv station ESPN at it’s cult morning show “Cold Pizza”, afterwards the U.S TV station, HBO, which will be broadcasting the fight live against Monte Barret on October 7th, and finally the champion’s first meeting with his challenger Monte Barret. The greatest sports magazine “Sports Illustrated” is planning ahead to have the heavyweight world champion for a cover story.
There is no question about the visit to Donald Trump at the 26th floor of the Trump Tower has been one of the tour’s highlights. In the United Station’s building, Don King and his Russian guest presented themselves in the hall of the United Station’s plenary assembly. America heard about the boxing champion being a passionate tennis fan. The stars of the scene have been glad about Valuev’s visit to the US Open at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
Nikolai Valuev, even in Chicago, he has been a media’s partner in demand justified himself to the teams of NBC 5 and WGN TV together with Don King. He, himself, had the right touch for selecting a hotel meanwhile. Valuev will check in at the hotel “Conrad” in October again because of it’s location quite is close to a good fitness center. Unforgotten, even the press conference at the Sears Tower where Don King among other things underlined a big common ground of both promoters. “We both cut rough diamonds but we know their value exactly. And now we work hard for Nikolai capturing the American´s hearts.”
At the end of the Week, Don King had more than achieved his aim. Whenever Valuev turned up, he has been tightly surrounded by journalists and photographers, by fans and Americans who were just taken with his stature. People were impressed by the appearance of the giant from St. Petersburg in New York, in Chicago and finally in Los Angeles where he has watched the fight between James Toney and Samuel Peter on the last evening.
When he stepped into the Staples Center Saturday night, the crowd was whispering and murmuring – glances showing amazement and applause. The former “Beast from the East” became the “Russian Giant” who has been perfectly at ease in highest society during the days past. To all appearances the Americans grew very fond of Valuev already now. Nikolai Valuev arrived in boxing’s #1 country!