Ruslan Chagaev vs. Fres Oquendo
From tnews.com
Ruslan Chagaev aims to become heavyweight champion again with win over Oquendo this Sunday
By James Slater
Set to face “Fast” Fres Oquendo for the “regular” WBA heavyweight strap on July 6th, former “real” WBA boss Ruslan Chagaev says he is looking forward to ruling again at the age of 35. Still, the experienced southpaw with the 32-2-1(20) record says he expects a tricky night against Oquendo this coming Sunday in Grozny.
Chagaev, as translated by his manager Timur Du****ev, had the following things to say:
What are you expecting from the fight with Oquendo, how much do you know about him?
“Fres Oquendo is a very experienced fighter. He has an odd style and he will use his experience to avoid getting hit too hard. But I think I’ll be able to find a way to deal with him.”
Do you feel as good physically at age 35?
“It’s no secret that I’ve had some ups and downs over the last few years, but I’ve had an excellent training camp and I have waited a long time for another title shot. In fact it has almost been too long, because I was prepared and ready to fight on June 6th, but then the fight was rescheduled for four weeks later. But I am sure I can show everybody I still have what it takes to be heavyweight champion of the world.”
Is that your main inspiration, to become a two-time champion?
“Of course. I know how it feels to hold that golden belt! I want to win it back. You shouldn’t forget that I didn’t lose my [WBA] title in the ring. It was taken from me. I lost to [Wladimir] Klitschko and later to Alexander Povetkin, but there were reasons for that. Anyway, Nicolai Valuev – who was named WBA champion after me – never beat me for that title. So yes, becoming heavyweight champion again is my biggest motivation.”
Is a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko a big priority for you?
“I’m not looking past Oquendo at the moment. Then I think the winner of this fight will have to do a mandatory fight first and fight Luis Ortiz – and I have had his name on my list for a while. I do also want to avenge the two losses on my record, yes (against Wladimir and against Alexander Povetkin).”
What went wrong against Klitschko in 2009?
“I don’t want to try and find any excuses, because Wladimir Klitschko is a great champion who has ruled for almost ten years for a reason. But everybody knows I took that fight on very short notice. I didn’t have a proper training camp and they had taken my belt from me so I didn’t have the proper motivation. Still, I felt I had to take the chance. If somebody offers you a chance to fight the best for the world championship, what are you supposed to say, ‘no thank you!?’ That’s not what I do. I always take the chance and try my best. That day [against Wladimir], my best was not enough because I was not really prepared. That’s it.”
What is your opinion on some of the good young heavyweights coming through: Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne?
“I really don’t care too much about other people. I like to focus on myself and the fights ahead of me. That being said, I think Stiverne did a great job beating Chris Arreola twice. As far as Wilder is concerned, nobody knows if he’s the real deal or not. I guess we will find out when he fights Stiverne. Tyson Fury is a big guy, but I can say from my own experience it is fun beating taller men. In general, I respect every fighter who steps into the ring.”
A huge crowd is expected in Grozny on Sunday (July 6th) – do you still get nervous ahead of a big fight?
Stepping into the ring is always special – it doesn’t matter if there’s 300 people or 30,000 people watching, as is expected in Grozny. But it will be special having so many friends and people supporting me. I know they expect a lot from me and though I wouldn’t say this makes me nervous, it is a special feeling.”
Do you see a KO win or a points won over Oquendo?
I’m prepared to go 12 long and hard rounds. You cannot force a knockout, it happens if it happens and of course I will be happy if it does happen. But it doesn’t matter how I win, just as long as I win and will be crowned world champion again.”
Who are your key team members now?
“It’s a different team now. I was with Universum, but they do not exist anymore. I do have some of the same team around me: Artur Grigorian, my head coach and a former world champion himself. I have a new manager in Timur Du****ev, who got me this fight in Grozny. We have huge support from the government in Grozny and I really couldn’t ask for more.”
Oquendo says David Haye will be in his corner for the fight. Who will be in your corner?
“As I said, Artur Grigorian is my head coach. Besides him I have a great team who will take care of me. And in the end, there will be 30,000 Chechen fans in my corner rooting for me. But as for David Haye, he has been a great champion and I am looking forward to seeing him at the fight.”
By James Slater
Set to face “Fast” Fres Oquendo for the “regular” WBA heavyweight strap on July 6th, former “real” WBA boss Ruslan Chagaev says he is looking forward to ruling again at the age of 35. Still, the experienced southpaw with the 32-2-1(20) record says he expects a tricky night against Oquendo this coming Sunday in Grozny.
Chagaev, as translated by his manager Timur Du****ev, had the following things to say:
What are you expecting from the fight with Oquendo, how much do you know about him?
“Fres Oquendo is a very experienced fighter. He has an odd style and he will use his experience to avoid getting hit too hard. But I think I’ll be able to find a way to deal with him.”
Do you feel as good physically at age 35?
“It’s no secret that I’ve had some ups and downs over the last few years, but I’ve had an excellent training camp and I have waited a long time for another title shot. In fact it has almost been too long, because I was prepared and ready to fight on June 6th, but then the fight was rescheduled for four weeks later. But I am sure I can show everybody I still have what it takes to be heavyweight champion of the world.”
Is that your main inspiration, to become a two-time champion?
“Of course. I know how it feels to hold that golden belt! I want to win it back. You shouldn’t forget that I didn’t lose my [WBA] title in the ring. It was taken from me. I lost to [Wladimir] Klitschko and later to Alexander Povetkin, but there were reasons for that. Anyway, Nicolai Valuev – who was named WBA champion after me – never beat me for that title. So yes, becoming heavyweight champion again is my biggest motivation.”
Is a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko a big priority for you?
“I’m not looking past Oquendo at the moment. Then I think the winner of this fight will have to do a mandatory fight first and fight Luis Ortiz – and I have had his name on my list for a while. I do also want to avenge the two losses on my record, yes (against Wladimir and against Alexander Povetkin).”
What went wrong against Klitschko in 2009?
“I don’t want to try and find any excuses, because Wladimir Klitschko is a great champion who has ruled for almost ten years for a reason. But everybody knows I took that fight on very short notice. I didn’t have a proper training camp and they had taken my belt from me so I didn’t have the proper motivation. Still, I felt I had to take the chance. If somebody offers you a chance to fight the best for the world championship, what are you supposed to say, ‘no thank you!?’ That’s not what I do. I always take the chance and try my best. That day [against Wladimir], my best was not enough because I was not really prepared. That’s it.”
What is your opinion on some of the good young heavyweights coming through: Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Bermane Stiverne?
“I really don’t care too much about other people. I like to focus on myself and the fights ahead of me. That being said, I think Stiverne did a great job beating Chris Arreola twice. As far as Wilder is concerned, nobody knows if he’s the real deal or not. I guess we will find out when he fights Stiverne. Tyson Fury is a big guy, but I can say from my own experience it is fun beating taller men. In general, I respect every fighter who steps into the ring.”
A huge crowd is expected in Grozny on Sunday (July 6th) – do you still get nervous ahead of a big fight?
Stepping into the ring is always special – it doesn’t matter if there’s 300 people or 30,000 people watching, as is expected in Grozny. But it will be special having so many friends and people supporting me. I know they expect a lot from me and though I wouldn’t say this makes me nervous, it is a special feeling.”
Do you see a KO win or a points won over Oquendo?
I’m prepared to go 12 long and hard rounds. You cannot force a knockout, it happens if it happens and of course I will be happy if it does happen. But it doesn’t matter how I win, just as long as I win and will be crowned world champion again.”
Who are your key team members now?
“It’s a different team now. I was with Universum, but they do not exist anymore. I do have some of the same team around me: Artur Grigorian, my head coach and a former world champion himself. I have a new manager in Timur Du****ev, who got me this fight in Grozny. We have huge support from the government in Grozny and I really couldn’t ask for more.”
Oquendo says David Haye will be in his corner for the fight. Who will be in your corner?
“As I said, Artur Grigorian is my head coach. Besides him I have a great team who will take care of me. And in the end, there will be 30,000 Chechen fans in my corner rooting for me. But as for David Haye, he has been a great champion and I am looking forward to seeing him at the fight.”
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