Sauerland Event today won the purse bid for the WBA heavyweight eliminator between former champion Nikolai Valuev and Sergey Liakhovich. Sauerland´s winning bid was $670.000, with Don King Productions offering $650.000. "We are very happy to have won the bid," Sauerland managing director Chris Meyer said. "The fight will probably take place in three months and is likely to be staged in Germany."

Valuev (47-1, 34 KOs) suffered the first loss of his career in April when Ruslan Chagaev clinched a close majority decision in Stuttgart. The 34-year-old bounced back with a clear points victory over Jean-Francois Bergeron five months later. He can´t wait to get back in the ring with Chagaev to erase the darkest hour of his career. "I want to win my title back," Valuev said. "But I have to defeat Liakhovich first. I have met him once in Los Angeles prior to my fight in Chicago. He is technically very strong. It will be a hard fight but I will win."

Valuev is likely to stage his training camp in Japan where his new coach Alexander Zimin has spent many successful years. As always, Valuev is then expected to travel to Berlin for the final tune-up some six weeks before the showdown.