By Alexey Sukachev / Photos by Sergey Sinyakin, December, 6, 2006

There were no riots to worry about and there were no bad blood as well, when current WBC heavyweight titleholder Oleg Maskaev met his future opponent Peter Okhello (ranked 10th in the world by WBC) for the first time during Tuesday press conference. The final presser for the huge upcoming show, featuring Maskaev – Okhello heavyweight championship as a headliner, was held at “Arbat” fight club, Moscow, Russia. A good share of boxing celebrities attended, including living legend Kostya Tszyu, promoters Edward Gumashyan and Evgeny Pustovalov and the best of Russian sports media.

Maskaev, his coach Victor Valle Jr., his manager Fred Kesch, his promoter Dennis Rappaport, promoter Vladimir Hrunov, producers Yuri Fedorov and Maxim Volkov, and former amateur legend Victor Petrovich Ageev (the president of Russian Professional Boxing Federation) were all on hand to answer any possible questions. Representing challenger’s camp were Okhello, his coach Cornelius Boza-Edwards (former WBC junior lightweight titleholder) and his manager Toshiro Matsuo. Both fighters seemed pretty relaxed, though this perception could have probably been false as Okhello (18-4, 16 KOs) was spending his second only day in Moscow. However, there were no signs of war and the atmosphere in “Arbat” was friendly enough for both teams to smile more than to shout angrily or to provoke the opposite side.

Starting the press event was Fedorov, who thanked media and all fans for their support, and all those, who had taken their respective part in making this show possible. Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs) was next to address the press his gratitude. “I want to thank all of you for your support. There were lots of problems and almost no one at start was sure that everything would work out. Thanks God and organizers of this show that all these complications were successfully resolved. I want to thank my family as well. Their help was indeed that important”, stated Oleg.

On his preparation: “I have been preparing for this fight in Pennsylvania with three good sparring partners. There were two Cuban, who were able to imitate Okhello’s style rather well. And one of them was Yanqui Diaz, known well for his first round kayo of his compatriot Juan Carlos Gomez. They are tough cookies to be chewed without polishing your teeth and making them extra sharp”.

About predictions: “I dislike them at all. And I don’t like to give any predictions, concerning my bouts. All I can say at the present moment is that I have three different plans for the upcoming fight. If one is proved to be inconvenient, I’ll use another one. And to make it clear: with all respect to my opponent I have come here to win this collision and to defend my title. I’m sure I’ll accomplish this task perfectly”.

On Wladimir Klitschko: “He offered me a deal right after my entitlement. Well, it wasn’t fair enough. I was past the most serious fight in career and he tried to convince me to fight in three two months, despite being hurt and tired. I was to turn down that offer. Now that seems great. But I don’t want to look past Okhello and I won’t do it. All I’m thinking about is Peter Okhello and my future actions in the upcoming match”.

On his citizenship: “Russian. I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I will walk to the ring under Russian flag and Russian hymn as I’m now Russian citizen”.

Maskaev’s opponent was given a chance to make this clash personal, but Peter Okhello (18-4, 16 KOs) preferred to be a gentleman: “First of all, I want to say some pleasant words for my opponent’s camp. They gave me an opportunity, which I have been seeking for entire life. I’m very happy to be here in Russia and to challenge Oleg for his heavyweight belt. I hope not to disappoint anybody with my performance and to borrow Maskaev’s belt for a few days to take it to Uganda”. He went on saying: “This fight will be thrilling. I say it this way – thrilling. I expect low temperatures in Moscow on Sunday, but there will be hellfire in the ring; no doubt about that!”

On his preparation and acclimatization: “I have been preparing for this unique opportunity with the best guys around. I was sparring with punch master Sam Peter, legendary John Mugabi and former world champion Orlin Norris. I’m ready for the challenge and I’ll do my best to be remembered for a long time. As for getting along with this beautiful place, I’m really not concerned. Moscow is in the same time zone as Uganda. So that no problem with time difference. I think two more days and I’ll be fine”.

On his boxing style: “I’m boxer, not fighter. I mean, come on, I’m not a street fighter, however, I can punch well enough”. On his rivals: “I have fought lots of strong fighters. But perhaps Sinan Samil Sam was the most impressive [Okhello lost that fight via unanimous decision]”.

Dennis Rappoport was very proud of cementing his place in the history of boxing: “It’s a great honor for me to be a part of the history. Oleg’s fight will be the first ever, and I want to point it out, the first ever WBC heavyweight title fight, held in Russia. And that’s great!”. “Right after kayoing Rahman out Oleg said me that he was extremely interested in setting his first title defense nowhere, but in his Motherhood. I thought: “Come on, man! That’s impossible!” But having spoken with Oleg’s wife Svetlana and his father, I realized, there’s nothing impossible about that. So we are here now, preparing for something special”, added promoter. “Oleg is a proud man. And he is a strong man. He had so many problems during his career: they were not obstacles but challenges for him. That’s why he is, where he should be – being world champion”.  

On Wladimir Klitshko: “All our thoughts are about Okhello match. But it turns out, that we shall probably be able to have another voluntary defense, as Sam Peter will battle James Toney in grudge match. No matter who will win, it will take heck of a time to recuperate after such a difficult performance. I’m not sure, but we shall try to ensure WBC that it’s possible. If it’s ok, everything is possible and Wladimir included. But I want to emphasize that we’re thinking only about our Ugandan rival right now”.

Vladimir Hrunov made an unusual and gentle turn, by presenting Maskaev with two shocking gifts from Mr. Nicolay Merkushkin, The President of Mordovia. Oleg was given a sign, which ensured that one of the streets in a small country town in Mordovia was named after him. The street wasn’t the only pleasant surprise as one of the boxing gyms built was also named after Oleg Maskaev. Mr. Hrunov has also presented Dmitry Pirog and Mikhail Nasyrov, two fighters, which will be presented along with hot heavyweight prospect Alexander Povetkin on the undercard of the show, as well as their promoter Evgueni Pustovalov from PUSHKA Promotional Company. Both fighters were a bit surprised but felt themselves rather comfortable during the presser.

Vladimir Hrunov on open scoring after the 4th and 8th rounds: “That depends on our intrinsic position. Or decision is that we shall not make the scoring for this fight open”.             

Maskaev – Okhello WBC heavyweight title clash will be held at Olympiyski Sports Arena, Moscow, Russia on Dec. 10. The referee of the bout will be not Jay Nady, as it had been reported before, but Mexican Guadalupe Garcia, who was the third man in the ring four times in WBC title bouts, including Hozumi Hasegava vs. Veeraphol Sahaprom this March. Judging the fight will be Evgueni Gorstkov (Russia), Ken Morita (Japan) and recently elected EBU president Bob Logist (Belgium).

Both Maskaev – Okhello and eight-rounder Alexander Povetkin (9-0, 7 KOs) – Imamu Mayfield (25-7-2, 18 KOs) heavyweight fights will be televised live on NTV channel and NTV+ cable channel (the beginning of the show on 8 p.m. LT) and on Fox Sports on delayed basis. Filling the undercard will be three more off-TV fights. Mikhail Nasyrov (16-0, 11 KOs) will collide with Canadian David Whittom (7-2-1, 4 KOs) in scheduled eight-rounder. In six-rounders Russian middleweight champion Dmitry Pirog (6-0, 5 KOs) will try his skills against American journeyman Rodrigues Moungo (12-12, 9 KOs) and Pavel Melkomian (20-2, 8 KOs) will take on Valery Volozhenin (5-0-1, 2 KOs) in cruiserweight bout.