By Alexey Sukachev and Igor Shvartsburg / Photos by Sergey Sinyakin (RPBF), December, 6, 2006

Oleg Maskaev (33-5, 26 KOs) is already in Moscow, trying to reach his best physical and mental shape prior the upcoming WBC voluntary defense against Japan-based Ugandan Peter Okhello (18-4, 16 KOs), which will take its place the next Sunday, Dec. 10, in Olympiyski Sports Arena, Moscow.

The second only Russian heavyweight world champion (With Nikolay Valuev being the first one) has arrived in Moscow this Tuesday with his head coach Victor Valle, Jr., manager Fred Kesch, promoter Dennis Rappaport and chief sparring partner Zuri Lawrence. The champion was greeted soundly by Russian fans and immediately attacked by local media.

“This bout will be the tough one and very exciting. It surely won’t be the walk in the park as many of you are expecting right now. We have been preparing for this kind of fight for two months in America. There are no easy challenges for me in heavyweight division”, said Oleg. “He [Okhello] is fast and hard-hitting; his movement in squared ring is wonderful. And I won’t take him lightly. Okhello has a chance of a lifetime, and he has been getting ready [for his title shot] for the entire career. He will be hundred percents prepared for this challenge, and I’m sure, he will do his best not to waste this attempt”.

Victor Valle said, “Oleg will be ready for the upcoming defense. He was 20 percents in Rahman fight. All these injuries, Oleg had suffered prior the August challenge, affected his performance against Hasim; he faced numerous problems with his physical condition both before and during the fight”.

“But this case is completely different. We have been sparring with a bunch of risky and qualified opponents. Yanqui Diaz and Zuri Lawrence were among them, and Zuri will continue his work in our training camp in Russia”.   

“That’ll be a good showdown. We have studied Okhello in details, so that he is no secret for our team. Oleg is preparing for a tough fight, but he has a good number of plans. If plan A fails to work out, he will try plan B or plan C. We are ready for any surprises, Ugandan can offer”.

Maskaev is focusing on the first defense of his belt in an undisclosed place, somewhere inside the Russian capital. Besides preparation Oleg was able to visit one of the gyms to meet young fighters, training there, and was explicitly greeted by his fans and starting pugilists as well.

Peter Okhello is expected to arrive in Moscow on Monday. Maskaev – Okhello title collision will be televised live on NTV federal channel and NTV+ cable channel with HBO, reviewing the fight on delayed basis. Filling the TV card along with Maskaev will be hot heavyweight prospect Alexander Povetkin, who is scheduled to take on former IBF cruiserweight titlist Imamu Mayfield.