According to Gazeta.ru, the leading Russian electronic media agency, Canadian southpaw Jean Francois Bergeron (26-0, 19 KOs) will be the next in line for the former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev (46-1, 34 KOs). Valuev’s Russian press attaché Konstantin Osipov was quoted by Gazeta.ru confirming the fight. Bergeron – Valuev clash is likely to take place on September, 30. No venue was disclosed as of now. ‘The Russian Giant’ (7’0), 33, is coming off his first ever career loss to Uzbek Ruslan Chagaev the last month. Bergeron (6’5), the same 33, is undefeated since turning a pro in 1998. He is the interim NABA titlist and the WBA #13 heavyweight today. Bergeron’s last fight was an easy TKO 4 over Chad Van Sykle this January.

In a competitive and tactical fight, Ruslan Chagaev (22-0-1, 17 KOs) dethroned WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev (46-1, 34 KOs) by majority decision by scores of 114-114, 115-113, 117-111 at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. The seven-foot Valuev pressed the action for most the fight, but was repeatedly caught by straight lefts from his southpaw challenger, who was 11" shorter and 90lbs lighter. Both fighters connected with big shots, but neither fighter was ever in serious trouble. An emotional Chagaev spoke briefly after the fight, thanking his fans, countrymen and promoter among others before walking over to congratulate Valuev. The former champion was gracious in defeat. "I agree with the decision of the judges," stated Valuev. "My opponent found a tactic with which he was successful. Now I'll take a break and then begin training again."

WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev will make his first mandatory title defence in Stuttgart on April 14. The Porsche-Arena has been unveiled as the venue for his clash with mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev.

February, 24, is going to be marked as a special date for an Old Russian city of Chelyabinsk, located in the very heart of ancient Ural Mountains. There’s surely nothing surprising in that, considering the fact that Chelyabinsk will be visited by the largest boxing titlist ever. WBA heavyweight beltholder Nikolay Valuev will become an all-media headliner on the 21st of February, when he arrives in the city, but the main event of his upcoming Chelaybinsk’ trip is surely a big boxing card, named after the champion and promoted by PUSHKA promotional company, which will be held at “Junost’” Sports Arena on the 24th of the same month.

It was less than three years ago, when the potential European fight of the year between undisputed junior welterweight king Kostya Tszyu and mandatory challenger Sharmba Mitchell, scheduled to take place in Olympiysky Sports Arena, Moscow, on February, 2004, was scratched for good due to injuries, suffered by Kostya during his preparation. The unlucky occasion ruined all the plans, leaving organizers with the black holes in their budget and boxing fans with the horrible feeling of being cheated. The fight wasn’t, however, canceled but was relocated to USA and took place in early November the same year.

It was when no one in Russia could really believe that the title bout would somehow be arranged in the largest country on planet in the nearest future. Financial losses, lack of interest among sponsors and sportive media as well as the absence of world-beaters in higher weight classes were the clear factors, preventing any important fight from being held in Eastern Europe.

Situation turned around considerably in the last two years. Starting from Valuev’s successful performance against WBA beltholder John Ruiz and going on with Vladimir Klitschko and Sergey Liakhovich dominant victories over Chris Byrd (IBF) and Lamon Brewster (WBO), it reached its highest point on August, 12, when 37-year old Oleg Maskaev completed the clean sweep by post-Soviet fighters, having knocked out WBC boss Hasim Rahman in 12th round of their brutal clash.

‘The Big O’ became the first champion among the Eastern European heavyweight bunch, who decided to defend his belt in Motherland. The negotiations were pretty complicated, but at last WBC #10 Japan-based Ugandan Peter Okhello was named as the voluntary challenger in early October, and the second only title fight in Russian boxing history landed on December, 10, at the same Olympiysky Sports Arena. The only previous title collision, held in Russia thirteen years ago, was the IBF cruiserweight championship between Al Cole and Glenn McRory.