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STUTTGART - Uzbekistan's Ruslan Chagaev upset the odds to outpoint defending champion Nikolai Valuev of Russia in their World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight title bout today.
Two of the three judges scored the contest in favour of the challenger by 115-113 and 117-111 margins, while the third called it a 114-114 draw.
"Today was my day. Today I was the better boxer," Chagaev told reporters after his victory over the giant Valuev.
Weighing in at 144.7-kg and standing 2.13-metres tall, Valuev was unable to make his physical advantage tell against the 28-year-old southpaw Chagaev in the fourth defence of his title.
"Before the fight everybody said that Nikolai is too tall for me to have a chance. Well, I'm smaller but I have the sting," the 1.85-metres Chagaev said after improving to 23-0-1 with 17 knockouts.
Valuev said he had not moved enough and made many mistakes, but vowed to stage a comeback after suffering his first loss in 14 years as a professional.
"There's no reason for me to lie down in my grave. I am going to keep on boxing and I will be back in the ring to fight for the world title," he said.
The defeat also ruined the 33-year-old Valuev's dream of surpassing Rocky Marciano's 49-bout winning record in the division. The American remains the only world champion to retire without a loss or draw.
Valuev, who claimed the WBA title from American John Ruiz in December 2005, had won 46 fights, 34 by knockout.
"David slew Goliath, this is what we saw here tonight," said Valuev's co-promoter Don King, who was full of praise for Chagaev.
"You saw a man who was aggressive and hungry. He fought and he fought to win," King said, adding that he remained confident in his protege.
"Nikolai will return."
- REUTERS
