Russian President Vladimir Putin’s call for more than 200,000 reservists, to fight in the war in Ukraine, left a name in particular: Nikolai Valuev. He is the tallest and heaviest former world champion in boxing history, with 2.13 meters and almost 50 kilograms.
“Will I go? Of course, ”announced the Mountain Man, as he is known, to the Russian outlet Izvestia .
Valuev, of 50 years old, he was world champion by the WBA for four years. He retired from the ring in 2009, after 16 years of experience, due to serious problems in his bones and joints. He left a record of 50 victories (34 by KO’s) and 2 losses.
Political career
In 2011 he began his career as a politician (he even they had to build a special chair in the Duma for him to sit on). Now that he is a deputy from Vladimir Putin’s party, he will be part of the Kremlin troops to help his country in the war against Ukraine.
In my opinion, all deputies have received a recruitment summons. I received the summons just before my trip to Donbas, and I was not at home. Next week I will go and inform the enlistment office”.
Nikolai Valuev is not the first Russian athlete to join the army after the reservists were called up. And it is that Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, a former Everton soccer player, was also summoned to fight in the war.
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