NUREMBERG—Two of Don King’s top fighters have been added to Saturday’s card headlined by World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolai “Russian Giant” Valuev his title opposing David “Hayemaker” Haye in Nuremberg, Germany, at Versicherung Arena.
Former World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-3, 14 KOs) will face dangerous veteran Jeremy “The Beast” Bates (22-16-1, 18 KOs), and undefeated cruiserweight Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios (18-0, 11 KOs) will meet DeLeon Tinsley (9-4-1, 5 KOs). Both matches are scheduled for eight rounds.
Liakhovich, from Vitebsk, Belarus, now fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the WBO heavyweight crown by upsetting “Relentless” Lamon Brewster in one of the best heavyweight fights of 2006.
In his next match, Liakhovich surrendered his title in the waning seconds of a fight he had all but won against Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs. Liakhovich had built a sizeable scorecard lead going into the 12th and final round, but he courageously stood in the middle of the ring and traded punches with Briggs, which resulted in Liakhovich suffering two knockdowns in the final 30 seconds, costing him the fight and title.
Liakhovich dropped a unanimous decision to Valuev on Feb. 16, 2008, also in Versicherung Nuremberg Arena, but did not fight at his normal level. Liakhovich recently revealed that he had been hampered by a nagging and persistent injury, which he says is now fully healed.
Palacios, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is an undefeated and fast-rising cruiserweight with knockout power. He is currently ranked No. 3 by both the World Boxing Council and WBA. His ring exploits have already earned him a continental title, and—if he keeps up his winning ways—he will soon receive his first chance at a world championship.
Valuev-Haye is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland’s Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Don King Productions. The pay-per-view telecast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, Viewer’s Choice, Shaw PPV and Bell TV for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A replay will be shown that same night at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.
Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-8-1, 29 KOs), the current WBA No. 1 rated and “official challenger,” takes on ex-IBU champion Adnan “Aachen Assassin” Serin (19-10-1, 7 KOs) joins Valuev-Haye on the United States pay per view. Additional undercard bouts will also air on this PPV telecast.
For more information about the Valuev-Haye PPV go to www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Integrated Sports is North America’s leading distributor of International Pay-Per-View and Closed Circuit sports events is Integrated Sports. Among the many events brought to North American viewers by Integrated Sports include World Championship and world-class boxing matches featuring Ricky Hatton, Christian Mijares, Evander Holyfield, Roy Jones, Jr., Ivan Calderon, Rocky Martinez, Nicolai Valuev, Amir Kahn, Marco Antonio Barrera, Arthur Abraham, and Ruslan Chagaev. In addition, Integrated Sports has distributed numerous International soccer matches showcasing teams like Club America of Mexico and the National Team of Argentina, and World Championship and world-class mixed martial arts shows featuring Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Bobby Lashley, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson, and Roy Nelson. For more information on upcoming Integrated Sports events visit www.integratedsportsnet.com.
Don King Productions has promoted over 500 world championship fights with nearly 100 individual boxers having been paid $1 million or more. DKP also holds the distinction of having promoted or co-promoted seven of the 10 largest pay-per-view events in history, as gauged by total buys, including three of the top five: Holyfield vs. Tyson II, 1.99 million buys, June 1997; Tyson vs. Holyfield I, 1.6 million buys, November 1996; and Tyson vs. McNeeley, 1.58 million buys, August 1995.
DKP has promoted or co-promoted 11 of the top 20 highest-grossing live gates in the history of the state of Nevada including five of the top seven: Holyfield vs. Lewis II, paid attendance: 17,078, gross: $16,860,300 (NOTE: Also second-highest live-gate gross for any event in the history of the world.), date: Nov. 13, 1999; Holyfield vs. Tyson II, paid attendance: 16,279, gross: $14,277,200, date: June 28, 1997; Holyfield vs. Tyson I, paid attendance: 16,103, gross: $14,150,700, date: Nov. 9, 1996; Tyson vs. McNeeley, paid attendance: 16,113, gross: $13,965,600, date: Aug. 19, 1995; and Trinidad vs. De La Hoya, paid attendance: 11,184, gross: $12, 949, 500. Sept. 18, 1999.