Ruslan Chagaev - Uzbek professional boxer

Ruslan Chagaev Shamilovich - Uzbek professional boxer (Tatar nationality), a representative of the heavy weight category. Winner of the WBA belt in the heavyweight division from 2007 to 2009. WBA world champion from 2014 to 2016. Two-time world champion in the amateur league in 1997 and 2001. World champion and Asian amateur league in the heavyweight division in 1998.

Ruslan Chagaev: biography and personal life

Ruslan was born on October 19, 1978 in the city of Andijan, Uzbek SSR. The boy was brought up in an ordinary family. Father - Shamil Chagaev - Representative Mishars (subethnos Tatar people of the Middle Volga and Urals, which has its own "Mishar" dialect of the Tatar language), was born in the village of Kalda (Baryshsky District, Ulyanovsk region). In the 50s, he moved with his family to live in Uzbekistan. Mother, Zamira Chagaev, also from Uzbekistan, worked all his life in catering. The family Chagaev also has a daughter, Louise (the sister of Ruslan).

Wife Ruslan Chagaev - Victoria - an Armenian native of Andijan. She graduated from the Medical University in Andijan in the specialty "general doctor." The couple has three children, all sons: Arthur - born in 2004, Alan - in 2007 and Adam in 2016. Ruslan Chagaev with his wife and sons live in Hamburg (Germany).

Boxing: Ruslan Chagaev - the first titles and achievements at the amateur level

Since 1995 Ruslan Chagaev began to win the first title in the amateur boxing world. This year, he became the Asian champion in the heavyweight division. In 1996 he became a member of the Olympic team of Uzbekistan in Atlanta, but to win medals and failed. In 1997 he received the title of world champion in Budapest in the category over 91 kg. In 1998, Ruslan became the champion of Asia in Bangkok, met in the final of the Pakistani boxer Muzaffar Iqbal Mirza. In 1999, he became the gold medalist at the Asian Games tournament. In 2000 Ruslan entered the Olympic team games in Sydney. 2001 athlete brought the world title in amateur boxing in Belfast.

Chagaev - tamer Felix Savon

Uzbek boxer is remembered around the world for being the only foreigner who managed to double pinned Felix Savon in the international arena. For the first time, while 19-year-old athlete managed to beat Ruslan Savona (at that time already two-time Olympic champion) at the World Cup in 1997 with a total score of 14-4, becoming the champion heavyweight. Two years later, fate brought them back in the ring - The International Boxing Cup in Plovdiv (Bulgaria). Here Ruslan Chagaev won for the second time with the score 7-2.

The transition to professional boxing league

After the victory at the World Championships amateur boxing in 2001. The boxer moved to the professional league. Here he immediately demonstrates its impregnable character and sporting ambitions, supported by the highest skill. Already in the third boxing match he managed to knock out the legendary American Everett Martin, who after losing retired. The world press and the media began to praise the novice professional boxing league - now Chagaev begin to learn more and more.

The first 5 fights ended in victory for Ruslana. With these results, he stepped into the ring against Rob Kellouema, who at that time had 43 wins and 3 losses in his career. Ruslan Chagaev is not experiencing difficulties in a fight with an experienced Kellouemom. Having missed a series of blows from Chagaev, Kellouem earned standing knockdown. But the referee stopped the fight and awarded a technical draw, because Rob had a large gash on his forehead due to unintentional clash of heads up to cruel and undeniable knockout was only a few seconds. Despite the draw results, Chagaev managed to prove to the world that he is a worthy competitor to any boxer in the world.

The battle for the world title against Nikolai Valuev

April 14, 2007 in Stuttgart (Germany) was held a fight between Nikolai Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev for the world heavyweight champion.

Both athletes before this meeting never lost. All Chagaev fight was a constant advantage, but a knockout fight is not over - Ruslan won on points. Now WBA belt moved by the Russians to Ruslan Chagaev.

After receiving the champion's title, Ruslan less frequently appears in the ring due to health problems. Over the next two years he spent only two fights. Due to the fact that Chagaev is rarely involved in fights, an international association of professional boxing champion called him on vacation.