In just three weeks, former WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev (46-1, 34 KOs) will return to action for the first time since losing his title to Ruslan Chagaev. It has been a summer of changes for the Russian Giant, who has parted company with long-time coach Manuel Gabrielian and appointed Alexander Zimin instead. We caught up with the 59-year-old Russian, who weighs some 100 kilos less than his new fighter, ahead of the clash with unbeaten Canadian Jean-Francois Bergeron. Zimin vowed he will not just help Valuev to win back his title but also teach him how to box attractively..
Mr. Zimin, you are preparing Nikolai Valuev in Berlin´s Max-Schmeling-Gym for his comeback fight on September 29. Is this your first visit to Germany?
Zimin: No. During the times of the Soviet Union I used to be on the road a lot with my amateur boxers. I have been to Germany a couple of times with them. I liked Munich a lot. It is my first time in Berlin and I am thrilled by the conditions in the Max-Schmeling-Gym. The area around it is very historic, which I find very impressive. When I watched highlights of the football World Cup again some time ago, I already felt it would be a huge privilege to work here.
You have got a very special pupil – no less than Nikolai Valuev. Your first fight is sure to attract a lot of interest…
Zimin: Yes, I know. But for me that is no pressure but a challenge. I would not have started to work with Kolja (Russian nickname for Nikolai) if I was not convinced we would be successful.
Valuev and Manuel Gabrielian have been a team for seven years. Now you are the new man in the corner. How did you get in touch with him?
Zimin: That was quite unspectacular. I got a call from Kolja. He asked me whether I would be willing to join his coaching team. We spoke about our goals and the specific work, and it did not take long for me to agree.
You were to work alongside Manuel Gabrielian. Was his sacking planned?
Zimin: No. Nikolai wanted to keep working with him and I was to help them with tactical and technical issues. But this plan soon proved to be unfeasible.
Why?
Zimin: It turned out that the boxing philosophies Manuel and I have were too different – they were worlds apart. A cooperation did not make any sense. It would have been counter-productive.
So Valuev had to make a decision?
Zimin: Yes. And that is what he did. I am happy that he decided to work with me.
If your philosophy is so different from Gabrielian´s, what is it that we can expect from Valuev in the future?
Zimin: Nikolai was the world champion. We want to win the title back. That goes without saying. But it is not just the titles I am looking at. It is my goal for him to improve as a boxer. More movement, more punches, better tactical behaviour. To put it in a nutshell: He shall box attractively. The people should enjoy to watch him box. They shall go home saying ‘It was a pleasure to see this fighter in action’.”
Is that what you have been working on in practice?
Zimin: Most certainly. We needed to reignite his development and stop the stagnation. That meant we had to change a few things. We are working to get him a bit faster-footed and increase his mobility. That has been an integral part of practice. But we have to keep in mind his tremendous height and weight. His joints are very stressed so I try to rest them in practice. Therefore I have included special methods in our daily work-outs. It has been working very well thus far.
The reason for the coaching change was Valuev´s first loss. Have you watched the fight against Chagaev?
Zimin: Yes. I have seen it on video.
How many times?
Zimin: Just once. That was enough.
Were you shocked to see all the things Valuev did wrong?
Zimin: That would be an exaggeration, but Nikolai did not fight very well at all. He just did not do a lot of the things he should have done. He fought tactically wrong. The defeat was pretty much unnecessary. Chagaev did well and was very ambitious, but he did not fight brilliantly. Nikolai lost this fight on a tactical basis.
Team Sauerland are planning to stage the rematch next year. Will Valuev be able to beat Chagaev?
Zimin: Definitely. Chagaev has physical disadvantages. And he is a southpaw, meaning it will be crucial to have the better game plan. You have to put your opponent in a position where you can hit him. Nikolai did pretty much the opposite. But it will not happen again.
What is your impression of him after the first few weeks as his coach?
Zimin: I have a very good impression of him. He is highly motivated. He does what I tell him and has no problems to transfer it into the ring. He is very experienced and has been around forever. That is something you can see in the daily routine. And the most important thing: He is enjoying himself in practice. That is the key.
You are not yet very well known in Germany. What kind of a coach are you? Loud and impulsive as Gabrielian?
Zimin: No, I have a different style. I speak softly, but convincingly. I am not going to scream at my fighter if he commits mistakes. It will not help him. I try to explain things to him with a lot of determination in my voice.
You will be in Germany for five weeks. Are you already missing your family?
Zimin: No. My wife Katja has come over from St. Petersburg to join me here. So I am not missing anything.
Do you have children?
Zimin: No, I don´t. But I have my boxers (smiles).