by James Slater – 40-year-old Oleg Maskaev, the former WBC heavyweight champion, is just two wins away from a shot at regaining his old title. Currently 2-0(1) in a return to the ring that followed his title-losing stoppage loss to Sam Peter, the Russian puncher faces the much younger Nagy Aguilera in his next fight, on December 11th in Sacrament where he now resides. Should “The Big O” win that fight, he will then square off with Ray Austin in a final eliminator for the WBC crown now held by Vitali Klitschko.
Yesterday, whilst being at a press conference to publicise the Aguilera fight, Maskaev, 36-6(27) very kindly took time out to speak with me. Here are the easygoing big man’s answers to my questions:
James Slater: It’s great to speak with you, Oleg. I appreciate your time. You must be looking forward to your fight on December 11th in Sacramento against Nagy Aguilera?
Oleg Maskaev: Yes. This is a very important fight for me. All fights are very important for me now, and this one especially. Aguilera is young, he’s a good fighter with a great amateur background and this fight is a big challenge for me. I’m looking forward to it..
J.S: Have you started training yet?
O.M: Yes. I did a couple of months here is Sacramento, and then we moved to Reno, where I’ve trained for a week. I will continue in Reno until the end of the month, and then go back to finish off training in Sacramento. I will be working with two good young fighters, both with great amateur backgrounds, and they will help me get ready.
J.S: Can I ask you who the two guys you will be sparring with are?
O.M: Yes. One is a young fighter who beat Aguilera as an amateur, in the nationals. The other is Harold Sconiers who just knocked out Andre Purlette. The are both good fighters with great speed.
J.S: We read that the plan is for you, if you beat Aguilera, to then fight Ray Austin in a final eliminator for the WBC title. Is that a definite?
O.M: Yes, we have an agreement with the WBC. I have to win this fight first of course.
J.S: Did you see Austin’s recent KO win over DaVarryl Williamson?
O.M: No, I never saw it. But I heard about it. Austin was hurt in the first round, but then he came back to hurt Williamson. But when Williamson was hurt he wasn’t given a chance to continue, when maybe he could have continued the fight. He wasn’t give the chance. Austin is tough but I believe I can beat both Aguilera and him as long as I leave my injuries behind me. Right now I am in great shape, mentally and physically. My injuries are gone now. So I will definitely be ready. This [Vs. Aguilera] is the first step.
J.S: Have you seen any of Aguilera’s fights on tape?
O.M: Unfortunately we only saw one, on You-Tube. Basically I know this guy and I know what he does in the ring. He brings a lot of pressure, he’s right there in front of you – and that’s what I love. He’ll be right in front of me and I’ll be able to land my big punches on him.
J.S: You’ve wanted a fight with Vitali Klitschko for some time now, and I know the WBC have honoured you as a former WBC champion and you are now close to getting the fight. Do you really think you can beat Vitali, though? He’s looking really good right now.
O.M: He’s a great fighter, yes. He’s tall, has a good reach and he’s very strong physically. But what I want to tell people is this; I beat him once and I will do it again. (Oleg is referring to an amateur win over Vitali, when Klitschko was stopped, after just one round, when his corner threw in the towel) The Klitschkos seem to fight good fighters, they fight someone who has a great name, but then something seems to happen to them in training – they never seem to be 100-percent when they fight a Klitschko. This seems to happen. His [Vitali] last opponent, the Mexican guy, Arreola. He was not a bad fighter; he showed he can take a punch, he had guts. But that’s it! He had nothing else. It was a simple fight for Vitali. I’m a smarter fighter than that. It will take big work to get ready, but I know how to fight Vitali – you have to know how to fight him to beat him.
J.S: And how would you fight him?
O.M: I know you have to move as well as he does. You must be good on your feet, and not stand straight ion front of him. I would get inside and start with the body, working the body, and then finish with the head. Klitschko’s a great fighter, he has physical strength and he has some good technique, but he’s not the [all-time] best. Lennox Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield were better. There just isn’t anybody around right now to give the Klitschkos a challenge – so he [Vitali] is looking like a king right now!
J.S: Do you think Vitali will have any problems with Kevin Johnson, who he fights a day after your fight?
O.M: Kevin Johnson’s never had a big fight like this before. Anything can change when two heavyweights are fighting – it can only take one shot to beat you. But I don’t think he’ll have any problems with Johnson. Not in my opinion. I think Johnson will put up a good fight, but Vitali knows what to do.
J.S: At age 40, which isn’t that old for a heavyweight these days, how long do you plan to box for? You’ve already had a good career and been the WBC champion.
O.M: I want to tell you, I lost my title through injuries. Winning the WBC title (by stopping Hasim Rahman in the 12th-round back in 2006) was a great moment in my life, but I broke my right elbow in the fight. They told me to have surgery on it, but I was offered the Okhello Peter fight in Moscow, my first defence. I wasn’t going to miss that – the first ever heavyweight title fight in Moscow. That was an historic opportunity. So I went ahead with the Okhello fight, with the broken elbow. Then, when I got home, the surgery I had almost killed my right hand; for a long time I was in pain. In the Samuel Peter fight my back wasn’t right. I wanted to postpone the fight, but they said I would lose my title if I did. So I had no chance. But now I’m healthy and I want to win back what I lost.
J.S: It’s good to see you back, Oleg.
O.M: Thank you.
J.S: How long do you plan to box for? Would your ideal plan be to regain the WBC title and then retire in a blaze of glory? Or would you like to defend the title?
O.M: Boxing is my life. I will continue to do it for as long as I have the strength. One fight can make a fighter decide when to retire, but I feel great now and I will continue as long as I can. Maybe I will defeat one brother, Vitali, and then move onto the other brother, Wladimir (laughs). Wouldn’t that be a great ending to the Maskaev story!
J.S: It sure would! It’s been great speaking with you, Oleg. Finally, Nagy Aguilera has never been stopped as a pro….
O.M: (jumping in) That’s because he’s never fought anybody either.
J.S: So will his record of never having been stopped change when he meets you?
O.M: Can I stop him? Of course. I’m not here to go ten rounds. You must have that killer instinct as a fighter. You can see in a guy’s eyes when he is ready to go. He will try to do the same thing to me. But, yes, I have the power to knock him out.
J.S: Thanks again for your time.
O.M: Okay, thank you very much. I hope you could understand me with my Russian accent (laughs).
(Thanks to Rachel Charles for arranging this interview)