Valuev vs Chagaev odds – The Russian Giant meets his maker again
Valuev -110
Chagaev -110
Sports betting lines don’t get more dramatic than this, do they? Nikolay Valuev (50-1-1), the reigning WBA Heavyweight champion, puts his belt on the line against his greatest rival, Ruslan Chagaev (25-0-1), the only fighter to put Valuev in the loss column. Chagaev has co-ownership of the belt, so the winner of this fight will be the undisputed champ. Who will take the rematch?
Valuev vs Chagaev odds: Valuev hungry to avenge his loss
- Valuev has become more of a point scorer than a KO artist
- Chagaev may not be the same fighter after tearing his Achilles tendon
- New trainer could help Valuev prepare better this time around
Looking at the sports betting odds for the two fighters, the rematch looks like a coin flip. Whereas Chagaev supporters tout his past success as proof that he can stand up to the massive Valuev, other boxing betting fans feel that both fighters have changed since they last met.
While Valuev’s immensity makes him a big sportsbook (and pay-per-view) draw, he doesn’t really fight with the kind of flair you’d expect from a man his size. He obviously isn’t lacking in power – that would be impossible with his frame – but he’s more of a technical boxer than many fight fans give him credit for. He throws a solid technical jab and does a good job scoring points. The knock on him is that he’s slow, even statuesque in the ring, telegraphing his punches too often.
Chagaev, nicknamed “White Tyson,” is the flashier puncher in the Valuev vs Chagev line. A much smaller man at 6’1”, his odds of knocking out Valuev - which no fighter has done - are very small. However, in his last bout with Valuev, he used his speed and elusiveness – not to mention his southpaw stance – to land crisper shots. Valuev cornered Chagaev and pelted him with body blows and uppercuts, but it wasn’t enough to sway the judges. Will lightning strike twice for Chagaev?
ATTELL’S PICK: A few wild cards come into play this Saturday night, and they’ll lead to Chagaev’s first career loss. First, Chagaev is still just one fight removed from completely tearing his Achilles tendon. Explosiveness and quickness are his main advantages over Valuev, but it’s unlikely he’ll be as fast as he was when they first met. Secondly, not only will Valuev be extra motivated to avenge his defeat, he changed trainers after his first loss to Chagaev and should have a better gameplan Saturday. I like the healthier, more motivated fighter and the reach advantage here. Bet on Valuev.
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His chin may not have been strong enough to stay in the ring, but his sharp mind has kept him active in a number of boxing corners. Attell “The Gun” Brunn spent years in local boxing gyms as a real-life “Mickey Goldmill”, coaching up the youngsters. But now The Gun has hung up the gloves and uses his craft for handicapping the sport. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
