Valuev defends heavyweight title

CHICAGO – Russia’s giant heavyweight Nikolai Valuev successfully defended his World Boxing Association title after knocking down Monte Barrett twice in the eleventh round here on Saturday.

The 2.13-metre-tall Valuev, who out-weighed Barrett by more than 48 kg, knocked the American down twice in the eleventh round before Barrett’s trainer climbed into the ring to stop the slaughter. The referee officially halted Saturday’s main event bout two minutes, 12 seconds into the eleventh.It was the second consecutive defence of his title for the 33-year-old Valuev, who kept his undefeated record intact at 45-0 with 33 KOs.Barrett, who was also knocked down once in the eighth round, dropped to 31-5.In the 11th, Valuev connected with a thundering right hand that sent the much shorter Barrett to the canvas and nearly out of the ring.After Barrett got up, Valuev floored his challenger with a straight left.Barrett beat the count but Valuev continued to land heavy blows, and the American’s trainer, James Ali Basheer, jumped in the ring and signalled for a forfeit, preventing his fighter from any further damage.Nampa-ReutersThe referee officially halted Saturday’s main event bout two minutes, 12 seconds into the eleventh.It was the second consecutive defence of his title for the 33-year-old Valuev, who kept his undefeated record intact at 45-0 with 33 KOs.Barrett, who was also knocked down once in the eighth round, dropped to 31-5.In the 11th, Valuev connected with a thundering right hand that sent the much shorter Barrett to the canvas and nearly out of the ring.After Barrett got up, Valuev floored his challenger with a straight left.Barrett beat the count but Valuev continued to land heavy blows, and the American’s trainer, James Ali Basheer, jumped in the ring and signalled for a forfeit, preventing his fighter from any further damage.Nampa-Reuters