DOB: March 2 1969
Heavyweight
World Rank: 3 / 1069
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Victor Valle Jr.
Manager: Fred Kesch
Wins 34
Knockouts 26
Losses 5
Draws 0
The current World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev was born in 1969 in Zhambyl, Kazakhstan. However, the boxer, whose nickname is the Big O, fought out of Staten Island, New York until Dec. 9th 2006 when Russian president Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship.
Known for a powerful punch in his right hand, he has knocked out former WBO Heavyweight challenger Derreck Jefferson, contender Alex Stewart, former WBC Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman (twice) and Toakipa Tasefa, among others. He is the only one to stop the durable clubfighter Robert Hawkins and to knockeout resilient Jeff Wooden in three rounds.
However, he is also noted for a suspect chin that was plainly evident in his knockout losses to contenders Oliver McCall, David Tua, Kirk Johnson, Lance Whitaker, and clubfighter Corey Sanders.
His most famous victories have been two wins over Hasim Rahman, whom he knocked out of the ring in November 1999, then later Maskaev went on to defeat for the WBC Heavyweight title via 12th round knockout on August 12, 2006. His win over Rahman was preceeded by a streak of victories that helped rejuvinate Maskaev's career and earned him the "Comeback of the Year" in Ring magazine in 2006.
Maskaev was expected to face Samuel Peter after Peter defeated James Toney by a split decision, but a WBC-mandated rematch of the fight was ordered. Peter dominated the rematch and their details of the fight are expected to be finalized soon. His first title defense took place in Moscow against lightly-regarded Peter Okhello of Uganda. Maskaev defeated Okhello by unanimous decision.
