Oleg Maskaev

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Oleg Maskaev

Real name	Oleg Maskaev
Nickname	The Big O
Weight	Heavyweight
Nationality	Russian citizen American citizen
Birth date	March 2, 1969
Birth place	Zhambyl, Kazakhstan
Death date	-
Style	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	39
Wins	34
Wins by KO	26
Losses	5
Draws	0
No contests	0

Oleg Maskaev (born March 2, 1969 in Zhambyl, Kazakhstan) is a Russian mine worker who turned into a professional boxer and is the current World Boxing Council heavyweight champion of the world. Originally hailing from Zhambyl, Kazakhstan, he fought out of Staten Island, New York until Dec. 9th 2006 when Russian president Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship[1]. Known for a powerful punch, he has knocked out former WBO Heavyweight challenger Derreck Jefferson, contender Alex Stewart, former WBC Heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman (twice) and Jose Isip, among others.

However, he is noted for a suspect chin that was plainly evident in his knockout losses to Oliver McCall, David Tua, Kirk Johnson, Lance Whitaker, and Corey Sanders.

As of August 2006, he has compiled a ring record of 33 wins (26 knockouts) and 5 losses in 38 contests.

His most famous victories have been two wins over Hasim Rahman, whom he knocked out of the ring in November 1999, then later 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. There is discussion that next title defense may be on April 21st against Vitali Klitschko, who is seeking for his "old" title after more than a year of retirement because of a serious knee injury.

[edit] Nationality

Maskaev was born in Kazakhstan to Russian parents. He has lived in the US since 1999 with his wife, Svetlana, and four daughters, and acquired US citizenship in 2004. Before his bout with Hasim Rahman in 2006 he said: "I would say I'm a proud Russian-American. So right now, I'm a citizen of America, of [the] United States... Whoever is going to win is going to be American."^[1] In the run-up to his title defense against Peter Okhello he stated regarding his citizenship: "Russian. I don't want to talk about that anymore. I will walk to the ring under the Russian flag and Russian anthem as I'm now a Russian citizen."^[2] Russian president Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship[2] on December 9th, 2006.