MOSCOW, January 21 (RIA Novosti) - Russian WBA champion Nikolai Valuyev defended his heavyweight title in Switzerland's Basel Saturday after American challenger Jameel McCline retired with a knee injury in the third round.
Valuyev, "the Beast from The East", (44-0, 32 KO) successfully completed his third defense since winning the WBA title against John Ruiz (U.S.) in December 2005.
Valuyev, 33, became not only the first Russian boxer to win the WBA title but also the tallest and heaviest world boxing champion in history of the sport. He weighs 146 kilograms (322 pounds) and is seven feet tall.
