Talkin’ Boxing with WBC #1 Oleg Maskaev

April 16th, 2008

By Scoop Malinowski

A very interested onlooker at Tuesday’s Rahman-Toney press conference was WBC mandatory heavyweight challenger Oleg Maskaev.

The polite but powerful Uzbekistan stayed in the background, literally in the back of the room throughout the entire conference, and was clearly not there to make his presence felt. The Big O seemed more like a hunter and primarily interested in studying his future prey than doing media interviews, because according to his manager Dennis Rappaport, Maskaev is absolutely guaranteed the winner of Rahman-Toney, in lieu of his big WBC Elimination bout win over Sanil Sam in late 2005.

Here is what the just-turned 37-year-old potential future heavyweight champion had to say:

Boxinginsider: Who do you see winning this fight?

Maskaev: “It’s very tough to say who’s going to win this fight, because they’re two great fighters James Toney and Hasim Rahman. Rahman will fight from a distance, using his jab. Toney is a slick fighter, he’s gonna move a lot, his body. Make Hasim Rahman look bad. That’s what exactly is going to happen.”

Boxinginsider: You will be there on Saturday?

Maskaev: “I will be there definitely. That’s part of my job [smiles].”

Boxinginsider: I looked over at you when Rahman was speaking at the podium and you were smiling the whole time. Why?

Maskaev: “Yeah, because I know Rahman, you know, I fought him in ’99. You know what happened. But it doesn’t mean nothing, because I became a different fighter and I believe he changed his style as well. If it’s gonna happen again it’s gonna be a totally different fight.”

Boxinginsider: How do you see Rock’s style has changed?

Maskaev: “He’s boxing more. He’s using his left jab more.”

Boxinginsider: How have you changed since ’99?

Maskaev: “I like to box a bit more, box than fight right now. And make some openings. And the major thing – to hurt the opponent – that’s the best way. To survive in a fight.”

Manager Rappaport adds: “He’s light on his feet, making that circle, pivoting, slipping, feinting, dancing, I mean Victor Valle did a phenomenal jab. People in Germany said they didn’t believe it was the same guy. You will be in a state of shock. (The power is still there, right?) I think his left hook is as good as his right hand. And he’s a tremendous body puncher.”

Boxinginsider: Who would you prefer to meet, James or Rock?

Maskaev: “I’m okay with either one.”

Boxinginsider: What do you think of the WBA champ Valuev and the possibility of fighting him?

Maskaev: “He started late in boxing, around 19, 20. He’s trying to do his best. What I can say about him is he can fight. He’s a big guy. We have to be physically prepared to fight him because he’s very big [smiles].”

Boxinginsider: Did you see Valuev vs. Ruiz?

Maskaev: “I saw that. I think it was a draw.”

Boxinginsider: What are your thoughts on Vitali’s retirement?

Maskaev: “Physically, he can’t fight anymore. Because he’s breaking up – two surgery operations his right knee. A couple of surgery operations on his back. I think he did the right thing that he quit.”

Boxinginsider: Your comment on Wladimir Klitschko vs. Byrd?

Maskaev: “The younger Klitschko won the first fight. He still has the ability to win the rematch. It depends how he’s going to be ready for the fight. They both know each other. Chris Byrd is a very good fighter. Very interesting fight.”