He stands seven feet tall, weighs 323 pounds, and is billed as the "Beast from the East." His name is Nikolay Valuev, and he is Russia's first heavyweight boxing champion. But, when Valuev's not in the ring, he likes to read Tolstoy and write poetry for his wife. The L.A. Times profiles the "Next Big Thing."

Valuev himself strode into the gym recently during his triumphant return to Russia after the title bout, in which he defeated American John Ruiz on a controversial decision in Berlin to become the tallest (7 feet) and heaviest (323 pounds) world champion in history. He's so big he usually steps into the ring over the top rope � so big that the adolescent pugilists at the Stepashkin Club would have barely been able to land a hook as high as his belly, if they had the nerve to try.

Most just craned their necks and gawked, or melted into nervous grins.

"I don't know about the world, but here in Russia, he's been very famous for a long time. For the kids here, this is such an emotional thing," said Alexei Barsukov, a former trainer who came back for the spread of iced tortes, fresh fruit and champagne laid out in the manager's office in Valuev's honor.

In the rest of the world, Valuev, 32, is known as the "Beast from the East" (promoter Don King wants to call him "King Kong" when he defends his title in the U.S.), but in his homeland, he is more often known as the "Russian Giant."

His brain is played up here as much as his brawn _ a boxer who reads Tolstoy and writes poetry to his wife? _ along with his diffident, quiet demeanor.

"You can't impose your own manner of fighting on him, and that's because of his life position. He's very calm, and very, very controlled," Barsukov said.

Added Vladimir Grachev, boxing coach at the club: "You have a person born with such a physique once in a hundred years. Such a build, and such an intellect _ Russia may not get another such man in our lifetimes."

sixbysix

United Kingdom

December 2004

JAN 27, 2006 04:43 PM

Rocky's still got more spirit...

AaronB

Eden Prairie, MN

July 2004

JAN 27, 2006 05:45 PM

Holy shit dude

Its_Matt

United Kingdom

September 2003

JAN 27, 2006 05:49 PM

Jeebus christ!

Hey rocky did poetry too, how can we forget:
"Hey i thought you an me are supposed to be tight huh?" I dont think im less of a man for crying right now, its just that when i hear words said straight from the heart they tend to effect me...

SonOfAPunk

Maple Ridge, BC

January 2006

JAN 27, 2006 06:18 PM

Look! The elusive "Sweater-Back"! There! In his natural habitat: the pool of sweat!

Fuck, I thought I was big...

Hahahaha! Scary!

wottan

Richmond, BC

July 2004

JAN 27, 2006 06:31 PM

That guy is beastly.

joenobody

North Franklin, CT

December 2004

JAN 27, 2006 07:01 PM

he's like andre the giant...but he's a boxer! and he's in shape!

Lemonkid

Montreal, QC

May 2003

JAN 27, 2006 07:06 PM

AaronB said:

Holy shit dude

Okay.. is that just taken at a weird angle or is the one guy like 5 times bigger than his opponent?

Buster_Bluth

Los Angeles, CA

January 2004

JAN 27, 2006 07:07 PM

Lemonkid said:

AaronB said:

Holy shit dude

Okay.. is that just taken at a weird angle or is the one guy like 5 times bigger than his opponent?

Nah I think he's 5 times as big; I think that's from one of those Man vs Beast specials on FOX.

ReverendGonzo

Savannah, GA

September 2003

JAN 27, 2006 07:09 PM

AaronB said:

Holy shit dude

I could totally take him (the guy on the right).

AaronB

Eden Prairie, MN

July 2004

JAN 27, 2006 07:15 PM

Lemonkid said:

AaronB said:

Holy shit dude

Okay.. is that just taken at a weird angle or is the one guy like 5 times bigger than his opponent?

He's 7ft tall and weighs something like 350lbs, I think it's an accurate representation, albeit a scary one.

wottan

Richmond, BC

July 2004

JAN 27, 2006 07:15 PM

DocGonzo said:

AaronB said:

Holy shit dude

I could totally take him (the guy on the right).

Well that guys kind of big too, but dont you just want to punch his son?

If you havent seen the FG episode, you wont get it, so heres the disclaimer.

reacher

USA

March 2004

JAN 27, 2006 07:29 PM

The guy on the right in the pic above is no small fry - John Ruiz @ 6'2" / 237-lbs. He just seems like a child compared to Valuev.

ChiTownGuy32

Chicago, IL

October 2005

JAN 27, 2006 07:49 PM

Royce would choke him out