Tyrant Putin‘s henchman, once celebrated as the towering ‘Beast from the East’ in the boxing ring, has seamlessly transitioned from sports to the political arena, becoming a staunch supporter of Vladimir Putin’s administration.
Standing at a formidable 7ft, Valuev’s journey from heavyweight champion to Russian MP has been marked by unwavering loyalty to the Kremlin and a readiness to serve his nation, both in parliament and on the battlefield.
Nikolai Valuev’s boxing career reached its zenith in 2009 when he faced Britain’s David Haye in a much-anticipated bout that was billed as David vs Goliath.
Despite his imposing stature and weight of a staggering 316 pounds, Valuev suffered a defeat, leading to his retirement from professional boxing later that year.
However, his departure from the sport paved the way for a new chapter in politics.
Chillingly, the lawmaker revealed late last year he was upset Great Britain still existed – saying there would be less problems in the world if it didn’t.
‘If you imagine that in any of the past six centuries, the British Isles suddenly sank into the ocean, then for the rest of the world, indeed, there would be fewer problems for a certain time,’ he said.
He added, in warning, if Britain no longer existed ‘others will take the place that becomes vacant.’
The former heavyweight champion’s life has been nothing short of interesting, if not controversial.
By 2011, Valuev secured a seat in the State Duma representing the United Russia party, aligning himself closely with Putin’s vision for Russia.
Throughout his political tenure, Valuev has been an outspoken advocate for Russian sovereignty and has often echoed the Kremlin’s narratives.
Notably, he opposed the US adoption of Russian orphans, reflecting a broader resistance to Western influence on domestic affairs.
His criticisms extended to international sports bodies, where he condemned the International Olympic Committee’s actions against Russian athletes amidst doping scandals, viewing them as unjust punitive measures.
In a testament to his dedication, 2022 saw Valuev responding to a military summons amid Russia’s intensified actions in Ukraine.
Embracing his duty, he was prepared to don the uniform and serve on the front lines.
However, his deployment was interrupted by a hospitalisation following complaints of a leg injury.
Undeterred, Valuev continued to bolster morale, making public appearances in military attire and rallying support for Russian troops.
By 2023, Valuev was prominently featured supporting Putin during key addresses concerning Russia’s military endeavors.
Valuev was seen clapping in the crowd, as Putin claimed Russia is engaged in a ‘real war’ with the West during his Victory Day speech in Moscow’s Red Square last year.
During the 10-minute speech, Putin told the crowd: ‘Soldiers and seamen, and officers, generals, admirals, fighters and commanders, to all participants of the special military operation, I congratulate you on Victory Day.
‘It is the celebration to honour our fathers and grandfathers who fought for their motherland and through their sacrifice they saved the world from Nazism.’
Putin, who has often referred to the invasion of the Ukraine as a repeat of WWII, revealed that a ‘special military operation’ was needed to free Donbas of the chains of ‘Nazi’ rulers in Kyiv and the West.
‘Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point,’ Putin said.
‘A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland.’
He added: ‘Today we have a real war waged against us but we will be defending ourself from terrorism, we will defend the citizens of Donbas.
Valuev fervently propagated the narrative of defending Russian interests against Western adversaries, portraying the conflict as a necessary stand against external threats.
His transformation from a sports figure to a political stalwart underscores his deep-seated commitment to his nation’s cause.
Nikolai Valuev’s journey from the boxing ring to the halls of power illustrates a profound shift from global sportsmanship to fervent nationalism.
His unwavering support for Putin and readiness to serve in multiple capacities highlight a complex figure whose actions continue to resonate within Russia and beyond.
It comes after Valuev was allegedly barred from entering Azerbaijan on Monday.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizade said Baku – Azerbaijan’s apital – made the decision after Valuev’s ‘offensive statements against Azerbaijan and our people.’
‘His threatening remarks against our country are absolutely unacceptable,’ Hajizade said in a statement.
Valuev is the third Russian lawmaker to be banned from entering Azerbaijan.
Hajizadeh noted in his statement that all three Russian MPs declared persona non grata ‘regretfully’ belong to the ruling United Russia party.
Valuev made his comments after Azerbaijan last week ordered the closure of the so-called Russia House, a local branch of Russia’s state-run cultural diplomacy agency Rossotrudnichestvo.
The Russian lawmaker wrote on his Telegram channel that while Azerbaijan does not have a similar institution in Russia, it has a diaspora that has ‘nothing to do with cultural exchange, but money.’
‘To put it tactfully, this money is not always legal…. isn’t it time to a take a closer look at [the diaspora]?’ he wrote.
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has said the Russian cultural center lacked legal registration and it expected Moscow to take steps to rectify it.
Moscow says it has ‘repeatedly’ requested Baku to help with the registration but has not received a response.
