Valuev cruises to victory

Nikolai Valuev won virtually every round against Sergei Liakhovich on Saturday night to earn a re-match with Ruslan Chagaev.

Beast From the East back in title hunt

Nikolai Valuev won every round against Sergei Liakhovich on Saturday night to earn a re-match with WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev. The Russian lost his title in April last year but was totally dominant against the former WBO title holder, who lost that belt to Shannon Briggs in November 2006 and hadn't fought since. The 7ft Valuev kept his opponent on the end of a raking jab and Liakhovich never seemed to recover from a pummelling in the second round which left him with a bruised left eye. The Belorussian never threatened with the much-bigger Valuev shaking off anything he threw at him, although he somehow lasted to the final bell. Scorecards of 120-108, 120-108 and 120-107 told the full story. "I am very pleased with my performance - I showed how much I have improved," Valuev said. "I look forward to the fight with Chagaev."