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Q&A: Oleg Maskaev!
Oleg Maskaev (27-5, 22 KOs) hopes to get back on track toward a shot at the heavyweight championship of the world. On April 16th, he will be a step closer if he defeats Craig Tomlinson (23-14-1, 13KO’s) at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Maskaev is coming off of five straight knockout wins since his loss to the American Corey Sanders (T-Rex).
In 1991 , Maskaev knocked out WBC#1 and WBA#1 ranked Vitali Klitschko in the first round of a Russian amateur tournament. As Maskaev remembers, “I dropped him, but the referee did not rule it as a knockdown. Later in the round I had him hurt, and his corner threw in the towel to prevent further punishment.”
Maskaev’s promoter Dennis Rappaport injected, “We offered Vitali a fight last year in Russia for the highest purse in his career for one million dollars plus a percentage of the gate and he turned it down. He obviously feared that history would repeat itself. Maskaev did it once, and he’ll do it again.”
As a professional, Maskaev has fought two world champions, Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. In Maskaev’s 7th professional fight, he fought Oliver McCall, and this was McCall’s first fight after he lost the WBC title to Frank Bruno in a 12-round unanimous decision. Maskaev also fought Hasim Rahman, and scored a classic knockout against "The Rock" with one of the most spectacular knockouts in heavyweight history. Maskaev threw a right hand that sent Rahman out the ropes, onto the announcer's table, and finally to the ground. Maskaev also out-boxed and was beating David Tua for ten rounds straight with a simple jab until Tua landed his celebrated left hook in the 11th round. He was in line for a world title shot in 2000 until he ran into an in-shape Kirk Johnson. In 2003 Maskaev was slated to fight Mike Tyson. Maskaev signed the contract but Tyson refused to sign and the bout was scrapped.
Fightnews had the opportunity to speak with Oleg Maskaev along with his promoter Dennis Rappaport at National Restaurant, which is located in the predominantly Russian community called Little Odessa in the Brighton Beach section of Brooklyn, New York.
What were some of your amateur titles?
I was a two-time Russian champion, I was a World cup silver medallist, I got a gold medal in the Pan Asian Games, and I won many other titles.
In the amateurs, you hold a win over Vitali Klitschko, what was the fight like?
The fight was in an Army vs. Army tournament in 1991. I was in the Army and he was also in the Army. I stopped him in the first round. I dropped him, but the referee did not rule it as a knockdown. Later in the round I had him hurt, and his corner threw in the towel to prevent further punishment.
Would you like a fight Vitali Klitschko again?
For sure! We offered him a fight last year, and he did not take it.
You had one of the best knockouts in heavyweight history against Hasim Rahman, what happened in that fight?
We had a tough fight, and I hit him with a right hand, and after that, I was shocked. I was looking around the ring and wondering what happened. I hit him and he was not there anymore. And then the referee told me that the fight was over, I was shocked.
How did you feel when you saw Rahman knock out Lennox Lewis for the heavyweight title, four fights after you knocked Rahman out?
I have to give him credit; I was happy for him at that moment.
There is a fighter by the name of Derrick Jefferson who you knocked out in 2000. Could you tell me what happened in that fight?
Before that fight, Jefferson told me that he was going to do a lot of things to me. He said that he was going to knock me out with a left hook, but I handled him with ease. I didn’t even break a sweat in that fight.
Jefferson had over a one-year layoff, and he was going to fight Chris Byrd for the IBF world title after one win in February since his comeback. But Jefferson suffered a cut and Andrew Golota, who did not fight in close to three years, and after two fights in his comeback will replace Jefferson to fight Byrd. What do you think about that?
Dennis Rappaport: Boxing is such a great sport, but it is also an ugly business. You have Oleg, who has never taken a lay-off, and he has accumulated 5 straight wins and they were all knockouts, and he doesn’t get a title shot. But Golota gets a title-shot after a three-year lay-off, and with only two fights in his comeback.
How many fights do you feel that you will need, until you get a title-shot?
Dennis Rappaport: He’s ready for a title-shot right now. We just need the exposure to let the public know who he is. This is the brand new Oleg Maskaev. He is not only a strong puncher, but he is a masterful boxer. Not only does he have a strong right hand, he has an improved left hand, and he is a body puncher. He is a force to be reckoned with.
What do you know about your opponent Craig Tomlinson?
All I know is that he comes to fight, and if I get a chance to knock him out then I will.
Is there anything that you would like to say?
Yes. I wish everybody happiness. Just because I am a boxer, it does not mean that I am a crazy person. I am a descent person, and I have a family. I know that people are having a tough time in America, but America will get through it. We all will get through it.
Which country do you like more, Russia or America?
I love them both. Russia is my motherland and America is my fatherland.
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Roberts