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Ruslan Chagaev (born October 19, 1978 in Andizhan) is an Uzbek boxer who has won the Asian and World Championships in the heavyweight (81-91 kg) category. He originally won a gold medal at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships after beating boxing legend Félix Savón in the final, but later it was discovered that Chagaev had been boxing professionally. He lost the title and was suspended for a year, but returned to win the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games. Chagaev is a Honored Sportsman of the Republic of Uzbekistan and nicknamed White Tyson.

Although he fought twice in 1997, Chagaev invested himself in a pro career in 2001. Although he has begun his career 22-0-1, his victories have been over largely questionable opposition. Chagaev scored a slim majority decision win in 2006 over prospect Vladimir Virchis, a huge win which shot him up the heavyweight ranks. In November, he took on rugged former champion John Ruiz, and in a close fight, Chagaev prevailed. He took a decision with scores of 117-111 and 116-112 for Chagaev, and 115-114 for Ruiz. Chagaev now becomes the mandatory for a shot at Nicolay Valuev, scheduled for April 14 in Germany.

Chagaev, a two-time world amateur champion, defeated legendary Cuban boxer Félix Savón to capture the gold medal at the 1997 World Championships. After being stripped of his crown for having two pro fights prior to the championships, Chagaev was reinstated as an amateur when the fights were declared exhibitions. In summary, Chagaev won 82 of his 85 amateur fights.

• 1995 won the gold medal at the Asian Championships in Tashkent at Heavyweight.
• 1996 represented Uzbekistan at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta at Heavyweight.
  • Lost to Luan Krasniqi (Germany) PTS (4-12)
• 1996 won a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Havanna at Heavyweight.
  • Defeated Marat Tuchazyan (Armenia) RSC-3
  • Lost to Yurkis Sterlin (Cuba) PTS (11-14)
• 1997 won the gold medal (later stripped) at the 1997 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Budapest at Heavyweight.
  • Defeated Serguei Dychkov (Belarus) PTS (15-7)
  • Defeated Giacobbe Fragomeni (Italy) PTS (18-4)
  • Defeated Mike Hanke (Germany) PTS (12-7)
  • Defeated Felix Savon (Cuba) PTS (14-4)
• 1998 won the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok at Heavyweight.
  • Defeated Muzaffar Iqbal Mirza (Pakistan) RSC-1
• 1999 represented Uzbekistan at the 1999 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Houston at Heavyweight.
  • Defeated Garth Da Silva (New Zealand) PTS
  • Defeated David Turner (Australia) RSC-1
  • Lost to Felix Savon (Cuba) PTS (1-9)
• 1999 Asian Championships - gold medal
• 2000 represented Uzbekistan at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney at Heavyweight.
  • Defeated Alexander Yatsenko (Ukraine) PTS (15-2)
  • Lost to Wladimir Tchanturia (Georgia) PTS (12-18)
• 2001 won the gold medal at the 2001 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Belfast at Superheavyweight.
  • Defeated Csaba Kurtucz (Hungary) RTD-2
  • Defeated Vitali Boot (Germany) RSCO-3
  • Defeated Alexei Mazikin (Ukraine) RTD-2

• Chagaev is a Muslim whose family originites from Chechnya
• Is often confused with the Ibragimov cousins, who are also white Muslim boxers from the old former Eastern block

• News and Pictures of Ruslan Chagaev
• Boxrec
• Ministry of Cultural and Sports Affairs of Uzbekistan

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