Boxing Tour Of Don King And Valuev Hits Los Angeles Today

Dynamic Duo Will Be Ringside For Toney vs. Peter

Don King, Wilfried Sauerland and Nikolai “Giant Russian” Valuev will be at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on Saturday to host a press conference prior to attending the heavyweight showdown between James “Lights Out” Toney and Samuel “Nigerian Nightmare” Peter at the Staples Center.

Don King introduced The Giant to the Big Apple as only he can on Wednesday. After a quick visit to the Fox and Friends morning show, King and Valuev were joined for breakfast by Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin. King then whisked The Giant to Trump Tower to introduce him to his old friend Donald Trump inside his penthouse office.

King then took the Russian for a tour of the United Nations before whisking him to the top of the Empire State building for a photo opportunity that would make King Kong proud. The day finished with a press conference where Valuev was joined by his Oct. 7 challenger Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett.

Barrett took the podium first and said, “I want to address what happened to me in my fight with Hasim Rahman last summer. I was 100-percent prepared. The day of the fight I had some personal problems. I learned my sister got stabbed and I had problems with my wife.

“After the Rahman fight I went around the world. I visited Africa and China (a trip he won as a contestant on the Price is Right game show). I am hungry and focused. I have already been in camp for five weeks. I’m 225 pounds right now and my heart is 224 of it.”

Valuev was gracious when he stood at the podium.

“I want to thank America and Don King for bringing me here today. Thanks to Wilfried Sauerland for all he has done for me as well.

I want to invite you to my fight in Chicago on October 7 because it’s going to be something special. This is probably the last time you will see Monte Barrett and me smiling at the same time as our fight is five weeks away. I respect Monte Barrett and his camp.

“I have fought 44 times and have always gone back to my motherland in St. Petersburg a winner.

“I was walking around New York today and it was nice to see so many people smiling. But we can never forget what happened here in New York on September 11, 2001. I had profound sorrow when I learned of this event. Know that we will all get over this tragedy together.”

Americans will get their chance to see undefeated 7-foot, 325-pound Nikolai “Giant Russian” Valuev when he makes the second defense of his World Boxing Association title against Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., on Oct. 7.

Tickets priced at $250, $200, $100, $75, $50 and $35, with a limited number of golden circle seats available at $500, are on sale now at the Allstate Arena box office (847-635-6601), online at Ticketmaster.com or through charge by phone by calling (312) 559-1212.