Don King Boxing: Liakhovich, Palacios Added To Valuev vs. Haye Fight Card

ByBoxing Press

Two of Don King’s top fighters have been added to Saturday’s card headlined by WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev his title opposing David Haye in Nuremberg, Germany, at Versicherung Arena.

Former WBO heavyweight champion Sergei “White Wolf” Liakhovich (23-3, 14 KOs) will face dangerous veteran Jeremy “The Beast” Bates (22-16-1, 18 KOs), and undefeated cruiserweight Francisco “The Wizard” Palacios (18-0, 11 KOs) will meet DeLeon Tinsley (9-4-1, 5 KOs). Both matches are scheduled for eight rounds.

Liakhovich, from Vitebsk, Belarus, now fighting out of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the WBO heavyweight crown by upsetting “Relentless” Lamon Brewster in one of the best heavyweight fights of 2006.

In his next match, Liakhovich surrendered his title in the waning seconds of a fight he had all but won against Shannon “The Cannon” Briggs. Liakhovich had built a sizeable scorecard lead going into the 12th and final round, but he courageously stood in the middle of the ring and traded punches with Briggs, which resulted in Liakhovich suffering two knockdowns in the final 30 seconds, costing him the fight and title.

Liakhovich dropped a unanimous decision to Valuev on Feb. 16, 2008, also in Versicherung Nuremberg Arena, but did not fight at his normal level. Liakhovich recently revealed that he had been hampered by a nagging and persistent injury, which he says is now fully healed.

Palacios, from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is an undefeated and fast-rising cruiserweight with knockout power. He is currently ranked No. 3 by both the World Boxing Council and WBA. His ring exploits have already earned him a continental title, and—if he keeps up his winning ways—he will soon receive his first chance at a world championship.

Two-time WBA heavyweight champion John “The Quietman” Ruiz (43-8-1, 29 KOs), the current WBA No. 1 rated and “official challenger,” takes on ex-IBU champion Adnan “Aachen Assassin” Serin (19-10-1, 7 KOs) joins Valuev-Haye on the United States pay per view. Additional undercard bouts will also air on this PPV telecast.

Valuev-Haye is promoted by Wilfried Sauerland’s Sauerland Event and its Managing Director, Christian Meyer, in association with Don King Productions. The pay-per-view telecast is being distributed in the United States and Canada by Integrated Sports for live viewing at 3 PM/ET – 12 PM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, TVN, Viewer’s Choice, Shaw PPV and Bell TV for a suggested retail price of only $24.95. A replay will be shown that same night at 9 PM/ET, 6 PM/PT.