COMPUBOX PRE-FIGHT ANALYSIS

by Compubox/Bob Canobbio

WBA heavyweight champ Nicolay Valuev, now 45-0 with 33 knockouts, looked to make a splash in the American boxing landscape in his fight with Monte Barrett (31-5, 17 KO) in Rosemont, Illinois Saturday night. The pieces were in place – the 7-foot, 328-pound Valuev was taking on a man nine inches shorter, almost two years older, a record 106 pounds lighter and coming off a nearly 14-month layoff – but in the end his 11th round TKO produced mixed reviews at best.

Barrett began the fight well, stunning the giant with an overhand right to the jaw and keeping up with him statistically. In the first round, Barrett was 14 of 49 overall (29 percent) while Valuev was 14 of 54 (26 percent) and the American connected on 10 of his 31 power shots, which at 32 percent was equal to Valuev's 13 of 41 output.

Barrett knew his best chance of victory was to stay inside Valuev's mammoth 85-inch reach, all the better to inhibit the Russian's vaunted jab. At least statistically, the plan worked as Valuev landed just 1 of his 13 jabs in the first and 3 of his 17 attempts in the second. By staying on the inside Barrett also outlanded Valuev in power punches 12-10 in the third and 13-9 in the fourth. Though Barrett looked ragged at times and didn't execute trainer James Bashir's blueprint perfectly, he remained competitive.

The fight began to turn in the fifth as Valuev's overwhelming physical advantages began to take their toll on Barrett, who flopped to the canvas several times though none of the falls were counted as official knockdowns. Valuev outlanded Barrett 18-9 overall and landed half of his 14 power punches. In the fourth, Barrett landed just 4 of 19 power shots for 21 percent.

Barrett's high-water mark came in the sixth as he outconnected Valuev 16-13 overall, 6-4 in jabs and 10-9 in power punches, but it would represent his last gasp. From then on Valuev dominated.

From the seventh through the 11th rounds, Valuev outscored Barrett 102-48 overall and his power-punch advantage was even more graphic at 71-32. In the 11th and final round, Valuev landed 22 of his 36 attempts overall for sterling 61 percent accuracy and an even more impressive 66 percent of his power punches (19 of 29) en route to two knockdowns and a merciful stoppage by Bashir.

Overall, Valuev landed 186 of 459 for 41 percent while Barrett was 127 of 440 (29 percent). The big Russian never really got his jab going against Barrett, even though he landed 60 of 176 for a respectable 34 percent connect rate. Valuev's power punching won him the fight as he found the mark on 45 percent of them (126 of 283).

The 35-year-old Barrett's offense worked only sporadically, and "Two Gunz" never made a consistent dent in Valuev's armor. Overall, he landed 127 of 440 blows (29 percent) while he connected on 39 of 159 jabs (25 percent) and 88 of 281 power shots (31 percent).

It wasn't a pretty American audition for Valuev, but at least the victory will give him another casting call down the line. Unfortunately for Barrett, it's unlikely he will receive another chance to read for the role of "heavyweight champion."