Published: 10 January, 2008, 01:11
Edited: 10 January, 2008, 01:11
The former WBA Heavyweight Champion from Russia, Nikolay Valuev, has been fined for hitting a security guard. It happened near a St. Petersburg’s sports complex in January 2006. A court in the city has ordered 'The Russian Giant' to pay 130,000 roubles&nb
The money is to compensate the victim for mental and physical injuries.
Sixty-year-old security guard, Yury Sergeev, was badly beaten by the boxer almost two years ago.
Physicians diagnosed Sergeev with concussion and a chest injury.
He says he's deeply disappointed by the court's ruling and the behaviour of the boxer.
“I'm so angry with Valuyev. There were no apologies – either immediately after or later. He didn’t admit guilt, nor does it look like he is willing to,” he said.
The 34-year-old boxer, who's in Germany training for a tournament, says he's innocent.
From the point of view of the boxer, who stands 2.13 metres and weights almost 150 kg, he was just trying to move Sergeev away from his wife.
He says the 60-year-old security guard had been allegedly brutally rude to his wife for parking her car in the wrong place.
Meanwhile, Sergeev says he politely asked her to move the car.
“I just wanted to move him away, just a little distance. But he slipped and fell down. Now everyone’s claiming I beat him up frightfully,” Valuev said.
As a result of the alleged fight, or the “fall” – as Valuev calls it – Sergeev received a number of injuries.
The security guard’s lawyers had called for compensation of almost $US 40,000 and a prison sentence of one and a half years.
“The ruling for Valuev is, in my opinion, simply ridiculous. The fine of 30,000 roubles turns out to be a ticket for any other person to get under his fists,” Aleksandr Zavaruev, Sergeev’s lawyer said.
One of the mitigating circumstances for the court was the fact that Valuyev covered the expenses of Sergeev's medical treatment.
Valuyev says he's deeply concerned by the shadow the incident has cast on his reputation.