Oleg Maskaev


Oleg Alexandrovich Maskaev is a Kazakhstan-born Russian and American former professional boxer, who competed from 1995 to 2013, and held the WBC heavyweight title from 2006 to 2008. Throughout his career, he represented the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan, the United States, and Russia.

Biography

Oleg Maskaev was born in Abay, Karaganda, Soviet Kazakhstan, to Russian parents. His father is Moksha from the Zubova Polyana district of Mordovia, while his mother is Ukrainian from Kuban, southern Russia.

Amateur career

Maskaev, a former mine worker, began his boxing career in the 1980s as an amateur in his hometown Abay. In 1991, he stopped future WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko in the second round.
Maskaev was the champion of the Soviet Army and later the national cup winner. He first represented the Soviet Union and then subsequently Uzbekistan following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Representing Uzbekistan, he won a gold medal at the 1994 Asian Games.

Highlights

X Summer Spartakiad of Peoples of the USSR, boxing, Minsk, Belarus SSR, July 1991:
VIII Military Spartakiad of the Friendly Armies of the Socialist Countries, Kiskunfelegyhaza, Hungary, October 1990:
  • Finals: Defeated János Sulyok walkover
USA−USSR Middle & Heavy Duals, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, December 1991:
World Championships, Tampere, Finland May 1993:
  • 1/16: Defeated Zourab Sarsania DQ 3
  • 1/8: Defeated Oleksandr Litvin RSC 2
  • 1/4: Lost to Roberto Balado KO 3
World Cup, Bangkok, Thailand, June 1994:
  • 1/8: Defeated Raj Kumar Sangwan 11–3
  • 1/4: Defeated Arshak Avartakyan 12–6
  • 1/2: Defeated Willi Fischer RSC 1
  • Finals: Lost to Roberto Balado walkover
Asian Games, Hiroshima, Japan, October 1994:
Maskaev resumed his amateur career within a month after his reported professional debut in April 1993, to participate in the 1993 World Championships, '94 World Cup, and '94 Asian Games, winning a gold medal at the latter.
Maskaev finished his amateur career with a stated record of 108–10.

Professional career

Maskaev's professional boxing career began in 1993. Not wasting any time, he made his professional debut against former bronze medalist Alexander Miroshnichenko, who held a record of 21–0. Maskaev won via third-round TKO. In only his seventh professional bout, Maskaev was pitted against Oliver McCall, who had captured the WBC heavyweight title by knocking out Lennox Lewis only a year before. Controversy later arose as to his professional record: before he fought McCall, the USBA stated his professional record was 15–0, 12 KOs, which was confirmed ex officio by the Virginia Boxing Commission ; however, later and supposedly more precise estimates gave him a record of 6–0. Nine missing bouts in the given record were either unaccounted for—and therefore non-sanctioned events—or considered as either amateur or exhibition fights. No data is available presently for that missing part of Maskaev's early professional career.
Against McCall, Maskaev was caught with a hard left hand to the body, followed up with a short right hand in the first round, losing via TKO and being handed his first professional defeat. After winning his next four, Maskaev fought hard-hitting Samoan David Tua. Maskaev lost via 11th-round TKO.
His most famous victories have been his two wins over Hasim Rahman. In the first bout, held on November 6, 1999, Maskaev knocked Rahman off balance, sending his rival out of the ring in the 8th round. This fight is also notable for the famous "chair incident," in which noted referee, Steve Smoger, was struck in the head by a chair thrown by a fan. The assailant was later arrested.
He later fought Rahman again and defeated him for the WBC heavyweight title by knocking him out in the 12th round on August 12, 2006. His second win over Rahman was preceded by a streak of victories that helped rejuvenate Maskaev's career and earned him the "Comeback fighter of the Year" award from The Ring magazine in 2006.
Maskaev won his first title defense against Peter Okhello on December 10, 2006, by unanimous decision.
Maskaev fought against Samuel Peter for the WBC Heavyweight title on March 8, 2008, and was doing well in the early rounds, despite Peter's repeated rabbit punching and the referee's warnings. In the fifth round, Maskaev landed some of his best shots on his opponents chin, but to no avail; Peter was seemingly unaffected, visibly shaking Maskaev. Maskaev eventually lost by TKO, with 3 seconds remaining in the sixth round.
In late 2008, he beat opponent Robert Hawkins by UD after 10 rounds and then defeated the unheralded Rich Boruff on March 14, 2009, via first-round KO, giving him mandatory contender status to the WBC Heavyweight Championship. He fought Nagy Aguilera on December 11 of that year in Sacramento, California at the Memorial Auditorium in a tune up fight, but was knocked out in the first round. Stunned with an overhand right-left hook combo and knocked down soon after, another barrage by Aquilera hit Maskaev hard, knocking him out.
Maskaev did not land a punch in the fight, later stating that he would retire following the loss. However, he returned to the ring 3 years later, knocking out Owen Beck. In 2013, he decisioned Jason Gavern in a 10-round fight. His last fight was against Danny Williams, whom he defeated by a 10-round UD on November 4th, 2013, at Krasnodar, Russia. He retired with a record of 39–7, with 28 KOs.
As a professional, Maskaev was known for his powerful right-hand punch: he knocked out former WBO heavyweight challenger Derrick Jefferson, contender Alex Stewart, and twice knocked out former WBC heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. However, he was also noted for a weak chin, which was evident in his knockout losses to Oliver McCall, David Tua, Kirk Johnson, Lance Whitaker, Corey Sanders, and journeyman Nagy Aguilera.

Nationality

Maskaev was born in Kazakhstan to Mordvin-Ukrainian parents from Soviet Russia. Following the end of the Soviet Union, he resided in Uzbekistan for a brief period, representing them at the 1994 Asian Games. He has lived in the U.S. since 1999 with his wife, Svetlana, and four daughters. He acquired US citizenship in 2004. He currently resides in West Sacramento, California, after previously living in Staten Island, New York. Before his second encounter with Hasim Rahman in 2006, he said "I would say I'm a proud Russian-American. So right now, I'm a citizen of America, of United States... Whoever is going to win is going to be American."
In the run-up to his title defense against Peter Okhello, he stated regarding his citizenship: "Russian. I don't want to talk about that anymore. I will walk to the ring under the Russian flag and Russian anthem as I'm now a Russian citizen."
Russian president Vladimir Putin granted him Russian citizenship on December 9, 2006.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
46Win39–7Danny WilliamsUD104 Nov 2013Basket-Hall, Krasnodar, Russia
45Win38–7Jason GavernUD1026 May 2013Sports Complex Mordovia, Saransk, Russia
44Win37–7Owen BeckTKO3, 2:5930 Dec 2012Sports Palace Quant, Moscow, Russia
43Loss36–7Nagy AguileraTKO1, 1:5411 Dec 2009Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California, US
42Win36–6Rich BoruffTKO1, 1:3514 Mar 2009Ice Palace, Saransk, Russia
41Win35–6Robert HawkinsUD106 Sep 2008Red Square, Moscow, Russia
40Loss34–6Samuel PeterTKO6, 2:568 Mar 2008Plaza de Toros, Cancún, MexicoLost WBC heavyweight title
39Win34–5Okello PeterUD1210 Dec 2006Olympic Stadium, Moscow, RussiaRetained WBC heavyweight title
38Win33–5Hasim RahmanTKO12, 2:1712 Aug 2006Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, USWon WBC heavyweight title
37Win32–5Sinan Şamil SamUD1212 Nov 2005Alsterdorfer Sporthalle, Hamburg, GermanyWon WBC International heavyweight title
36Win31–5Livin CastilloTKO3, 1:3024 Jun 2005Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
35Win30–5Quinn NavarreKO3, 2:4722 Jan 2005Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder, Louisiana, US
34Win29–5David Defiagbon1023 Jul 2004Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
33Win28–5Craig TomlinsonTKO2, 1:1816 Apr 2004Tropicana Casino & Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
32Win27–5Julius FrancisTKO2 27 Nov 2003Olimpiysky Sport Palace, Chekhov, Russia
31Win26–5Dennis McKinneyTKO1 25 Sep 2003Townhouse, Huntington, New York, US
30Win25–5Sedreck FieldsTKO9 6 Sep 2003Palace of Sports, Kyiv, Ukraine
29Win24–5Gary WinmonTKO1 28 Jun 2003DC Armory, Washington, DC, US
28Win23–5Errol SadikovskiTKO1 15 Feb 2003Multi-Purpose Center, Lewiston, Maine, US
27Loss22–5Corey SandersTKO8, 2:4517 Mar 2002Gold Country Casino, Oroville, California, US
26Win22–4David VedderTKO6, 1:4530 Nov 2001Hilton, Reno, Nevada, US
25Win21–4Brian NixTKO6, 0:5325 Aug 2001Flamingo, Laughlin, Nevada, US
24Loss20–4Lance WhitakerKO2, 1:0310 Mar 2001Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, USFor WBC Continental Americas heavyweight title
23Loss20–3Kirk JohnsonKO4, 0:517 Oct 2000Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, USLost PABA heavyweight title
22Win20–2Derrick JeffersonTKO4, 2:1020 May 2000Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
21Win19–2Sedreck Fields7, 3:002 Mar 2000Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois, US
20Win18–2Hasim RahmanKO8, 0:406 Nov 1999Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
19Win17–2Shane SutcliffeTKO2, 2:5620 May 1999Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, USRetained PABA heavyweight title
18Win16–2Jeff WoodenTKO3, 0:414 Feb 1999Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort Hotel, Worley, Idaho, USRetained PABA heavyweight title
17Win15–2Marion WilsonUD88 Dec 1998Roseland Ballroom, New York City, New York, US
16Win14–2Toakipa TasefaKO1, 1:152 Oct 1998Sudduth Coliseum, Lake Charles, Louisiana, USWon vacant PABA heavyweight title
15Win13–2Courage TshabalalaKO9, 2:559 Jun 1998State Circus, Moscow, Russia
14Win12–2Booker T WordTKO4, 2:479 Jan 1998The Claridge, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
13Win11–2Alex StewartTKO7 27 Sep 1997State Circus, Moscow, Russia
12Loss10–2David TuaTKO11, 1:165 Apr 1997Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USFor WBC International heavyweight title
11Win10–1Rodney BlountKO2, 1:557 Feb 1997Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, US
10Win9–1Ralph WestTKO3, 1:0312 Sep 1996Hilton, Huntington, New York, US
9Win8–1Fernely FelizUD820 Aug 1996Paramount Theater, New York City, New York, US
8Win7–1Mike RobinsonTKO7, 1:359 Jun 1996Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, US
7Loss6–1Oliver McCallTKO1, 1:3824 Feb 1996Coliseum, Richmond, Virginia, US
6Win6–0Nikolay KulpinUD1229 Sep 1995York Hall, London, EnglandWon PABA heavyweight title
5Win5–0Joe Thomas625 Aug 1995Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, US
4Win4–0Robert Hawkins4, 1:0530 Jun 1995Convention Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
3Win3–0Mike Whitfield811 Apr 1995Martin's West, Woodlawn, Maryland, US
2Win2–0Jimmy HarrisonTKO4 4 Mar 1995The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, US
1Win1–0Alexander Miroshnichenko3 17 Apr 1993Taraz, Kazakhstan