Oleg Maskaev

Oleg Alexandrovich Maskaev (Russian: Олег Александрович Маскаев; born March 2, 1969, in Zhambyl, Kazakh SSR) is a Russian professional boxer and a former WBC heavyweight champion. He made only one successful defence of the WBC title before losing it to Samuel Peter. He is an ethnic Mordvin.

Boxing career

Maskaev, a former mine worker, began his career in the 1980s as an amateur boxer in the Soviet Union, where he held a victory over later WBC world champion Vitali Klitschko. He was the champion of the Soviet Army and later the national cup winner. His professional boxing career began in 1993.

Oleg is known for his powerful right-hand punch: he has knocked out former WBO heavyweight challenger Derrick Jefferson, contender Alex Stewart, and twice knocked out former WBC heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. However, he is also noted for a weak chin that was evident in his knockout losses to contenders Oliver McCall, David Tua, Kirk Johnson, Lance Whitaker, Corey Sanders and journeyman Nagy Aguilera.