Will
01-21-2007, 09:48 PM
BASEL, Switzerland (AP) -- Nikolai Valuev retained the WBA heavyweight title Saturday night when American challenger Jameel McCline collapsed in the third round after his left kneecap popped out of place.
McCline took a swing at the 7-foot Russian and fell to the canvas as the knee gave out. He tried unsuccessfully to stand, couldn't continue, and had to be carried out on a stretcher.
"I'm disappointed. I will remember this my whole life," McCline said after his third career loss in a title fight.
Billed as the biggest title fight ever, the 6-foot-6 McCline weighed 268 pounds and the Russian 322 pounds.
The 33-year-old Valuev, 46-0 with 33 knockouts, made his third defense after winning the belt with a close decision against John Ruiz in December 2005.
The 9,000 spectators booed the abrupt end of a promising fight in which both had landed some hard blows.
"Its' very sad he had the injury. I think the spectators were waiting for a fight, one that went longer," Valuev said.
McCline (38-3-7) also lost title shots to Wladimir Klitschko and Chris Byrd.
McCline took a swing at the 7-foot Russian and fell to the canvas as the knee gave out. He tried unsuccessfully to stand, couldn't continue, and had to be carried out on a stretcher.
"I'm disappointed. I will remember this my whole life," McCline said after his third career loss in a title fight.
Billed as the biggest title fight ever, the 6-foot-6 McCline weighed 268 pounds and the Russian 322 pounds.
The 33-year-old Valuev, 46-0 with 33 knockouts, made his third defense after winning the belt with a close decision against John Ruiz in December 2005.
The 9,000 spectators booed the abrupt end of a promising fight in which both had landed some hard blows.
"Its' very sad he had the injury. I think the spectators were waiting for a fight, one that went longer," Valuev said.
McCline (38-3-7) also lost title shots to Wladimir Klitschko and Chris Byrd.