When Nikolay Valuev lost his WBA heavyweight title to Ruslan Chagaev last year, many felt that the 7ft Russian had been exposed. Ten months on, Valuev is looking better than ever and, on Saturday in Nuremberg, he earned his rematch as Chagaev, who beat Matt Skelton last month, was given warning that he faces an even bigger task than before.

Valuev beat Sergei Liakhovich, the former WBO champion, in a final eliminator for the WBA title, by a complete shut-out points decision, winning every round on all three judges' scorecards. The Russian looked in better shape than before and, under Alexander Zimin, his new trainer, his often-derided boxing skills have come on in leaps and bounds.

Liakhovich, a Belarussian based in the United States, could not cope with Valuev's size advantage and jab, although Valuev said that he had improvement in him. “I don't want to sound too self-critical, but I have boxed better,” Valuev said. Liakhovich was taken straight to hospital to receive treatment for a shoulder injury that he picked up during the bout.

In Las Vegas, Kelly Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion and a possible future opponent of Joe Calzaghe, produced an excellent performance to win his rematch against Jermain Taylor, the former champion. The match was made at 6lb over the middleweight limit, at Taylor's request, meaning that titles were not on the line, but it lived up to expectations. Pavlik was stronger in the later rounds to win a unanimous decision.

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