Nikolai Valuev earned a chance to fight for the WBA heavyweight title when he beat Sergei Liakhovich of Belarus on points in a one-sided bout between former champions on Saturday night. The card was held at the Nuernberg Arena, in Nuremberg, Bayern, Germany.

Valuev, also known as 'The Russian Giant,' had one of his best performances, effectively using his left jab from the opening seconds to tame "The White Wolf' Liakhovich in the eliminating bout.

Valuev, who improved to 48-1, won going away, 120-108 on two of the scorecards and 120-107 on the other to earn a rematch against Ruslan Chagaev, who took away his WBA belt in April last year.

Valuev's lopsided decision came against the Belarusian who knocked out Lamon Brewster in a bruising battle to win the WBO title.

Liakhovich (23-3) lost his title two years ago against Shannon Briggs on a last-second knockout despite leading on points.

The win thrusts the Russian back into the heavyweight picture, where several unification fights are expected.

On the same card, cruiserweight Alexander Frenkel stopped 43-year-old Arthur Williams in the fifth round to improve to 14-0, with 10 stoppages.

Former cruiserweight champion Williams dropped to 43-14-1; 30.

Kali Meehan moved his record to 34-3; 28 when he stopped Jeremy Bates (22-16-1; 18) in the third round of a heavyweight bout.