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Monday November 9, 2009

Haye shocks Valuev in WBA heavyweight bout

NUREMBERG: Briton David Haye clinched the World Boxing Association (WBA) world heavyweight title with a points win over holder Nikolai Valuev of Russia on Saturday.

Haye, who became Britain’s first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired six years ago, scored 116-112 points on the scorecards of two judges, the third giving it a 114-114 tie in the bout dubbed “David versus Goliath“.

“This means everything to me. Since I was a little baby I wanted to be heavyweight champion of the world,” Haye said in a ringside interview. “It’s amazing, I dreamt of this now it’s reality, it’s real... he wasn’t hitting me so as long as you are not getting hit you are okay.

The best: David Haye celebrates with the winner’s belt after defeating WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg on Saturday. — AFP

“I hit his head early in the fight but it was the hardest thing I’ve ever hit, it was like hitting a brick wall... I’m pretty sure I’ve broken my hand. I made him look like an amateur. People doubted my skills... but I did enough to win,“ Haye said.

Valuev, the tallest and heaviest world champion of all time who has yet to be floored in his 16-year professional career having lost only one bout, struggled throughout the 12-round bout against a speedier opponent who is also lighter by 44kg.

Former world cruiserweight champion Haye, who took a 22-1 record into the bout with the ‘Beast from the East’, is also almost a foot shorter than his seven foot (2.13m) opponent but he made up for it in speed and accuracy.

“I damaged my hand early on in the second or third round so I couldn’t throw too many right hands so I had to win it with my left hand. I had to take my foot off the gas and win it clever,” said Haye.

“I’m having it large tonight. I’ve disciplined myself so much over the last six months. I was gutted when the fight earlier in the year fell through (against IBF, IBO and WBO champion Vladimir Klitschko) but this makes up for everything.”

The 29-year-old Londoner landed a handful of big left-right combinations in the early rounds that troubled the towering Russian who could not pin the quick Haye to the ropes.

Valuev failed to connect, landing almost no damaging blows, as he struggled to cope with Haye’s pace.

“The speed of my opponent was a problem,” said Valuev. — Reuters

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