Haye outfoxes Valuev to take title

Eurosport - Sun, 08 Nov 04:00:00 2009

David Haye produced a tactical masterclass to outfox and outbox Nikolai Valuev to claim the WBA heavyweight title in Nuremburg.

david Haye from Britain celebrates after defeating Russia's WBA heayweight boxing world champion Nikolai Valuev - 0

Haye was giving away seven-stone in weight but he had a plan in mind from the outset and it was executed to perfection.

The Londoner, rather than get involved in a tear-up, spent the whole fight on the move and this completely frustrated his Russian opponent.

Aside from taking a shot that forced him back for a moment in round five, Haye was never caught by the Russian.

The better punches came from Haye who moved like a fox to confuse Valuev before letting go with sharp combinations.

In truth, Haye's power rarely troubled Valuev but he was getting through the better work and it proved crucial.

The final round saw Haye catch Valuev with a clubbing right that sent the Russian staggering and the Londoner finished the fight with a flourish.

The greater work from Haye proved crucial as although one of the judges scored it even at 114-114, two of the judges went for Haye 116-112 to hand him the heavyweight crown and the first for a Briton since Lennox Lewis retired six years ago.

Haye revealed after the fight that his tactics altered in round two as he damaged his hand which forced him on to the defensive, but it did not matter as he claimed the crown.

"This means everything it truly does," said Haye.

"He wasn't hitting me and I was landing clean shots. I knew I was landing clean shots as I caned my hand in the second round. I hit him with an overhead right and his head is the hardest thing I've ever hit. It's like hitting a brick wall.

"I had real bad pain in my right hand and was only going to use it when his chin was hanging out. I hit him with one with a bit of meat in the final round and you saw his legs go. He's never gone like that before and it shows the power I do have.

"I am pretty sure my hand is broke, but it's a price worth paying in to be world champion.

"I made him look like a novice in there and felt like I could do whatever I wanted in there."

Valuev admitted he found it impossible to get to grips with Haye.

"The speed of my opponent was a problem," said Valuev. "I could not work my right and the 40-plus kilos difference in weight is something you start to feel."

Haye stunned the 36-year-old in the final round, threatening him with his first knock out. The Russian managed to stay on his feet but felt it was the key moment in the fight.

"It was all decided in that final round," Valuev said, whose record now is 50-2. "It was clearly that last round."

Eurosport

Comment 408 - 427 of 427

Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated
  1. tua would ko haye in two rounds............nevermind­ the 2 bros!!

    From sean d, on Wed 11 Nov 7:43PM
  2. mark how about you get in the ring with valuev? there­ was nothing wrong with the way haye fought he outboxed­ his opponent and you should feel priveledged that you­ saw such a great performance and not criticise the guy.­ He had a plan and he executed it to perfection. Do you­ honestly think he would have a tear up against valuev?­ dont be so silly.

    From pond.simba, on Tue 10 Nov 2:58AM
  3. Hey paddyz11 this is a forum, you dont have to use­ proper grammar. If it does say to write on correct­ grammar on here then i must have missed it.
    i was­ writing a comment not an essay. !

    From Tom E, on Mon 9 Nov 6:00PM
  4. 424 i agree m8 what a sad show it was boxers should box­ not hit n run lol the boxers of old youst to dodge a­ punch n counter u never seen tyson hit n run n he gave­ away a big height difference in most fights n knocked­ the opponents head of..

    From Bazzabhoy!!, on Mon 9 Nov 1:28PM
  5. Bottom line should be to be the man you must BEAT the­ man. Haye congrats but it is robbery. Come on knock­ him out or something then you would get the­ recognition. Also if u aint scared of fighting him­ again go in with ur boxing boots and running shoes this­ time. VALUEV rematch!!!!

    From Mark, on Mon 9 Nov 9:59AM
  6. Hey, I'm an open minded girl from UK, I'm­ interested in exotic things, photography, dating and­ sports...I have my photos on --- T a l l h u b Co m­ ---, I love tall guys!
    Do you love traveling and have­ some experience? Just find me out.

    From Nicole, on Mon 9 Nov 9:36AM
  7. if its not there you cant hit it simps

    From Andrew, on Sun 8 Nov 10:38PM
  8. Hey tomevans619. Are you still in junior school? Your­ spelling and grammar say so. Or are you too lazy to­ press the shift and full stop buttons?

    From paddyz11, on Sun 8 Nov 10:25PM
  9. hey steven !! if all you got to do is throw 3 punches a­ round and run for 11 rounds around the ring and win a­ championship then HELL YES id get in the ring with a 7­ ft 2 giant weighing 22 stone. MADDIE u talk a lot of­ sence love there was defo a few brown envelopes flying­ around last night. for all those out there who either­ do a bit of boxing or is a real fan of boxing should be­ ashamed of urselves for saying that it was a tactical­ masterclass, tactical masterFARCE yes !! the result­ last night was all about marketing, and il tell you y.­ the heavyweight fight people wants to see is haye vs­ one of the klitchkos and for that to happen haye would­ have needed to win other wise don king couldnt get him­ the contract. dont get me wrong i dont think valuev won­ it either i personaly think a draw should be the only­ out come for it. as i said in my other post its good­ for british boxing and the heavyweight division but­ after a fight like last night there wouldnt be many­ takers to fight valuev if he won last night lets face­ it which we have to if you cant run away from him the­ only way you could beat him is to stop him !! and not­ many people would be up for that challenge. put like­ that it makes sence. i can not wait for the pacquiao -­ cotto fight next week pac-man will win by K/o and then­ go on to fight mayweather. i Want hatton and khan­ fighting next so that i can shut a load of people up­ who think khan will beat hatton.
    p.s
    maddie ur good­ looking ;)
    x

    From Tom E, on Sun 8 Nov 7:45PM
  10. I wanted that cute Hayes to win. He won bcus he is­ really quick and small and that russian dude is just­ huge! Hayes moves really fast and the dude is slow so­ when hayes move the dude needs 2 get him and theres the­ chance that hayes can win and he did. LUV UUUUUUUUU­ HHHHHAAAYYYEEESSS.
    But well done russian dudes and­ congrate Hayes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From jroxhanna, on Sun 8 Nov 7:45PM
  11. Great win David a pleasure to watch the intelligent­ dismantling of a opponent far taller and­ heavier.
    However a equaling delight after the fight had­ finished was recalling the sight of DON KING standing­ in the ring whilst the boxers were being introduced­ waving the flags of Russia,Germany and the USA, and his­ pre-fight prediction that Klitscho would knock Haye­ out.-----What a Looser

    From JOHN M, on Sun 8 Nov 7:27PM
  12. Great win David a pleasure to watch the intelligent­ dismantling of a opponent far taller and­ heavier.
    However a equaling delight after the fight had­ finished was recalling the sight of DON KING standing­ in the ring whilst the boxers were being introduced­ waving the flags of Russia,Germany and the USA, and his­ pre-fight prediction that Klitscho would knock Haye­ out.-----What a Looser

    From JOHN M, on Sun 8 Nov 7:26PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It's that old debate again.... Hayes won the BOXING­ match! being stratigic, he was the victor, however it­ was not a brawling match, and fear he wouldn't have­ been so lucky, never the less, well done Dave.

    From Mark P, on Sun 8 Nov 7:01PM
  14. I've always rated Haye, but this is nothing like­ honeygan vs curry, Valuev was such a limited fighter, i­ never doubted Haye would win and he did it very easily.­ Can't wat for his next fight, i would like to see­ him have a couple more before the klitchko (my­ spellings is probable wrong lol!) brothers. And who the­ hell mentioned Fedor what a dumb comment.

    From jeremyadavies, on Sun 8 Nov 6:56PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Boxing is about tactics, not underestimating your­ opponents and BOXING. Valuev was trying to box from­ the first bell to the last, always endeavouring to keep­ going forward, but alas Haye was much lighter and­ faster and it was easy for him to RUN AWAY in case he­ got himself involved in the BOXING side of the things,­ I say things because it was most certainly not a fight­ because you need at least TWO people to be involved for­ it to be classed as a fight. Haye won this so called­ contest by RUNNING AWAY from his opponent and only­ delivering an odd punch ( as he said in his own words )­ " you need to connect with punches to score, you­ cant win a fight if you dont land any punches" .­ David Haye let all the boxing fans down with these­ tactics, it was NOT a proper boxing match that fans­ expect to see in any bout, especially a high profile­ contest such as a World Title Contest, this has made a­ complete mockery of boxing at a time when boxing is ­ under the microscope, I would"nt go bragging too­ much about being World Champion because I think that­ you did nothing to deserve it and also you did the art­ of boxing a massive dis-service.

    From ROBIN, on Sun 8 Nov 6:55PM
  16. To all those who have negatives to say about the fight­ and/or tactics I say: Get in the ring with Valuev and­ see how you get on.
    Unconventional win for certain,­ and much against the odds. But never the less a superb­ win.
    Well done Haye and training team, especially the­ sports phsycologist who provided the mindset to get the­ job done.

    From dknh, on Sun 8 Nov 6:48PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hayes win is equal if not greater than Honeyguns win­ over Curry in 1986. Need I say more?

    From J, on Sun 8 Nov 6:39PM
  18. love it....i was convinced haye would win.....really­ great news for british sport.

    From m.fowler771, on Sun 8 Nov 6:38PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Its very hard to catch to hit, when somebody like David­ Haye running like a small rabbit. Wasn't getting in­ to the fight. If you afraid and you know you gonna run­ all the time, why you went to that fight? Or you paid a­ loads off money to win that fight? Where is the truth?­ It was really waste of money for the rabbit dance Mr.­ Haye!!!

    From funeral_around, on Sun 8 Nov 6:18PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The problem with Haye is that he is mistaking the size­ of his talent with the size of his ego... Big mistake,­ fair enough he got the win but it was like watchin­ Dancing With Stars... Stick a freakin tutu on the big­ headed clown, Thow him in the ring with Fedor and he­ would'nt last a second...

    From tom m, on Sun 8 Nov 6:16PM
Sort comments by: Most recent | Most rated

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account