Nicolay Valuev (50-1, 34 Kos, 7′ 2”) vs. David Haye (22-1, 21 Kos, 6′ 2”)
It seems that David Haye graduated with a Ph.D. in boxing thuggery because after pulling out of championship fights with both Klitschko brothers, he targeted the most susceptible of the heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev. Despite all the boasts Haye said against the Klitschko brothers, he knew he had no chance in a monkey’s anus of beating either of the brothers. In Valuev, Haye has found a heavyweight champion who is slower and most vulnerable against his speed. Haye knows that against Valuev, he will have the biggest chance of becoming a heavyweight champion. Haye and Valuev are set to duke it out on 7 November in the Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany.
David Haye
Haye is unproven at heavyweight but no one doubts that he was one of the most dominant cruiserweights ever. His lone fight as a heavyweight was against an old-Monte Barrett whom he knocked out in five rounds. Haye will obviously have the speed advantage against Valuev and he must use that advantage to get inside and do damage. Valuev’s head will be somewhat safe from any “haye-makers”, so Haye must work on the Valuev’s massive torso. Haye will have a hard-time scoring a knockout over the Russian giant, so scoring points inside then darting back outside should be his strategy.
Nikolai Valuev
Valuev should’ve lost his WBA heavyweight title to Evander Holyfield in one of the worst decisions in boxing history. But the official decision still stands and Valuev will defend his belt against Haye. If a 46-year-old Holyfield gave Valuev fits then I don’t see how Haye can’t. Holyfield boxed Valuev with effective footwork and consistent inside boxing.
Valuev must take advantage of his huge reach advantage; stick out the jab and keep Haye at bay. He should always lean his left glove on Haye’s face and every time the former cruiserweight champion tries to make a move, follow up with the right.
The brash Haye will be tested against Valuev’s massive fist and reach. If Haye wins the WBA championship, he will have more negotiating leverage against either of the Klitschko brothers. Perhaps, this is why Haye opted to fight Valuev first because he knew that the Russian was the weakest link among the heavyweight champions and a heavyweight belt will put him in the same line with the Klitschko’s.
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