David Haye Wins the World Heavyweight Title
Haye Outpoints Giant Russian Valuev in Nuremberg
Nov 8, 2009
David Haye completed a dream move from the Cruiserweight division, outpointing the lumbering seven-foot giant Nikolai Valuev for the Russian’s WBA Heavyweight title. Haye had promised a spectacular knockout win, yet had to settle for a contentious 12 round majority decision.
Haye Dances His Way to the Heavyweight Championship
For months David Haye has talked the talk, telling everyone and anyone who would listen what he would do to the slow, lumbering and clumsy WBA champion Nikolai Valuev. In sneaking home on a disputed majority decision David failed to truly walk the walk. Rather he danced, prodded and shuffled his way to victory; utilising speed, discipline and lateral movement to befuddle the ambling Russian title-holder.
Hiding in plain sight for much of the evening Haye did enough to win over two of the three judges, being awarded twin scores of 116-112. The dissenting official carded a 114-114 draw. Haye, who claimed to have injured his right hand around the third round spent most of the evening on his bicycle, with Valuev in slow but steady pursuit in each and every round. David rationed his punch output allowing the Russian to lead for most of the evening and being content to pot shot and counter punch.
Haye Utilises Cautious Approach
Having promised a spectacular knockout Haye confounded expectations by boxing with what amounted to almost reticent caution. Many have subsequently praised David’s patience and tactical discipline in maintaining his game plan for the entire twelve rounds; though there has been some dissenting voices criticising the British boxer for failing to gamble against an opponent that looked tailor made for him.
Displaying caution is an admirable virtue against an opponent who outweighed him by seven stones, yet the over-riding feeling was that David stole Valuev’s title, rather than ripping it from him in the sort of display that would have provided the ailing Heavyweight division with a genuine shot in the arm.
Flaunting knockout power that had accounted for 21 of his 22 previous wins Haye was expected to come out throwing bombs. That he danced his way to the winner’s circle was thoroughly unexpected. Haye praised the Russian’s resilience claiming hitting him was akin “to hitting a brick wall.” Yet on the evidence of the fight Valuev was there for the taking, something Haye was unwilling or unable to do.
Only last month Andre Dirrell received a great deal of press criticism for using similar tactics in his battle with Carl Froch in the Showtime Super-Six Tournament. The prevailing opinion in the British press was that one cannot dance and pinch-hit your way to a world title. Yet last night Haye disproved this hoary old boxing truism. Yet in fairness to the Londoner, Dirrell was not outweighed by ninety-eight pounds, nor did he have to give away almost a foot in height. Haye’s caution, while surprising, was at least understandable.
Valuev an Uninspiring Champion
Valuev, for all his titanic size and intimidating physical presence, is surely one of the poorest fighters to have held the World Heavyweight crown in recent decades. The Russian fought as if trapped in amber and so slow were his shots that he appeared to be punching through water. Haye’s speed was simply too much for him to overcome, try though he did.
The Russian was the aggressor throughout, though his belligerent approach was anything but effective. Valuev plodded after Haye in straight lines and showed little or no ability in cutting down the ring. Rarely able to pin down the elusive challenger, Valuev was reduced to ineffectual jabbing and ponderously telegraphed right hand shots.
Neither fighter maintained a work rate worthy of a world-title fight; Haye through choice, Valuev’s desultory output more the result of his inability to pin down the challenger. Certainly it is hard to imagine that any defending Heavyweight champion in history could have landed fewer punches in a twelve round bout than the Russian.
So Close to the Knockout
Haye cut loose only once in the fight, in round twelve, when a big left hook buckled Valuev’s knees. After a follow up burst was blocked, Haye slowed, took stock of the situation and chose to box out the remaining minute of the round. Replays suggested the champion was badly hurt and at this point a sustained barrage might just have brought Haye the spectacular victory he had promised all along. Yet it was not to be and the scorecards would be called into action after all.
Haye looked confident as the scores were tabulated, celebrating wildly when the decision in his favour was finally announced. Valuev appeared disappointed and crestfallen, though he accepted the verdict with stoic unanimity. The Russian has been the beneficiary of some close calls in the past (notably against Evander Holyfield in his last fight), this time he came up on the short end.
The Future for David Haye
Haye is faced with the prospect of a mandatory defence against uninspiring and unmarketable American John Ruiz. The “Quiet Man” struggles to draw flies and is anything but a box office favourite, yet he will need to be accommodated. Haye however is now big news. In becoming only the fourth British fighter to hold a genuine portion of the World Heavyweight crown he has reached the very pinnacle of the sport. Should he get past Ruiz far more lucrative matches await against either the Klitschko’s or one of the more worthy challengers like Alexander Povetkin, Odlainer Solis or even a resurgent David Tua. He may have led us a merry dance in promising an explosive stoppage but he did ultimately keep his word. David Haye is the new WBA Heavyweight champion of the world.
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