David Haye literally faces a tall task when he takes on 7’0″ tall WBA Heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev this Saturday in Germany. This will be Haye’s first shot at a heavyweight title and the fight can be seen on pay-per-view.
Nikolai Valuev vs. David Haye (WBA Heavyweight Title)
Money Line: Valuev +160; Haye -200
Nikolai Valuev enters this fight as the champion and will bring a career record of 50-1 (34 KOs) to the ring on Saturday. Yet the champion is the underdog. Valuev stands seven feet tall and weighs around 320 pounds. Yet Valuev is the underdog. Valuev is a winner in his last four fights and is looking to quiet the younger and more boisterous Haye.
“I have prepared for his speed,” said Valuev. “We have prepared well in practice for him and his style. How he stands-up to my punching remains to be seen when we are in the ring. I don’t make predictions but I will defend my title.”
David Haye, 22-1 (21 KOs), is a relative newcomer to the heavyweight division. Haye conquered the cruiserweight division and now has his sights set on a heavyweight title in just his second fight north of 200 pounds since unifying the cruiserweight titles last year. Haye stands 6’3″ and weighed in at 215 pounds in his knockout victory over Monte Barrett in November of 2008.
“So long as I’m fit and sharp at the weight,” says Haye, “I’m not bothered what the scales say. As far as bring my power up, I have no doubt I’ll hit hard enough to knock out top heavyweights. I’ve never been in the ring with an opponent – amateur, sparring, or as a pro – who hasn’t respected my punching power. I’ve floor top heavyweights, in the gym and in the ring, and none of them can ever believe how hard I punch for a smaller guy.”
Fight Predictions
Trent: This is an interesting matchup, albeit a bit of a freak show. Valuev obviously wants to pump that jab and keep Haye at a distance, using that seven-inch reach advantage in his favor. Haye needs to get inside and use his speed to unsettle Valuev. Haye has been talking a lot prior to this fight so I have to imagine that he will come to Germany, ready to walk the walk. Valuev is slow and prodding. He should be predictable enough for the weak-chinned Haye to get out of harm’s way. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Haye go down in this fight, but I see Haye pulling out the decision.
Corey: Given that I saw Evander Holyfield clearly outworking Valuev last December only to be denied on the scorecards, it’s hard not to go with Haye in this one. Valuev is more or less a plodder who has benefited from fighting in arguably the weakest heavyweight era of all time. Haye is looking to shake things up in the division, but he would be wise to not try too hard to cause earthquakes in this match. Valuev is the biggest heavyweight champion ever and can definitely take a punch. But if Haye boxes and piles up the points early, he can start looking to put some hurt on Valuev late and maybe force the Russian giant to quit on his stool. Though it doesn’t seem to fit his persona, I like Haye to fight a disciplined fight and box his way to a unanimous decision. Yes, even in Germany.
