David Haye
David "The Hayemaker" Haye (born 13 October 1980) is an English professional boxer from London and former WBA heavyweight champion. He is also the former unified world cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles, and the former European cruiserweight champion.
Haye beat the WBA champion Nikolay Valuev on 7 November 2009 in the Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany. It was billed as David and Goliath. Haye weighed in at 217 pounds, almost 100 pounds less than his opponent. Haye beat Valuev in a reserved display of accuracy and efficiency, countering Valuev's misses, jabbing and circling his much larger opponent. He came close to knocking out Valuev in the final round with a hard left hand, which made Valuev stumble. Haye won a majority decision with scores of 114–114, 116–112 and 116–112. Haye is the first and currently only boxer in the history of the sport to be seven stone or more lighter than an opponent in a World title fight and still come out victorious.
Haye beat the WBA champion Nikolay Valuev on 7 November 2009 in the Nuremberg Arena, Nuremberg, Germany. It was billed as David and Goliath. Haye weighed in at 217 pounds, almost 100 pounds less than his opponent. Haye beat Valuev in a reserved display of accuracy and efficiency, countering Valuev's misses, jabbing and circling his much larger opponent. He came close to knocking out Valuev in the final round with a hard left hand, which made Valuev stumble. Haye won a majority decision with scores of 114–114, 116–112 and 116–112. Haye is the first and currently only boxer in the history of the sport to be seven stone or more lighter than an opponent in a World title fight and still come out victorious.
"I damaged my hand in I think it was the second round or third round," Haye said, "so I couldn't throw too many right hands. So I tried to win it extensively with my left hand. My hand's very tender, very sore, so that's why I only used it irregular."
Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, also revealed after the bout that the fighter "tweaked his left elbow" in the first round. And with his hand hurt, the Bermondsey-born champion had quickly to re-evaluate his situation and devise a new plan to beat the Russian.
Haye's trainer, Adam Booth, also revealed after the bout that the fighter "tweaked his left elbow" in the first round. And with his hand hurt, the Bermondsey-born champion had quickly to re-evaluate his situation and devise a new plan to beat the Russian.
"I realised I could win from the moment I signed the contract. I knew that I'm the best heavyweight in the world and today I found a strategy. I didn't plan to do that, I trained to be more aggressive [in this fight], but I damaged my hand so I had to take my foot off the gas and win it clever – use my head and win rounds and it worked out. I'm pretty sure it's broken but it's a small price to pay for being the heavyweight champion of the world. His head is solid, the hardest thing I've ever hit. It's like hitting a solid brick wall."
On the the title itself, Haye said simply: "It means everything to me. From when I was a little baby I said I'd be the heavyweight champion of the world and today my dream's become truth. I fought the biggest heavyweight champion in history. He was very strong, I hit him with big shots and only in the last round did it seem to hurt him, to stun him."
On the the title itself, Haye said simply: "It means everything to me. From when I was a little baby I said I'd be the heavyweight champion of the world and today my dream's become truth. I fought the biggest heavyweight champion in history. He was very strong, I hit him with big shots and only in the last round did it seem to hurt him, to stun him."
