I HATE to say I told you so, but David Haye did exactly as I predicted and played safe to emerge victorious over man mountain Nikolai Valuev on Saturday night.
In last week’s Ringside View I suggested he would avoid Valuev’s slow, yet heavy hands and dip in and out for a points win.
However, when the final bell rang, despite having the Bermondsey Bomber three rounds up, I thought the Russian would nick it.
Why? Well, as I said previously, not many title belts leave Germany by way of the judges’ scorecards.
But Haye (pictured right) managed to buck the trend (ask Robin Reid!) and in doing so became only the second former cruiserweight (200lbs) to become heavyweight world champion (Evander Holyfield was the first in 1990).
Haye was by far the better boxer on Saturday, but should have been far busier. The punch stats revealed he threw 143 shots and landed 98, around 68%
Valuev threw 390 and landed 64 – just 16%.
Haye was far too safety-conscious but will make a much better world champion than Valuev.
The latter is everything that’s bad about boxing. He is slow, cumbersome, boring, lacks charisma and has little ability.
Haye is fast, powerful, talks the talk and has plenty of talent, and he knows it.
He should have knocked the 36-year-old out but waited too long for it to come, and only in the 12th round did he display the strength that’s gained him 21 KOs in 24 bouts.
On that performance I’d fancy him to take out Wladimir Klitschko, the IBF and WBO king, within six rounds. However, brother Vitali is an altogether different proposition.
If Lennox Lewis could not put a dent in him then Haye won’t, and Dr Ironfist is far quicker and more productive than Valuev.
He is robotic but hits hard and would prove a stern test.
Source: dailypost.co.uk
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