Perdita
08-11-2009, 06:23
DAVID HAYE'S world title dream became a reality in Germany — despite suffering a suspected broken hand.
Nikolay Valuev was staggered by a barrage from the Londoner in the closing stages.
But the Hayemaker revealed he had been unable to unload on the Beast from the East until then after damaging his right hand in the second or third round.
Yet his hit-and-run tactics, combined with the explosive 12th round, proved enough to claim Valuev's WBA heavyweight crown with a majority decision.
Judge Tom Miller of America scored it 116-112 in Haye's favour, Spain's Juan Reyes Garcia had it on a knife-edge at 114-114, but Steffano Carazza of Italy sent the travelling British fans wild by scoring it 116-112.
The Hayemaker is now set to face America's John Ruiz — who lost on points to Valuev last year — in his first defence.
Round one was cagey with Haye doing his best to stay out of the way as Valuev tried to pin him in the corners.
One wild right from the Hayemaker whizzed past the Beast's head before the challenger was caught by a stiff left.
But he let Valuev know he was there with a wicked body shot that stung the Russian.
The size difference was enormous yet Haye's movement and quick hands saw him edge the second round when a right hook exploded on the side of Valuev's head.
Haye's brief success encouraged him more in the third and Valuev's attempt to take control behind his jab failed as Haye's nifty footwork took him out of reach.
When Haye did step in he caught Valuev with a stunning left-right combination and just before the bell signalled the end of the round he landed again with a big overhand right, which probably did the damage to his fist.
The fourth saw Valuev try to open up and he caught Haye in the corner with a chopping right and a rare left hook to his rival's chest.
Haye was boxing well off the back foot with Valuev stalking him wherever he went but he failed to reply significantly enough and dropped the fourth by a narrow margin.
The speed of Haye earned him the fifth as he slipped almost every punch Valuev threw and then zipped stinging punches into Valuev's face.
Valuev tried to pick up the pace in the sixth but was predictable as he walked in straight lines throwing left-hand jabs that Haye easily avoided.
And it seemed as if the champion was struggling stamina-wise as he took deep breaths with Haye's speed again the telling factor.
Round seven saw Valuev's frustration surface and he tried to run at Haye in a bid to land a decent punch.
With Valuev's corner screaming at him to get moving, Haye was finally caught by a stiff left jab and a couple of rights. They lacked power but it was enough for Valuev to edge it.
Haye brought the crowd to their feet in the eighth with a strong finish that startled Valuev who took left and rights to the head.
Round nine witnessed Valuev blowing like a whale, he looked so short of stamina and there was no power in the few punches he did throw. In response, Haye cranked up his speed and landed scoring, powerful hits to Valuev's head.
Valuev looked so cumbersome in the 10th it was like the QE2 liner trying to turn in Liverpool dock.
And Haye's tactics really began to pay off when a big overhand right crashed into the side of Valuev's head and he was then caught by a stinging left hook just before the bell.
In the 11th, Haye was marginally outscored by Valuev who knew he needed something special to hang on to his title.
The final round saw Haye stagger the Beast with stunning punches that made the Russian stumble across the ring.
And the thrilling finale was capped in true style when Haye was handed the WBA title.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/boxing/2719324/David-Haye-defeated-Nikolay-Valuev-on-points-to-win-the-WBA-title.html
Nikolay Valuev was staggered by a barrage from the Londoner in the closing stages.
But the Hayemaker revealed he had been unable to unload on the Beast from the East until then after damaging his right hand in the second or third round.
Yet his hit-and-run tactics, combined with the explosive 12th round, proved enough to claim Valuev's WBA heavyweight crown with a majority decision.
Judge Tom Miller of America scored it 116-112 in Haye's favour, Spain's Juan Reyes Garcia had it on a knife-edge at 114-114, but Steffano Carazza of Italy sent the travelling British fans wild by scoring it 116-112.
The Hayemaker is now set to face America's John Ruiz — who lost on points to Valuev last year — in his first defence.
Round one was cagey with Haye doing his best to stay out of the way as Valuev tried to pin him in the corners.
One wild right from the Hayemaker whizzed past the Beast's head before the challenger was caught by a stiff left.
But he let Valuev know he was there with a wicked body shot that stung the Russian.
The size difference was enormous yet Haye's movement and quick hands saw him edge the second round when a right hook exploded on the side of Valuev's head.
Haye's brief success encouraged him more in the third and Valuev's attempt to take control behind his jab failed as Haye's nifty footwork took him out of reach.
When Haye did step in he caught Valuev with a stunning left-right combination and just before the bell signalled the end of the round he landed again with a big overhand right, which probably did the damage to his fist.
The fourth saw Valuev try to open up and he caught Haye in the corner with a chopping right and a rare left hook to his rival's chest.
Haye was boxing well off the back foot with Valuev stalking him wherever he went but he failed to reply significantly enough and dropped the fourth by a narrow margin.
The speed of Haye earned him the fifth as he slipped almost every punch Valuev threw and then zipped stinging punches into Valuev's face.
Valuev tried to pick up the pace in the sixth but was predictable as he walked in straight lines throwing left-hand jabs that Haye easily avoided.
And it seemed as if the champion was struggling stamina-wise as he took deep breaths with Haye's speed again the telling factor.
Round seven saw Valuev's frustration surface and he tried to run at Haye in a bid to land a decent punch.
With Valuev's corner screaming at him to get moving, Haye was finally caught by a stiff left jab and a couple of rights. They lacked power but it was enough for Valuev to edge it.
Haye brought the crowd to their feet in the eighth with a strong finish that startled Valuev who took left and rights to the head.
Round nine witnessed Valuev blowing like a whale, he looked so short of stamina and there was no power in the few punches he did throw. In response, Haye cranked up his speed and landed scoring, powerful hits to Valuev's head.
Valuev looked so cumbersome in the 10th it was like the QE2 liner trying to turn in Liverpool dock.
And Haye's tactics really began to pay off when a big overhand right crashed into the side of Valuev's head and he was then caught by a stinging left hook just before the bell.
In the 11th, Haye was marginally outscored by Valuev who knew he needed something special to hang on to his title.
The final round saw Haye stagger the Beast with stunning punches that made the Russian stumble across the ring.
And the thrilling finale was capped in true style when Haye was handed the WBA title.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/boxing/2719324/David-Haye-defeated-Nikolay-Valuev-on-points-to-win-the-WBA-title.html