Former undisputed world cruiserweight champion David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye has signed a contract to meet current World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev on November 7, at a location yet to be decided.
Expected to take place in Germany, ‘The Hayemaker’s scheduled 12-rounder with ‘The Beast From The East’ will pair the world’s most exciting heavyweight commodity with the world’s largest.
“I am thrilled to announce that my dream of becoming world heavyweight champion will be realized on November 7, when I challenge the tallest and heaviest champion of all time, Nikolai Valuev,” said Haye.
Standing at a whopping 7-feet-2-inches tall and weighing a similarly staggering 320-pounds (23 stone), Russian-born Valuev is the tallest and heaviest ever world boxing champion. He has yet to be floored or knocked out in his 16-year professional career.
Currently 50-1 (34 KO) as a pro, ‘The Beast From The East’ has proven his heavyweight credentials with wins over John Ruiz (twice), Evander Holyfield and Monte Barrett. The 35-year-old will be making the second defence of his second reign as WBA champion when he meets British hope Haye.
“Valuev’s known as ‘The Beast From The East’ and there’s a reason he’s got that nickname – he’s a big, ugly, sweaty and hairy man from the Eastern Bloc,” said Haye, who has weighed as low as 189-pounds (13st 7lbs) in his seven-year pro career and stands at a comparatively minute 6-feet-3-inches.
“Valuev is eight stone heavier than me and a foot taller than me. David only needed a slingshot and a stone to flatten Goliath, and I’m convinced my right hand generates more power than a stone.”
Having spent the best part of 2009 negotiating contracts with both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, Haye is eager to put the record straight on why he won’t be opposing one of the brothers in his next bout.
“There were reports in the German press that I had signed to fight Vitali Klitschko in September, but those reports were never true,” explained Haye.
“There have been long and exhausting discussions about the clash, but unfortunately I could never put my name to the fight contract the Klitschkos offered. The level of disrespect they have shown me throughout has left me feeling insulted.
“As for signing the contract, now that I realise just how much support and interest I have from the people in Germany, it would have been like selling my soul to the devil. I will not be a slave fighter.”
Despite the disappointment of the Klitschko bout falling through, Haye remains upbeat at the opportunity of knocking out Valuev and securing a future unification showdown with either brother.
“Once I have snatched Valuev’s title, I will be happy to battle out heavyweight supremacy with the Klitschkos, but only on equal and fair terms,” said Haye.
“As the WBA heavyweight champion, I should be able to meet them without having to sign my life away. Beating Valuev and taking his WBA title is my best chance of securing unification.
“I only hope the Klitschkos still want to fight me after I have slayed ‘The Beast’.”
Set to concede upwards of 110-pounds (8st) in weight on November 7, Haye is a former WBC, WBA and WBO cruiserweight (200-pounds or 14st 4lbs) champion who thrives on the task in hand. Ever since emulating Holyfield and unifying the cruiserweight division in 2008, Haye has been earmarked as potential saviour of the heavyweights.
The 28-year-old Haye, 22-1 (21 KO), exploded on the world heavyweight scene last November with a fifth-round stoppage of common opponent Barrett. He promises a similar result on November 7.
“I can’t wait to step into the ring on November 7 and prove that size doesn’t matter,” said Haye. “Mark my words: I will be the first man to knock Nikolai Valuev out.”
*** ‘DAVID VS. GOLIATH’, the world heavyweight title blockbuster between David Haye and Nikolai Valuev, will be screened live and exclusively in the United Kingdom on Sky Box Office ***