David Haye Stayed Small to Slay the Giant
07-Nov-09 23:45
Comment by Paul Upham: As Nikolay Valuev walked to the ring at Arena Nürnberger in Germany on Saturday night to defend his WBA heavyweight boxing world title against David Haye, the live band playing him in sang the chorus, “Not Again, Not Again”. Millions of British fans were probably thinking the same thing when ring announcer Michael Buffer announced Judge Juan Manuel Garcia Reyes’ scorecard of 114-114.
Luckily for Haye and his supporters, live in attendance and watching around the world, Judge Tom Miller and Judge Stefano Carozza both scored the fight correctly for the Hayemaker 116-112, or 8 rounds to 4.
The former cruiserweight world champion from Bermondsey, London, became the WBA heavyweight champion of the world with a clever boxing performance over the twelve round distance.
29 year-old Haye replicated the method of Ruslan Chagaev, the only man to have previously defeated Valuev, by fighting small and not trying to knockout the seven foot tall man mountain.
The game plan rarely varied for the Brit round upon round. Simple jabs to the massive target of Valuev’s body. Spins and moves to keep Valuev constantly once step behind. An explosive right hand to keep the champion at bay.
Most of Valuev’s previous opponents have tried to bulk up and compete in a battle of strength and power. It has never worked. Haye stayed small in weight at 218lbs to Valuev’s 316. He made himself an even smaller target by crouching low in front of Valuev and then exploding with a left hand, right hand combination. Fast breaks from Referee Luis Pabon whenever the fighters tied up helped Haye even more. Valuev was never able to lean on Haye, smother him or work in close.
In round 2, Haye landed a right hand that made Valuev shake his head. In return, there was such little effective offence from Valuev early on that trainer/manager Adam Booth told Haye in the corner after round 5, “he’s getting desperate.”
A big right hand from Valuev tagged him in round 7, but Haye was able to shake it off.
With Valuev attempting to attack wildly in round 12, with one minute to go, Haye landed his best left hook under the chin that would have knocked ordinary heavyweights out of the ring. Valuev lurched backwards onto the ropes and his legs wobbled briefly as it appeared he would hit the canvas for the first time in his career. The giant survived to the final bell, but Haye had utter confidence that he had won the match, that was up until he heard the first score from Buffer. But after the two final cards were announced, it was sheer ecstasy for Haye, his team and fans.
A flag being flown upside down usually means that the flyer is in some sort of distress. Not sure exactly what it means when it comes to world title belts in boxing, but some sharp eyed observers may have noticed Valuev’s WBA belt being held upside down, with the crown facing down, for an extended period of time during the playing of the Russian national anthem. Regardless, it was a crowning night for British boxing.
David Haye proved once again in boxing what Manny Pacquiao has been demonstrating in recent times, size doesn’t matter. Talent, tactics and skill do.
Onward to a new heavyweight era and the prospect of Haye facing either or both of the Klitschko brothers in 2010.
Paul Upham
Content Editor, SecondsOut.com
uppy@optusnet.com.au
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