Haye humbles the old giant

AT THE end it was the statistic that everybody forgot. The vastly superior height and weight of Nikolay Valuev over David Haye counted for much less than sheer simple age. It wasn't so much David against Goliath, as David versus Methuselah.

The record books will show that last night in the Nuremeberg Arena in Germany, 29-year-old Haye from Bermondsey, London, beat Valuev, 36, from St Petersburg in Russia, on a majority decision to become the WBA heavyweight champion of the world.

It was a deserved victory. The judges from Italy and the USA and most ringside observers gave it to Haye by four rounds. The Spanish judge, Juan Manuel Garcia Reyes, made it a draw – he needs a talking to, because at the end, Valuev himself signalled that he knew he had been beaten by a better, faster and above all younger boxer.

There was a weight difference of seven stones between the two men, but the seven years between them was much more important.

Valuev was supposed to be too big and too strong, and indeed he was, but he was also just too slow, too plodding and, frankly, too old. He had not fought for nearly a year since beating an even older man, Evander Holyfield, and it showed.

His bulk had not diminished. Haye thought he broke his hand punching the Russian giant in the second round and that might well have helped the Briton in a roundabout way as he had to fight a disciplined, controlled fight which is so unlike Haye's normal explosive style.

If so, Haye can count his blessings as this morning, he is only the third man from these shores to hold a proper heavyweight belt. He will make millions, and deserves to. After all, "Jack" Haye went in against a giant and toppled him off his beanstalk.

From the outset it was clear that this was not going to be your average fight.

After the strange sight of a German audience politely greeting the British and Russian national anthems, Haye started brightly, landing single blows and taking little from Valuev, before landing a smart left hook and later a solid left-right combination.

Further punches landed smartly by Haye won him the second, but one of those blows damaged Haye's right hand and from then on he threw few of the big rights and a lot of left jabs and hooks.

Valuev landed a stiff jab in the third, but it was one of few punches which met their target. The Russian took the fourth, while the fifth was probably a draw before Haye won the sixth with cleaner punching, but Valuev had by far his best round in the seventh.

Haye seemed to be taking a breather in the next two rounds, though it was noticeable that at no time did Valuev ever lean on the Briton because he was always able to outmanoeuvre the Russian.

By now Haye was growing in confidence, and his tactic of late bursts of activity to claim each round was working.

Heading into the final round, Haye appeared to have a clear lead. Valuev was predictable and slow and Haye almost pulled off the "impossible" knockout with two huge left hooks which had Valuev wobbling on his feet.

At the end, Haye was well on top, and claimed his 22nd win in 23 victories. Valuev was beaten for only the second time in 53 fights, and while his age may be an issue, his courage is not.

The new champion was jubilant: "

It's a dream come true. I've fought the biggest heavyweight champion and caught him with big shots. I think I've almost certainly broken my hand but it's a small price to pay.

"I caught him with a right in the second or third and let me tell you his head is solid. I just couldn't use it from there on in. Here I am, heavyweight champion of the world and I'm loving it. I'm going to clean up the division."

HAYE FACTFILE

1980: Born October 13, in Bermondsey.

2001: Reaches finals of World Amateur Championships.

2002: Turns professional and wins first pro fight, beating English fighter Tony Booth.

2004: September – Loses for the first time, to former WBO champion Carl Thompson in IBO cruiserweight title fight.

2005: December – Wins EBU European cruiserweight belt, beating Alexander Gurov.

2007: Begins his year with heavyweight win over Poland's Tomasz Bonin at Wembley Arena.

November – Wins WBC and WBC cruiserweight titles with victory over Jean-Marc Mormeck in France.

2008: March – Beats Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli for WBO title. Makes permanent move to heavyweight and gives up cruiserweight titles.

November – First fight as full-time heavyweight is a fifth-round TKO victory over Monte Barrett in London.

2009: June – Pulls out of planned fight with WBO, IBF and IBO champion Wladimir Klitschko due to injury.

November 7 – Wins WBA world heavyweight title with points win over Nikolai Valuev.