SM
Sports Mole words bigger AMP 2
Barcelona vs. Osasuna: 4 hrs 6 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

On This Day in 2009: David Haye wins world heavyweight title

:Headline: On This Day in 2009: David Haye wins world heavyweight title: ID:421442: from db_amp
The Briton was dwarfed by his Russian opponent but clinched victory via a majority decision.
On This Day in 2009: David Haye wins world heavyweight title

On this day in 2009, David Haye fought his 'David v Goliath' battle with Nikolai Valuev to claim the WBA world heavyweight title.

The Briton, a world champion at cruiserweight, stepped up a division to meet his Russian opponent in a bout which captured the imagination simply as a result of the relative statures of the combatants.

At 6'3", Haye was conceding 11 inches and seven stones to a man whose giant frame had helped him win all but one of his 51 previous fights, 34 of them by knockout.

Such was the disparity between the two men physically, the 29-year-old challenger had cheekily suggested during the build-up that his preparations had included some unusual video research.

Haye said with a twinkle in his eye: "I'll often watch DVDs of King Kong, Godzilla or Frankenstein, just to keep my mind on the task in hand and remind myself of the magnitude of the challenge."

The fight took place at the Arena Nurnberger Versicherung in Nuremberg on a night when the imagery was stark.

David Haye gave up 11 inches to his Russian opponent (Nick Potts/PA)

Valuev's 7'2", 22st 8lbs frame dwarfed that of his opponent, but the Englishman's mobility and game-plan ultimately proved too much for the giant Russian.

Haye landed repeatedly as he flitted in and out of range, scoring well with his left hook to sap the champion's energy and after enduring a testing seventh round, rocking him in the twelfth to seal a majority points victory despite, as he later revealed, fracturing a knuckle during round two.

Two of the judges scored it 116-112 in Haye's favour with the third calling it all-square at 114-114.

He would defend his title twice, against John Ruiz and Audley Harrison, before losing it to Wladimir Klitschko back in Germany two years later.

amp_article__421442 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-11-07 08:48:13:
html db last update - 2020-11-07 08:48:13 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .