I had been following this curious fight promotion for about a month so I thought I would treat myself to the $25 pay-per-view telecast and see the conclusion for myself live. I enjoyed all the “David vs. Goliath” photos I had received after the press conferences.
Challenger David “Hayemaker” Haye of England, all of 6’3, 220 lbs. ended up winning a tense, 12- round majority decision over 7’0, 318 lbs. Champion Nicolai “The Giant” Valuev of The Ukraine in Nuremberg, Bayern, Germany to capture the World Boxing Association heavyweight championship.
Haye’s record improves to 23-1, 21 KO’s. The new champion was rated No. 4. Valuev’s record drops to 50-2, 34 KO’s.
“The Colonel” Bob Sheridan, who has probably broadcast more championship fights in his day than anybody else, handled blow – by – blow duties and performed his usual professional yeoman effort. He was as silky-smooth as he was when he handled Cain vs. Abel I.
However, the production seemed off, certainly not up to our spoiled HBO expectations. The tenseness of the main event though offset any complaining.
While Haye stayed respectfully safely out of the jab range of Valuev except for when he wanted to dart in with a combination for all 12 rounds, I could sense he was getting more confident with each round of success.
After the fight, Haye disclosed he injured his right hand as early as the second round and had to mostly fight with his left.
The rounds were adding up and Valuev had nothing to throw except his jab and Haye was mastering what Valuev could do.
I thought Valuev was feeling pressure after each round ticked off and he didn’t have an answer.
Haye smartly stuck to his game plan which was to out point Valuev and stink out the joint if he had to.
Starting around round 10 the packed house of 8,000 (2,000 British) seemed to be sensing the belt may be changing waists if the fight went to the final scorecards. It was tense just watching.
With a minute left in round 12, after a brief exchange, Haye leaped in with what I thought was an amateurish left hook that just happened to be the most significant punch of the fight. It caught Valuev on the right side of his jaw and as if on cue the big guy started to shake. Before that a left jab – right hand combo by Haye in the 3rd was the most significant moment in the fight.
In my lifetime, only Roy Jones, Jr. and Prince Naseem Hamed could lead with a left hook and get away with it.
Haye didn’t just admire his handy work after the 12Th round hook. He quickly cranked a short, follow -up right hand, but “The Giant” blocked it somehow.
Whith Valuev still wobbly, referee Luis Pabon inexplicably jumped in to do nothing other than break the fighters up as if they were in a clinch.
This was an obvious early Christmas gift to Valuev and promoters Sauerland Event and Don King Productions.
However, Haye kept his cool and finished the rest of the round without incident and with hopes of winning on the judges scorecards.
Could Haye have finished him off if the referee didn’t separate the two? I’m not sure. It would have been worth $25 to see.
There were no knockdowns or penalty points taken away.
The scores were 116-112 (twice) and 114-114.
“The Colonel” said repeatedly he couldn’t believe Valuev could lose a decision there. Not because Haye wasn’t worthy, but it’s historically tough place for an opponent to win on points against the house fighter.
It seemed often that Hayes’ 2,000 supporters were louder than the 6,000 local Valuev fans.
Haye said he would like to fight Wladimir Klitschko, the (IBF/WBO) Champion, next.
However, veteran John Ruiz won on the undercard and claims he has paper saying he is the mandatory challenger – unless offered a handsome “step aside” fee.
Haye taunted Valuev into this fight the way a young Cassius Clay suckered Champion Sonny Liston into their first fight in 1965.
But Haye is no Clay (now Muhammad Ali) and Valuev is certainly no Sonny Liston.
Still. it was $25 well spent. Well, maybe they could have knocked off $5 by forcing John Ruiz on me during the undercard.
