Giant boxer Nikolai Valuev forges new career - as a children's TV presenter 8 Valuev had a sparkling career until he lost to David Haye in 2009 and retired But despite his appearance, it has not stopped him from being signed up to work as the children’s TV host on the popular kids program “Spokoynoy nochi, malyshi!” (translated as Good Night, Little Ones). Announcing the new job, he told his fans online: “I could not even imagine when I was a kid that someday I would become a host on my favourite kid’s TV show. So have a Good Night, Little Ones!” The programme has been a mainstay of Russian children’s television since it first launched in 1964. Valuev also has another job as a politician but said that he was committed to working as a presenter on the show, attracting amazed comments from his fans. Most thought it was come kind of joke pointing out that the boxer was more likely to scare the kids than make them laugh.

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The British boxing ace at the centre of a sex tape storm was once compared to Muhammad Ali 'mortifying' sex tape leak Floyd Mayweather calls Conor McGregor's UFC boss a 'f***ing comedian' over £20m offer for super-fight LET'S GET IT ON James DeGale demands rematch with Badou Jack after their unification bout in New York ends in thrilling draw Gum deal James DeGale loses a tooth during Badou Jack fight but looks raring to go again after hospital check-up THE BATTLE OF NEW YORK The Brit ex-Olympian was put down in the 12 round, with scorecards reading 14-12 DeGale, and 13-13 twice But the former champ who lives in St Petersburg with his wife and two children, insisted he was 100 percent serious and even provided a picture of the show being recorded where he is the presenter. The first edition is due to be broadcast in September. In his career, he defeated three world champions including John Ruiz, Siarhei Liakhovich and Evander Holyfield, as well as top contenders such as Clifford Etienne, Larry Donald, Owen Beck, Monte Barrett and Jameel McCline.

CEN/Nikolay Valuev Nikolay Valuev - BoxRec Nikolay Valuev Nikolay Valuev Photo Gallery Biography Nikolay Valuev was born on August 21, 1973, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). He is of Russian descent, but he also had a Tatar grandfather. He is a Russian Orthodox Christian. During his youth, Valuev played water polo and basketball, and was also a discus thrower. His hobbies include fishing and hunting deer, ducks, and wild boar. Valuev wooed his wife, Galya, with poetry that he composed himself. They have three children, two sons and a daughter. Professional Boxing Career Valuev became a professional fighter in 1993. His pro debut was a second-round knockout of American John Morton. He captured the Russian heavyweight title in 1999, the PABA title in 2000, and the WBA Inter-Continental title in 2004. Valuev propelled himself into a position to fight for a world title with victories over Bob Mirovic , Otis Tisdale , Paolo Vidoz , Gerald Nobles , Attila Levin , and Clifford Etienne .

On October 1, 2005, Valuev beat Larry Donald (42-3-3) by a controversial 12-round majority decision in a WBA title eliminator. Valuev then defeated John Ruiz (41-5-1) by a controversial 12-round majority decision on December 17, 2005 to win the WBA Heavyweight Championship. Valuev became the tallest and heaviest champion in the history of boxing. According to Valuev's website (accessible below, in Russian), he is 2.13 meters tall or 7 feet tall. According to the New Jersey Athletic Control Board , he is 2.18 meters or 7' 2" tall. On June 3, 2006, in his first defense of the WBA Heavyweight Championship, Valuev defeated challenger Owen Beck (25-3) by a third-round technical knockout in Hannover, Germany. On October 7, 2006, Valuev fought Monte Barrett (34-1) in Rosemont, Illinois and defeated him by a technical knockout in the 11th round.

Barrett was knocked down twice in the 8th round and once in the 11th, but managed to get up. After being knocked down in the eleventh round, his trainer, James Ali Basheer, jumped into the ring to stop the fight. On January 20, 2007, Valuev fought Jameel McCline (38-6-3) in St. Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland. Valuev won the match, successfully defending his title, after McCline was not able to continue after injuring his knee when throwing a punch near the end of the 3rd round. In the tournament to determine who would next challenge Valuev for his title, Uzbekistani Ruslan Chagaev beat John Ruiz . The title defense was held on April 14, 2007. Chagaev (22-0-2) defeated Valuev by a majority decision (117-111, 115-113 and 114-114). It was Valuev's first loss after 46 straight wins.

Valuev changed trainers, transitioning from Manuel Gabrielian to Alexander Zimin, who coached the old Soviet Union amateur boxing team. On September 29, 2007, Valuev won against Jean-Francois Bergeron (27-0) in Oldenburg, Germany, by a 12-round unanimous decision (118-111, 118-111 and 118-111) to win the NABA title. In a February 16, 2008 title eliminator, Valuev defeated former WBO titleholder Sergey Lyakhovich (23-2) from Belarus by a 12-round unanimous decision, winning every round at the Nuremberg Arena in Germany. The victory earned Valuev the right to face Chagaev in a rematch for the WBA title. He was scheduled to face Chagaev for his WBA title on July 5, 2008, but Chagaev pulled out with an injury. The WBA decided to make Chagaev "Champion In Recess" and have Valuev fight John Ruiz for the vacant title.

On August 30, 2008, Valuev defeated Ruiz (43-7-1) by a 12-round unanimous decision to regain the WBA heavyweight championship. The WBA then ordered Valuev and Chagaev to fight no later than June 26, 2009. Their rematch was scheduled for May 30, 2009, but Chagaev pulled out again due to a viral infection. On July 24, 2009, when the WBA published their official ratings, Chagaev was no longer the "Champion In Recess" but the #1 challenger instead. Valuev's first title defense of his second reign as WBA Champion was against the 46-year old, four-time heavyweight champion of the world Evander Holyfield on December 20, 2008, in Switzerland. Valuev won by a controversial 12-round majority decision. The bout was investigated by the WBA .

In a statement, the WBA said: "The Championship Committee have ordered a panel of judges to review the tape of the fight between Valuev and Holyfield." On September 28, 2009, Pier Luigi Poppi, one of three judges scoring the match, appeared as a guest on the Italian radio show "La Trasmissione di Morelli" with Dario Morelli. He said: "WBA asked me to write a report about the match. I've sent it, and they said it was very good. I guess no other judges have reviewed the tape of the fight." The Ring Magazine had Valuev winning the fight 115-113. In his second defense, Valuev lost his title on November 7, 2009 against former undisputed cruiserweight champion David Haye in Nuremberg by a majority decision (114-114, 112-116, 112-116).

External Links DAVID HAYE v NIKOLAI VALUEV: Haye beats Valuev on points to become world champion | Daily Mail Online DAVID HAYE v NIKOLAI VALUEV: Haye beats Valuev on points to become world champion comments David Haye has beaten Nikolai Valuev to become WBA world heavyweight champion. The South Londoner stuck to his plan from the start and beat Valuev on points after 12 stodgy rounds. Read below for how the fight unfolded round-by-round... I've done it: David Haye taking Nikolai Valuev's world title Now the tension builds up. How have the judges scored this? The experts are divided but agree that Valuev won't lose such an unspectacular fight in his home ring. HAye looks happy as do his fans. He's done so well but will it be enough? Haye is now posing like the champ. Here come the scores: 114-114, 116-112, 116-112, in favour of Haye. He's the champion and tamed the beast. Haye is ecstatic and slips the belt on. His fans erupt.

he must be the hardest Millwall fan in the world. Round 12: Haye is behind in this fight and needs a big last round to win. It's not been a great spectacle but could have a great ending for the Brit. It's still so cagey as neither man looks too scared to lose to try and win. Haye is still bobbing and and getting in some good hits. He's winning the last round and Haye is making sure everyone knows Valuev is missing. Valuev takes a smack on the chin and wobbles. Haye senses blood. Valuev is in trouble but it's too late. Seconds left and Haye conducts the crowd he's cure he's won. Verdict: Haye's round but Valuev's fight. Round 11: Haye might have to really go for it now. He's shown he can fight now he needs to close it out. But is he willing to undo all his good work and get hit with a big hit? Valuev has been nullified but not vexed or hurt. Haye has buzzed like a wasp but not stung often enough. They exchange blows again. Verdict: Haye by a whisker.

Round 10: Haye is still looking like a child who is hoping to make a raid on the cookie jar that is being guarded by his mum. He wants this but knows he has to have a great plan to succeed. The pair exchange good shots but Valuev is in charge of this round. He's going to move two rounds clear with two to go. Verdict: Valuev by a glove. Round 9: The Russian's trainer sounds vexed at his 36-year-old charge with the 48-inch waistline. Haye must replicate the last round five times in a row if he is to win this. It's very close but there's no way the Brit will win on what he's done so far. Valuev is missing so often it's amazing even though he's hanging out his jaw as bait. Good right hand combo from Haye hurts the champ who swings at nothing in response. Another Haye hit. Good boy. Verdict: Haye's yet again. Have some of that:Valuev takes a hit from Haye Round 8: It's still hit and run from Haye but this won't impress the judges.

Ringside bookies now make Haye 2/1 to win this fight and Valuev 4/11 so it's going the Russian's way. Haye needs to launch something surprising to atone for his constant negativity. Valuev is breathing heavily and Haye is winning this round. Verdict: Haye by a long way. Round 7: We're over halfway now and the champion looks to be just ahead. But he's now shaking his shoulders so is he tired? The second half is going to be tough for Haye is this immense shadow who gets caught with a jab. He gets caught again but retorts with a good combo. Verdict: Valuev again. Round 6: The Russian looks like he's going to try something different. He's starting to feint and Haye is breathing a bit heavily. Haye attacks and Valuev responds before the Brit slithers away like an eel. Great left hook from Haye catches the Russian who swings at air. Verdict: Valuev - just. Round 5: It's already gone further than I thought it would. It's not very exciting but absorbing.

Haye could become on the seventh Brit to be world heavyweight champion - or wake up with one hell of a headache if a Valuev fist connects. Hayes lands a triple hit but he's not doing much else except dodge brilliantly. Valuev gets in a couple of his own and Haye and the Brit stoops in mockery. Missed men: David Haye (left) avoids Russia's Nikolai Valuev Verdict: Haye - just. Round 4: I get the impression Valuev is saving himself for a salvo soon. Haye is weaving superbly but this is all energy he's using but is it impressing the judges in the champ's own back yard? Haye gets off the ropes so easily, Valuev shakes his head a lot. Haye's hands are down, almost inviting an attack. Verdict: Valuev wins because he attacked more and landed a couple. Round 3: Valuev is only throwing single punches and missing the quicker man. He may need to start sending three down in a row and landing a big one. Haye hurts the frustrated Valuev with a good cross but his best chance is to win this early. The Russian is a good long-distance boxer and is very fit.

Verdict: Haye again because he got more punches in. Round 2: Haye's trainer Adam Booth tells his man to stay away from the ropes. But Valuev did not get a shot in during the first for all his menace. Haye gets in a left hook. The Russian looks a bit confused but gets a hit in. Haye seems to have a plan that might involve dodge, bob and weave then hit a dizzy man. Haye gets in a good combination that stings Valuev into a big jab. I'm the champ: Russia's Nikolai Valuev with his belt Verdict: Haye because he got more punches in. Round 1: We're off at last. Valuev has never been knocked down. Will this be it? It looks silly. School bully Valuev is towering over the infant Brit and Haye is on the back foot already. Valuev is cagey and wants to use his jab.There's enough of the Russian to hit - but can he get close enough? Both men are looking at the goods on offer but don't want to buy anything just yet. Verdict: Valuev wins it just.

Here I am: David Haye gets ready to fight 10pm: The two men, accompanied by Don King, meet in the middle. Haye's in the red corner, Valuev in the blue. The referee gives them a few pointers. Like they need them. 9.55pm: The National anthems start. God Save Our Queen rings around the stadium. A great effort. The Russian anthem inspires as much as the sight of Valuev's belt being held high. He even sings it. 9.51pm: The roof is coming off. Valuev's emergence has been announced but his music is being sung live by a rock band - and they've cost a lot of money so we'll have to hear the whole song. And here comes the huge Russian, the biggest champ in history. He looks even calmer than Haye who now his iPod on so he can ignore the rock music. 9.48pm: The 'Hitmaker' [as he is announced] saunters to the ring, jeers abounding, with 'Ain't no stoppin' us now' on the speakers. Nobody's ever given away a seven-stone deficit to win a fight before.

There has to be a first time and Haye looks as cool as a cucumber with sunglasses on. He's loving it and is playing to his fans. Come on Davey: A Haye fan enjoys himself 9.47pm: Haye emerges from his dressing room, Union Jack shorts, poppy on his T-shirt. He looks nervous. He has reason as he's about to face up to a 7ft 2in giant. 9.45pm: There are 9,000 people shoehorned into the arena and not many of them have any time for Haye for his comments about 'their man' Valuev this week. And rumour has it, he'll be left waiting five long minutes in the ring before the champion appears. Dirty tricks already starting. So this is it...all the hype comes to an end as two men who weigh nearly 40 stone between them clash for a world title. In the big corner is Brit David Haye, a Bermondsey boy from London, deep south, Millwall territory. He's got the looks, the titles already banked and the fact he's not scared to walk the streets of SE London late at night on his side.

The fact he's won 22 of his 23 fights - and all bar one of them by knockouts - is something else in his favour but those wins were almost all at cruiserweight and he's had to bulk up to take on Valuev who is a natural heavyweight. Do you really think I'm ugly? Nikolai Valuev wants the truth from David Haye He won his only fight as a big 'un - against Monte Barrett last year - and but for a back injury would have fought Wladimir Klitschko for the WBF, IBO, IBF and Ring Magazine titles. I don't know what that last one is about either. Instead, Klitschko fought and beat fellow Russia Ruslan Chagaev. Haye weighs in at almost 16st and is a well-honed 6ft 3in. The only man to beat him was 40-year-old Carl Thompson - 'The Truth' by any other name. In the immense corner is the champ, Russian Nicolai Valuev, the 7ft 2in, 22-stone 'beast from the East'.

Here's one I beat earlier: David Haye hammers Enzo Maccarinelli He looks like the sort of creature you tell your children will come and eat them if they don't get straight to sleep. But the 36-year-old from Leningrad comes across as a real gent, a decent chap and a genuine gentle giant who probably weeps whenever he watches The Bridges of Madison County rather than bites the heads off Rottweilers. He's been dignified and humble in the build-up to this fight, insisting all along he's just going to let his fists do his talking. That's how it's done: Ruslan Chagaev beats Nikolai Valuev - literally David however, has goaded Goliath by informing the world: 'He is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. I have watched Lord of the Rings and films with strange looking people, but for a human being to look like he does is pretty shocking.' You tell him Dave... Valuev is not unbeatable. He's won 50 of his 52 fights (with one being a non-contest), his only defeat at the hands of 6ft 1in dwarf Chagaev in December 2007.

No more chat. Here come the pugilists. It's game on. The A-list celebs start to arrive as Bayern Munich footballer Anatoliy Tymoschuk snuggles up to his wife Nedesha. No. I've never heard of him either...

David Haye expects to 'take a few' against John Ruiz in title defence Champion is fully expecting Saturday's WBA heavyweight title fight in Manchester to be the toughest of his life<p>David Haye concedes he will "take a few" when the American brawler John Ruiz challenges him for his WBA heavyweight title in Manchester on Saturday, and insists this will be "the toughest fight of my life".</p><p>Yet the champion could hardly have looked more relaxed about the prospect of a fight so diametrically opposed in nearly every respect to the night in Nuremberg last November, when he waltzed around the 7ft, 22st Nikolai Valuev to win the title on points.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye would just love to do a Benny Hill | Harry Pearson The US has always been more appreciative of a Hugh Grant or Terry-Thomas than a brash British trashtalker<p>Whether you regarded David Haye's victory over Nikolai Valuev as a consummate piece of tactical boxing or the pugilistic equivalent of a man on a unicycle throwing nuts at a traction engine, the Londoner's win has certainly got the promoters excited

.

Huge sums of money are being bandied about because the belief is that, having feasted on the Beast, Hayemaker can perk up the heavyweight division. And the heavyweight division can certainly do with some perking. In recent years it has become so moribund it makes the House of Usher look like a branch of TGI Friday's.</p><p>The heavyweight championship of the world is now so devalued it would be no surprise to find the holder of the WBO belt won it using a mechanical grabber in an amusement arcade in Lowestoft.

Aside from Haye, Valuev and the Klitschko brothers, the only current contender most people have heard of is 37-year-old John Ruiz, a journey man so consummate he is the pugilistic equivalent of Phileas Fogg.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Boxing David Haye's conjuring act could make him a knockout hit in America • WBA champion could make up to $150m in America<br />• Haye not comfortable being compared to Muhammad Ali<p>At the flick of a pay-per-view button, David Haye has flitted into the consciousness of the nation, an overnight sporting superstar whose unique gift to boxing is the sort of marketable charisma not seen since the days of Muhammad Ali.</p><p>The new WBA heavyweight champion said yesterday he is uncomfortable with the comparison, but his American agent, Richard Schaefer, will beat that drum until the TV moguls over there believe it too.

Already, a willing audience in Haye's homeland has bought into the suggestion.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye Riches await David Haye in unification series against Klitschkos • Fight against one of the Klitschkos could be most lucrative ever<br />• WBA Champion to fight John Ruiz in London in the spring<p>David Haye could figure in one of the most lucrative fights in the history of boxing en route to becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, according to his American agent, Richard Schaefer.</p><p>Schaefer, the chief executive of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, estimates the potential pot at the end of a two-year rainbow as "tens of millions of pounds" as Haye seeks to capitalise on one of the biggest surprises in the heavyweight division since Hasim Rahman knocked out Lennox Lewis in 2001.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye hopes for Wembley bout with Klitschko brother • Discussions already underway, says Haye's trainer<br />• John Ruiz up next but Haye 'will upset him pretty badly'<p>David Haye

 may fight one of the Klitschko brothers at Wembley Stadium next summer.

His trainer, Adam Booth, said that discussions were already underway following his victory over Nikolai Valuev on Saturday. "Wembley have already been on to me," said Booth. "Haye against a Klitschko, Wladimir or Vitali, would be one of the biggest fights in heavyweight history."</p><p>Gate receipts from a sell-out 90,000 Wembley crowd, combined with his percentage of the pay-per-view TV subscriptions, could earn the new World Boxing Association champion an estimated £20m.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye fight proves more Stan and Ollie than David and Goliath | Martin Kelner Sky tried to play down the comedy of the traditionally proportioned David Haye's battle with the hulking Nikolai Valuev<p>I shall tell you what you rarely see on TV these days – Laurel and Hardy shorts.

BBC2 used to show a whole bunch of them – not the silent ones, sadly, but you cannot have everything – round about Christmas time, slung into the schedule wherever there was a 20-minute gap, and bringing welcome relief from the overblown variety shows and family films showing elsewhere.</p><p>If you love that kind of material as I do, you will be familiar with the plot device whereby the little chap – Stan Laurel, Charlie Chaplin – finds himself for some reason or other in a boxing ring with a big, ferocious fellow, and has to run around avoiding him, squealing and making cartoon movements of the legs in the case of Stan, eluding the blows in a comically balletic manner in Charlie's case.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye has bargaining power but big money is still another fight away • WBA champion eyes 'mega-showdown' with Vitali Klitschko<br />• Haye faces mandatory challenge of John Ruiz first<p>In the afterglow of victory, with suitors queueing up like tax collectors, David Haye is entitled to believe that possession of the WBA heavyweight title is a calling card to untold riches.

It might not be that easy. The probable scenario is this: he will defend his title against the worthy perennial, John Ruiz, most likely in London in the spring, and win comfortably against an opponent of roughly similar dimensions. That fight, if it is sold simultaneously in the United States, could earn the new champion upwards of £5m.</p><p>The tough but dull American, part-managed by Don King, who was at ringside in Nuremberg on Saturday night, is a mandatory challenger, having stepped aside for $200,000 (£180,000) to allow Haye his title shot. Ruiz, a constant in the heavyweight picture for several years due to King's influence, won a humdrum fight on the undercard.

He will not go away and with King involved, business is never simple.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye makes his name with finely crafted dismantling of giant champion | Kevin Mitchell His <a href="" title="mental tour de force victory over Nikolai Valuev">mental tour de force win over Nikolai Valuev</a> showed Haye has arrived – and he can go further in an unspectacular division<p>There has been much shuffling of feet among the commentariat as to the merits of the victory over Nikolai Valuev that has delivered David Haye a quarter share of the world heavyweight title.</p><p>This is in part due to the entrenched belief among some experts that to be wrong is to be damned and, also, because what Haye conjured up over 12 fascinating rounds was the ultimate con trick.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye beats Nikolai Valuev despite suffering a broken hand • Haye triumphed on a majority points decision<br />• WBA champions has targeted London's O2 Arena for next bout<p>After winning the WBA world heavyweight championship from Nikolai Valuev on a majority decision last night,

 British boxer David Haye revealed that he had done so with a suspected broken hand.</p><p>"I damaged my hand in I think it was the second round or third round," Haye said, "so I couldn't throw too many right hands.

So I tried to win it extensively with my left hand. My hand's very tender, very sore, so that's why I only used it irregular."</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye v Nikolai Valuev - as it happened | Sean Ingle <a href="">David Haye became the WBA heavyweight champion of the world with a majority points decision over Nikolai Valuev</a><p><strong>Preamble:</strong> So after weeks of trash-talking and slick, lowest-common-denominator pay-per-view marketing, we're about to find out whether David can slay Goliath. The tale of the tape has been well-told: Nikolai Valuev, the WBA heavyweight champion, is nine inches bigger, seven stone heavier and has an eight-inch reach advantage over his opponent David Haye, who has only had two heavyweight fights thus far in his career. Haye was a strong favourite when the fight was announced, but Valuev has been backed heavily in recent days and now most bookies can't split the pair.

My money is on Haye - I think he'll be too quick - but with doubts over his stamina, a small bet on Valuev to win in rounds 10-12 at 14-1 might be also worth taking.</p><p><strong>9.10pm:</strong> Adam Booth, Haye's trainer and manager, says the mood in the camp is "calm". Asked for a prediction, he adds: "We know the challenge ahead and David is supremely confident he is going to knock Valuev out."</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye could be heavyweight attraction if he topples Nikolai Valuev The Londoner will become the most marketable name in boxing with victory over the giant Russian<p>If David Haye follows his gambling instincts tonight and unleashes something dangerous but special on Nikolai Valuev, the real prize will be much greater than a quarter slice of a world title.

A spectacular knockout of the biggest man in the history of the championship would make Haye the most marketable heavyweight in boxing since Mike Tyson.</p><p>"No one's ever done to Valuev what I'm going to do to him," Haye said last night, in a statement of intent that sounded similar to that of his hero, Muhammad Ali, before he "shook up the world" against Sonny Liston in Miami 45 years ago.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye David Haye weighs in at heaviest ever and is still seven stone lighter than Nikolai Valuev • British heavyweight weighs 15st 8lb for WBA title fight<br />• Russia's 7ft 2in giant registers a daunting 22st 8lb<p>The size of the task facing David Haye was brought into sharp focus today as the WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolai Valuev, weighed in a daunting seven stone heavier than the Englishman.</p><p>Haye will tomorrow night attempt to take Valuev's belt in Germany to become the first British fighter since Lennox Lewis to hold a version of the world title.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Hay

e Boxer Nikolai Valuev is a classical music heavyweight | Tom Service The Russian man-mountain is boxing's only known classical fan.

Which piece should he choose to accompany his entrance to the ring?<p>Looking forward to the big <a href="">David and Goliath fight tomorrow night</a>: the Hayemaker, Britain's David Haye, up against the Beast from the East, Russian Nikolai Valuev. I'm intrigued that despite the giant Russian's forbidding physique and granite-hewn features, at heart he's the epitome of the gentle giant – a quiet family man who's a fan of Russian literature, and is classical music's only known aficionado in the boxing world. Valuev's music of choice is Chopin and Mozart, which makes me wonder which piece he'll choose to enter the ring to in Nuremberg on Saturday. Instead of the usual testosterone-churning power ballad, maybe he'll pick <a href="">Chopin's Revolutionary Etude</a>. Or perhaps the <a href="">funeral march from the Second Sonata</a>, a premonition of the fate he hopes to inflict on Britain's (relatively) diminutive challenger for his world-heavyweight crown.

Best of all, maybe Valuev will ironise the whole situation and choose something like the <a href="">A minor Mazurka, Op 17, no 4</a>, among the most enigmatic and emotionally ambiguous of all Chopin's works, which would briefly give the Nuremberg crowd a moment of existential angst before the main business of the boxing and the blood-letting.

My money's on Valuev to retain his title, anyway, and a victory for this highly cultured Goliath would strike a blow for classical music in the unlikeliest of arenas.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Nikolai Valuev David Haye prepares to challenge Nikolai Valuev for heavyweight title World boxing crown at stake as David (6ft 3in and 16st) takes on Russian Goliath (don't ask ...)<p>In the home of gingerbread and pocket watches, a reformed playboy from south London will stand in the shadow of a Russian giant on Saturday night and the peace in this quiet, wooded patch of Bavaria will be seriously disturbed.</p><p>Nikolai Valuev, 7ft and 23st, from St Petersburg, versus David Haye, 6ft 3in and 16st, from Bermondsey, is professional boxing at its macabre and intriguing best.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> Boxing David Haye must land body blows to cut Nikolai Valuev down to size | Kevin Mitchell The giant Russian is the culmination of a trend for outsize heavyweights but his terrifying physique has weaknesses<p>

When David Haye, from the planet Earth, fights Nikolai Valuev, a Russian from the recesses of his worst nightmare, in Nuremberg on Saturday night, the temptation to regard the disparity in their sizes as an amusing curiosity will be tempered by concern and awe.

Friends and family might even fear for Haye's health.</p><p>It is inevitable that every time Valuev fights – or enters a room, for that matter – he invites discussion about his dimensions, as if he were from a catalogue of giant people. Valuev insists he is not a physical freak suffering from a pituitary gland disorder; he is a genetic throwback, the son of parents who each are 5ft 5in tall, with a Tatar ancestor of mountainous proportions.</p> <a href="">Continue reading...</a> David Haye Wba Heavyweight: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Wba Heavyweight - NDTV.COM Wba Heavyweight Tyson Fury Beats Wladimir Klitschko to Become New World Heavyweight Champion Agence France-Presse | Sunday November 29, 2015 The 27-year-old Tyson Fury was awarded the fight in Duesseldorf 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111 by the judges to take Klitschko's WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO belts as the Ukrainian suffered his first defeat since 2004.

Tyson Fury Vows to 'Expose Old Man' Wladimir Klitschko in World Heavyweight Title Bout Agence France-Presse | Wednesday November 25, 2015 On Saturday, Wladimir Klitschko, 39, will defend his IBF, WBA and IBO titles against Britain's Tyson Fury, 27, in Duesseldorf having last tasted defeat more than a decade ago Floyd Mayweather Jr Beats Andre Berto and Says 'It's Over' Agence France-Presse | Sunday September 13, 2015 Floyd Mayweather equals the perfect 49-0 record of heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano and retains his WBA and WBC titles, embellishing his reputation as the best boxer of his generation. Klitschko beats Haye by unanimous decision Associated Press | Sunday July 3, 2011 Wladimir Klitschko won a unanimous decision over David Haye, adding the WBA title to his heavyweight haul on Saturday.

Chagaev beats Ruiz to earn WBA title shot Indo-Asian News Service | Sunday February 25, 2007 Ruslan Chagaev won a shot at the WBA heavyweight title with a split decision win against John Ruiz on Saturday. Indo-Asian News Service | Sunday February 25, 2007 Seven-foot, 328-pound Nikolai Valuev, largest heavyweight champion, stopped challenger Monte Barrett in the 11th round. Valuev wins WBA heavyweight title Indo-Asian News Service | Sunday February 25, 2007 Russian Nikolay Valuev won a disputed split decision against John Ruiz to claim the WBA heavyweight title Saturday night. Indo-Asian News Service | Sunday February 25, 2007 James Toney beat John Ruiz to win the WBA heavyweight title in New York on Saturday.

nikolai valuev - Thaindian News Thaindian News Russian boxer to go in search of yeti September 15th, 2011 - 5:40 pm ICT by IANS Moscow, Sep 15 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Former boxing heavyweight world champion Nikolai Valuev will travel to Russia's Siberia region to try to find the yeti and "talk to him about life", ... Read more... Tyson asks Haye to fight Klitschko brothers to become best heavyweight boxer September 2nd, 2010 - 5:25 pm ICT by ANI London, Sep 2 (ANI): Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson believes that David Haye has the charisma and talent to become the best heavyweight boxer around, but he still has to prove ... Read more...

Haye needs to prove himself before taking on Klitschko brothers: Tyson July 17th, 2010 - 4:44 pm ICT by ANI London, July 17(ANI): Former American world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson believes that current WBA heavyweight champion David Haye needs to get more experience before he takes on Klitschko brothers.Tyson insists that Haye ... Read more... WBA heavyweight champion Haye retains title by beating American challenger April 4th, 2010 - 12:23 pm ICT by ANI London, Apr 4 (ANI): WBA heavyweight champion David Haye retained his title by beating American challenger John Ruiz when fight was stopped after nine dominant rounds here at the Manchester's MEN Arena. ... Read more... Loss to Ruiz will send WBA heavyweight champ Haye into hiding for a year April 2nd, 2010 - 5:47 pm ICT by ANI London, Apr 2 (ANI): WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has said that he will hide away for a year if he loses his title to American challenger John Ruiz.Haye is desperate ... Read more...

David Haye v Nikolay Valuev - YouTube David Haye v Nikolay Valuev Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Mar 20, 2011 David Haye v Nikolay Valuev for the WBA World Heavyweight Championship Germany Category David Haye takes on a giant | Sport | The Guardian The Observer David Haye takes on a giant On 7 November, David Haye, Britain's best heavyweight, will face up to the fearsome 7ft 2in Russian Nikolai Valuev. OSM finds him relaxed and cracking jokes – what does he know that we don't? Adrian Deevoy Saturday 17 October 2009 19.25 EDT First published on Saturday 17 October 2009 19.25 EDT Close David Haye.

Photograph: Chris Floyd Strolling smoothly into a south London photographic studio on this brilliant autumn morning, David Haye appears not to have a worry in the world. He is so relaxed it makes you tense. Hair in braids, limbs as loose as Floyd Mayweather's lip, the charismatic British boxer with the prowling panther stance is soon sharing a smutty joke, offering unlikely bets ("hundred quid if you put my sock in your mouth for 10 seconds"), taking off his trousers, doing up his boots and cheerily chewing the fat about this and that. And the other. In a sport spoilt by brash egomaniacs and slugging dullards, Haye is a refreshingly bright fighter – and funny too. Few pugilists have the self-awareness to claim that they have given up a lucrative modelling career for "a job where I can get brain damage in front of millions of people". Haye, 29, has been getting punched for money since 2002, following an almost flawless amateur career. He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world before vacating his titles to move up to heavyweight.

He has suffered one defeat in 23 fights and 21 of his 22 wins have come by knockout. After moving up a division in November last year, Haye announced his intention to become the "next Lennox Lewis". David Deron Haye, aka The Hayemaker, would achieve all of his ambitions at the heaviest level, he stated with complete conviction. It was, he promised, his destiny. Best boxer on the planet before turning 30. No problem. But Haye has a problem. And it's a giant one. On 7 November in Nuremberg, Haye will enter the ring with the WBA champion, 36-year-old Nikolai Valuev , to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world. By his own calculation, Haye "isn't a little 'un" at 6ft3in and 15st5 lb. His opponent, however, weighs in at roughly eight stone heavier and 11 inches taller. Animal lovers may be interested to learn that Valuev's fighting weight is uncannily similar to that of a female grizzly bear (although it should be noted than the hairy ursine ladies are infinitely prettier than the granite-hewn Russian).

His hands are the size of squash rackets, his trademark beige sweaters could comfortably sleep two adults and he takes a size 18-and-a-half shoe. And speaking of plates of meat, Valuev, who is an enthusiastic hunter, claims to eat three kilos of fresh animal flesh every day. Without wishing to sound sensationalist, that is just below the average weight of a newborn human. He may well be a carnivorous, clown-shoed colossus but with a record of 52 fights, one defeat and 34 knockouts, he specialises in not getting hit and boxes with the patience of a chess master and the upper body strength of a Ukrainian beet farmer. And, contrary to scary appearances, the big lad from St Petersburg is no ogre. Cultured and caring, he writes poetry (he wooed wife Galina with a few self-penned stanzas), listens to Mozart and Chopin and enjoys nothing more than a dependably downbeat Solzhenitsyn novel.

Indeed, he has written his own book, My 12 Rounds, a Russian-language memoir which muses on his complex inner life, the intricacies of the sweet science and struggling to find a hat when you've got a head the size of a spacehopper. Valuev also acts, having starred in Stonehead, a moving and award-winning portrayal of a boxer who loses his memory following a car crash. He sings too, after a fashion. This summer, he recorded a rap single encouraging his fellow countrymen to pay their utility bills on time. The billboard posters featured the big-boned chap clutching a delicate posy of snowdrops and smiling in a faintly sinister manner. The company received 102% of the sum it expected to claw back from its customers. Bathed in glorious south London sunshine, perched on our rooftop eyrie, Haye is considering the potentially serious consequences of being repeatedly pummelled by "the biggest human being I've ever seen". The two men met 48 hours ago in Germany but with self-possession bordering on the clinically unhinged, Haye wasn't too impressed. He tilts his small chair back and emits a small, slightly girlish giggle.

Will you be nervous when you fight Valuev? No, it messes with your breathing. You can't fight if you're nervous. What was your initial physical impression of him? In my mind he was always a giant. Like a giant out of a kids' movie. But I wasn't going to get into a situation where he was going to surprise me with his size. That would be pretty silly. So I imagined him as being at least twice as huge as he was. Ten-foot tall and all that. So when I finally met him I thought, "Nah, he ain't that big." What aura did he give off? Steel. Very cold. Nothing fazed him. He didn't crack a smile once, he was straight business. He didn't say anything, he doesn't speak much English and my Russian isn't all it should be. He tried to crush my hand, though. I thought, "OK, it's not a hand-crushing competition we've having here. Your hands are twice the size of mine and you could probably crush them easily if you wanted to but then I'd have to pull out with a broken hand." But I could see that he views me as some little guy that he can just swat away.

An inconvenience. And physically, he feels superior to me. Were you frightened of him? No, I wasn't. I've never been frightened of anyone. He's an obstacle to me. A big obstacle, I'll grant you, but no more than that. How do you train to fight such a big man? Punching upwards is a lot harder than down. My whole career I've punched down a little. When I was cruiserweight champion I was always the tall guy. Now, my arms are having to do something they've never done before. It's way up above my head, which is tough. You're using new muscles that have never come into play before. It burns, very uncomfortable around the front of the shoulders. I'm having to get them massaged out constantly. And how will you deal with the sheer weight imbalance? It's not something you can really train for. I'll have to deal with that on the night – much in the same way as he can't train to fight someone with my speed. He won't have come across another fighter as fast as me. That's what makes this fight so intriguing to people.

Is David going to topple Goliath, or is David going to get squashed by Goliath? You're going to be taking a lot of blows to the top of your head. I know. There will be a lot of angles I'm just not used to. That's always a shock to the system. I've got to prepare myself for the more unusual shots. Will you be working his body? I'll be working anything I can reach! If his head is too far away then I'll be hitting his body with all my might. Hitting below the belt could be a problem. You could accidentally head-butt this man in the testicles. Precisely! If I land a body shot where I hit on a normal-sized opponent, I'll be hitting Valuev straight up the cobblers. And he's not going to be happy about that. At. All. So I've got to adjust that. I've got adjust everything for this fight. For an outsized gentleman, he doesn't lack stamina. Not at all. He's won a lot of his fights on points. He's done 12 rounds on numerous occasions at various paces. Which suggests he isn't a one-punch knock out merchant.

But then anyone that big will have a lot of weight behind a single shot to do some damage. Particularly someone like myself coming up from a much lower weight. No, his stamina is one of his strong points. Do you realise that, with what you're giving away in height and weight, it's the equivalent of you fighting Mark Owen from Take That? Exactly! That would be an interesting one. But then you mustn't underestimate what Owen is capable of in the ring. The big difference between me and Valuev is that I've got the superior technical ability. Superior skill set. A better boxing pedigree. And speed. Speed is the key to this fight. If all those factors come together on the night, I feel I can beat this guy. Will this be the hardest fight of your career? Without a doubt. I'm going to have to do things I've never even thought about before. My work rate will have to be phenomenal. But I've over-compensated in every area of my training. If you think you might have to throw 100 punches, you train to throw 200. It'll send shock waves around the world what I'm looking at doing to this big guy.

Well, I'm fucking you tonight," croons Haye, singing along to R Kelly's Use to Me Spending, the now-wash-your-hands R&B jam oozing from the studio speakers. This may well be true but tonight will be Haye's last chance to engage in such salty pursuits prior to his big night in Nuremberg. (A swift finger-count reveals the fight to be six weeks away to the day.) "I abstain from any kind of release for six weeks before a fight, no self-pleasure, nothing," says Haye, acknowledging that he may have a busy evening ahead. "Even in my dreams, I'll be about to have sex with a beautiful girl and I'll say, 'Sorry darling, I'm fighting in a few weeks.' That's control, bro, when you're turning down a hot chick in your subconscious." He offers a thought-provoking theory on the recent claims by India's cricket coach Gary Kirsten that if sportsmen were to have regular sex before they competed then the body would produce more testosterone and therefore improve their performance in the arena. "There's good proven science behind abstinence in boxing," Haye expounds impressively.

"I can see how in cricket, the slow release of testosterone might help your game because there are only occasional bursts of aggression. But boxing is a testosterone explosion. It's intense and you need everything you have. If you were to unload and lose all those minerals and zinc, and all that good stuff, then it's not going to help you fight. That's your chi. Get rid of that and you can feel your soul leaving you. Think about it, as soon as you release, your instinct is to go to sleep. You want a sandwich and a nice kip. And you don't want to feel like that in a boxing ring." In casual conversation, Haye reveals that he owns two chihuahuas, Oscar, named after Mexican firebrand Oscar De La Hoya, and Millie (unbeknown to Haye, the name of Mrs De La Hoya); that he suffers from athlete's foot ("it's heaven when you itch it though"); why he normally trains in a public gym ("I'm no diva!"); and how Mike Tyson disturbs him on a deep, psychological level.

"Sometimes he says things, and you think, 'Whoa, Mike, that has just come out sounding weird!' 'I'm gonna eatcha ass out!' Wrong choice of phrase, my friend!" Back out on the roof, Haye is refusing to let the stranger aspects of his profession get to him. Speaking in quick south-east London spurts, and with some unreconstructed attitudes that are unlikely to see him labelled a new man any time soon, the daunting prospect ahead has neither soured his humour nor dented his confidence. Have you always embraced a challenge? Big time. And you've always enjoyed a good tear-up? Always. Can't resist a scrap. I'm the sort of guy who only watches ice hockey for the fighting. When did you last have a street fight? Once I started boxing seriously, probably. Maybe 11 years old. When people knew you did boxing, they'd either back off or they knew they'd have to go and get a brick. Do you walk away from confrontation on the street now? As you get older you do. When you're younger you feel ashamed to walk away but I've walked away from plenty of fights as time has gone on.

Also, what's the point of me punching someone in the skull with no bandages or gloves on? I'm only going to break my hand and be out for months. Walk away, go to the gym and have a good workout. That's the answer. Are you ever challenged to a fight as you go about your daily business? What, in Sainsbury's? All the time. Old grandmas having a pop. No, very rarely. Maybe if someone's really drunk in a bar. They come up to you going, "I'll take you on." 'Course you will, mate. Let me buy you a drink. Is it true that when you are putting on a fight – under the Hayemaker promotional brand banner – you personally audition the ring-card girls? I do, but only because earlier in my career, the promoters would organise these girls and you'd be sitting on your stool between rounds and you'd look up and see a complete and utter minger walking around the ring. It was actually a distraction. You'd be thinking, "Why is she in the ring and what possible good can come from her being there?" So now, I make sure that all my ring-card girls are up to scratch.

It might sound like that's being a control freak but people are paying hard-earned money to watch it so you want to make it as entertaining and exciting as possible. Will you beat Valuev? If all my strengths come together on the night I feel I can. It won't be easy but I will win. What will be your last meal before the fight? Something lean and fresh and raw. No chips, unfortunately. Saturated fats are out. And if the so-called "Beast From the East" feasts upon your carcass, what's the contingency plan? There isn't one. I've put it all on the line for this fight. I haven't thought about losing – it isn't an option. You don't want a silver medal in boxing. Coming second is not what you want. Trust me. David Haye fights Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title on 7 November, live on Sky Box Office (08442 410888) Fulham fan and Test cricket convert. No Twenty20, mind… Published: 17 Oct 2009 50 years ago Liverpool hired the manager who made them what they are today.

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Question: Who beat seven foot tall boxer Nikolay Valuev to become the new WBA heavyweight champion?
Answer: David Haye