Valuev, the man and the myth

Hi Ben, can you give us any details of the start time and the Five Live coverage of the fight?

I have not looked forward to a fight so much for ages. Has Valuev ever fought Klitchko?

I am going to have to back Valuev for this fight, simply cos of his size, he's supposed to be the favourite, but the bookies don't agree!

How do you train to fight someone who is THAT much taller than you? I just can't wait to see how Haye tries to deal with the giant.

valuev doesn't have a perfect record, haye defo has a chance. just interesting to see if he can take the initiative early on, because if he holds back valuev will have him later on

David Hayes is in big trouble with this fight. The guy is massive, he can box and will be too powerful for him. Hayes should move back to cruiserweight where he is a class act and would be a true world champ.

I honestly feel Haye has the beating of Valuev. He might be a foot taller and 100 pounds heavier, but I feel Haye wins this fight. You've only got to watch Valuev's last fight with Holyfield. Holyfield was so much quicker than Valuev(and he was 45 years old at the time) and if you don't believe me watch it on you tube. Holyfield should've won that fight by 4/5 rounds, but never got the decision due to judges who favoured the home fighter(not a suprise when Don King is behind you).

Haye is quicker and hits harder than Holyfield, I see him hitting and running all night, if he does this Valuev won't catch him as he plods forward. I'm going for a late stoppage maybe round 11, or a unamimous decision.

I hope that Haye can keep the pace in the fight because if it is slowed down it will really play into Valuev's hands, especially with the Las Vegas style scoring in Germany! If he can keep the pace up he stands a chance, and if he pulls off a result it would be good to see him face one of the Klitshko boys to really test his pedigree at heavyweight. If not, then maybe back to cruiserweight.

I think Haye has to knock him out in round 5 or less, or his fast pace will slow, leaving the score to the judges will be his downfall if i gets that far.

Two entirely different blokes, one very intelligent, the other one clearly not. Haye has been saying for the last couple of days that its time for the talking to stop, but he's the only one talking and keeps on talking! Valuev on Haye: I hope he's well. I'll take brain and brawn over bull anyday.

"Two entirely different blokes, one very intelligent, the other one clearly not."

aagowangowan - which is which? From what I have read Im assuming you mean Valuev is the intelligent one.

You say you met Valuev in the flesh Ben...what did he have to say?

(I believe he doesn't speak English, but presume there was a translator around)

"Burglarised" ??? (para 17)

I thought this was the BRITISH Broadcasting Corporation?

"I think Haye has to knock him out in round 5 or less"

I think this may be a bit of a big ask Mildren. If Hayes plan is to try and stop a man within 5 rounds who has never been knocked down let alone knocked out he will punch himself to a standstill and will get picked off in a later round.

I think Rhys1979 has got it right. If Haye can move around he can either pick up enough points to win on decision, or possibly stop him if he opens up at the end, but again if he goes in too strong he'll end up walking on to a big Valuev shot and get sat down.

"John Ruiz said Valuev had a head the size of a Volkswagen"

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Perhaps he merely meant that it was so easy to hit that it *seemed* the size of a Volkswagen?

After Igor's humiliation at the hands of sprightly pensioner Evander Holyfield, I expect Mr Haye to make short work of the carheaded lummox.

I hope Valuev does a proper number on Haye. I understand the need for publicity to generate ticket and T.V rights. But when you have someone that is being downright disrespectful and someone conducting themselves in a proper manner, class says it all.

I took the 7\4 6 weeks ago and the 11/8 and the 5/4 its not often the bookies give you an early christmas present but they are on Saturday night.

Nothing wrong with borrowing words, but "burglarised" is particularly stupid, because you can just use the much easier and more common "burgled".

Good article otherwise though!

Calling someone a 'freak show' and all the rest of it id say was bullying, not that Valuev is concerned about what Haye has to say but the constant crap he has to put up with from the media and how they treat him. i hope he does a real number on Haye.

Cheers for the reply Ben. I'll be watching in the pub hopefully with Mike Costello in my ear!

Although you cannot deny Valuev's record in boxing, along with his massive height and weight advatage against any other contender in the heavyweight division, in my opinion, he is just that. He is a juggornaut of a man, who people see as dominant because he is that much bigger than him. Calling him a bully is far too harsh, but the only reason he wins is because of his size. Mike Tyson told the press that size doesn't matter, and as long as Haye has the right mindset, then he can win this fight. I admit I have watched most of Haye's fights (including that loss to Carl Thompson) yet only watched 2 of Valuev's fights, but Haye is better technically, has better stamina, better speed, and the ability to hit you with the "Hayemaker" at any point. I saw Valuev's match against Ruslan Chagaev, and Chagaev managed to exploit so many of Valuev's weaknesses. After that loss, word was that Valuev had changed and ammended the mistakes, but I also so the controversial win over Evander Holyfield, and his jab and his fitness is still very questionable in my opinion.

My verdict, either Haye will win using his brain and his speed, or Valuev will just be too intimdating and do what he usually does. Going to be a great fight though, very much looking forward to it.

Yes londonwelsh87, you assume correctly.