David Haye v Nikolai Valuev: speed the key as Briton aims to topple the 'Russian Giant'

The scales here in the heart of Bavaria did not lie on Friday. This really is 'David v Goliath'. Nikolai Valuev, the World Boxing Association heavyweight champion, tipped the scales at 22st 8lbs, with David Haye weighing in seven stones lighter.

Finally, after all the hype, the fight. The weigh-in was witnessed by hundreds of rubber-neckers in a shopping mall, replete with the grand entrance of fiery-haired promoter Don King, as the two combatants stared each other down.

Size is everything in this fight. Against Haye, apart from the weight, at 7ft, the 'Russian Giant' has a 9in height advantage. Indeed, size, not great boxing skills, has made Valuev a world champion in a time of few brilliant performers.

Valuev is a good, not great, boxer. But what he does, he does extremely well, schooled as a typical Eastern Bloc fighter.

Valuev's principal weapons are his jab, behind the superior reach he enjoys over all his rivals – his right cross, and the right uppercut. He rarely departs from those moves.

He also has a granite chin, has never been floored, or knocked down, in 51 professional heavyweight fights. He also uses his weight to lean and push down on opponents at close quarters.

Haye will duck and use his hand speed to expose and upset the rhythm of the champion, who likes to fight at a steady pace for 12 rounds, poker-faced, from the centre of the ring.

Haye will move inside and under Valuev's jab, and attempt to outscore him on the counter with his faster hands, throw upwards to his chin where there are opportunities, but also throwing furious, heavy-handed punches into the soft areas under the rib cage on the inside.

Stoppage with a body shot is possible. Haye may even attempt to score to the chest of the champion.

Ruslan Chagaev, the only fighter to outpoint the champion, set the blueprint with inside, counter shots, using speed over size. But even that was a close fight. What Haye must do is come inside quickly, score, and move away again.

The questions involve Haye's chin, which is vulnerable, and his stamina. The Londoner has been brilliant in his career, as a three-belt cruiserweight champion, in hurting and then knocking out opponents, rather than going the distance.

There is also no knowing whether his power carries through from cruiserweight, given that he has fought only six rounds as a heavyweight.

Conversely, Valuev has fought 264 rounds in the division, and has campaigned in seven world title contests. All bar one of those have gone 12 rounds. Logic is against Haye.

But he is drawing inspiration from Muhammad Ali beating George Foreman, and Mike Tyson, at 5ft 11ins, battling the giant heavyweights of his day.

Call your correspondent a Philistine in backing Goliath against David – but this really is Valuev's fight to lose. Size, weight, and experience are heavily stacked in his favour.

Haye is not a fighter prone to a shred of self-doubt. But unless he is pinpoint accurate for 12 rounds, Valuev should win on points, or force a mid-to-late round stoppage against an exhausted title challenger.

Slay the giant, however, and the fairytale is complete. Haye will, overnight, become the global poster boy of the sport with fame, fortune and battles with the Klitschko brothers to follow.