Valuev-Haye: Head to head
Posted Nov. 6, 2009 at 11:31pm
By Doug Fischer
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NIKOLAI VALUEV vs. DAVID HAYE
When: Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Nuremberg, Germany
TV: Integrated Sports PPV, 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET (replayed at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET)
Weight: Heavyweight (unlimited)
Title(s) at stake: Valuev’s
Also on the card: John Ruiz vs. Adnan Serin, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Sergei Liakhovich vs. Jeremy Bates, 8 rounds, heavyweights.
VALUEV
The essentials
Age: 36
Height / Reach: 7-0 (213cm) / 85 (216cm)
Hometown: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Turned pro: 1993
Record: 50-1 (34 knockouts)
Trainer: Alexander Zimin
Fight-by-fight: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?cat=boxer&human_id=19904
The Ring rating: No. 5 heavyweight
Titles: Heavyweight (2005-07); heavyweight (2008-present).
Biggest victories: John Ruiz, Dec. 17, 2005, MD 12 (wins title); Ruiz, Aug. 30, 2008, SD 12 (wins vacant title); Evander Holyfield, Dec. 20, 2008, MD 12.
Only loss: Ruslan Chagaev, April 14, 2007, MD 12 (lost title).
HAYE
The essentials
Age: 29
Height / reach: 6-3 (191cm) / 78 (198cm)
Hometown: London, England
Turned pro: 2002
Record: 22-1 (21 knockouts)
Trainer: Adam Booth
Fight-by-fight: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=155774&cat=boxer
The Ring rating: No. 8 heavyweight
Titles: Three cruiserweight titles (two 2007-2008, one 2008; vacated all three to move to heavyweight).
Biggest victories: Jean Marc Mormeck, Nov. 10, 2007, TKO 7 (won two cruiserweight titles); Enzo Macarinelli, March 8, 2008, TKO 2 (won a third title); Monte Barrett, Nov. 15, 2008, TKO 5 (only fight as full-fledged heavyweight).
Only loss: Carl Thompson, Sept. 10, 2004, TKO 5.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Skills: It’s easy to dismiss Valuev as a plodding sideshow freak, a fighter who‘s only special because of his size. However, while much of his ring success is due to his massive frame, the Russian has very solid boxing foundation, which includes balance, hand and foot placement, and correct punching technique. In fact, the form of Valuev’s punches is superior to Haye’s technique. There’s nothing special about Valuev (beyond his size) but he’s got a nice, classic stand-up style that relies on a busy jab. Haye has a more personalized style -- one that utilizes lead power shots from different angles -- which suits his speed, power and athleticism. He breaks a lot of rules, as talented fighters often do, but he usually gets away with it because of his accuracy and ring generalship.
Edge: Even
Power: You would think the near 100 pounds that Valuev has on Haye would translate to superior power, but it doesn‘t. For all his size, Valuev is not puncher. Most of his knockouts of world-class opponents occurred in the late rounds after he gradually imposed his mass on them. Haye, on the other hand, was a legitimate KO artist at cruiserweight and he appears to be a better-than-average puncher at heavyweight. While it took Valuev 11 rounds to grind down Monte Barrett, Haye dropped the former fringe contender five times en route to a fifth-round stoppage.
Edge: Haye
Speed and athletic ability: Haye‘s greatest asset is his athleticism. He’s fast, strong, powerful, and nimble. He’s got excellent reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Compared to Haye, the plodding Valuev has all the speed and mobility of a glacier.
Edge: Haye
Defense: Neither fighter is known for his defensive prowess. Haye‘s offense and reflexes have served has his first line of defense, while Value can usually rely on his height to evade most of the punches that are aimed at his enormous cranium. However, the Russian veteran does a better job of keeping his hands up and picking incoming shots off with his gloves and forearms. Haye has the ability to twist away or lean back from incoming punches, but he usually does so with his hands down, and often gets caught with straight shots while backing up.
Edge: Valuev
Experience: The 36-year-old giant was developed slowly over the first 10 years of his career, and as a result he has the most fights (51) of any world-class heavyweight apart from the champ, Wladimir Klitschko (56). Valuev is used to boxing 12 rounds and in recent years he’s gone the championship distance with former titleholders Holyfield, Ruiz, Chagaev, and Lyakhovich. Haye has faced a few world-class cruiserweights (Mormeck, Fragomeni) in competitive bouts that went more than six rounds, but he has only fought past 10 rounds once (going the 12-round distance).
Edge: Valuev
Chin: The giant has never been stopped or off his feet as a pro. Haye has been stopped once and dropped (officially) four times (once vs. super middleweight fringe contender Lolenga Mock, twice in his TKO loss to Carl Thompson, and once during his title-winning effort vs. Mormeck). Many observers believe he was knocked down by Barrett in the fifth round of their fight, but it was ruled a slip by the referee.
Edge: Valuev
Conditioning: Haye is in tremendous physical shape but it’s mostly anaerobic power derived from lifting weights. Haye‘s aerobic condition/stamina is very much in question going into this fight. His one loss is the result of fatigue, and that fight was stopped in the fifth round. Valuev fights in a very slow and methodical fashion but he’s a 12-round fighter (having gone that distance 11 times) and he’s never appeared to run out of gas late in his bouts. In fact, he often comes on in the later rounds.
Edge: Valuev
Wear and tear: The combination of Valuev‘s age, weight and 51 pro bouts have taken a toll on his big body. Those knee braces the giant wears on both legs are not a fashion statement. Haye is in his prime has never been in a punishing fight (including his one loss).
Edge: Haye
Corner: Valuev‘s head trainer, Alexander Zimin, was a standout coach in the old Soviet Union amateur boxing program. Zimin swtiched to pro training in 1990 and guided Russian flyweight Yuri Arbachakov to a major title in 1992. Arbachakov, one of the best flyweights of the 1990s, made nine title defenses under Zimin‘s guidance. Haye’s trainer Adam Booth doesn’t appear to have any world-class experience apart from his work with Haye.
Edge: Valuev
Outcome: Haye‘s plan is to use his speed to get off on the slow moving giant and then get out of the way, and he‘ll execute this game plan very well in the opening rounds of the bout. Haye will pot-shot Valuev with quick, sneaky body shots, and looping right hands that land on the bigger man’s arms and shoulders but still cause the beltholder to teeter and totter a bit. Valuev will constantly stalk forward behind his jab, but occasionally the behemoth will take a step back and try to counter Haye with hooks or right crosses. The giant’s lack of speed will prevent him from scoring regularly during the first half of the fight but his gradual pressure and ability to take Haye’s best punches will begin to take a toll on the challenger going into the late rounds. In rounds six, seven, and eight, Valuev will open up more offensively, mixing in left hooks to the body and head with his piston-like jab. Haye will do more backpedaling than in-and-out punching in these rounds, and he'll also catch a few right hands from his steadfast stalker as he moves straight back. In rounds nine and 10, Valuev will corner a tiring and arm-weary Haye, pushing the smaller man back into the ropes whenever he tries to escape and smothering him with his size in close. Valuev’s mauling tactics will repeatedly wobble Haye until the referee halts the fight or the former cruiserweight’s corner throws in the towel.
Prediction: Valuev by late stoppage.
When: Saturday, Nov. 7
Where: Nuremberg, Germany
TV: Integrated Sports PPV, 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET (replayed at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET)
Weight: Heavyweight (unlimited)
Title(s) at stake: Valuev’s
Also on the card: John Ruiz vs. Adnan Serin, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Sergei Liakhovich vs. Jeremy Bates, 8 rounds, heavyweights.
VALUEV
The essentials
Age: 36
Height / Reach: 7-0 (213cm) / 85 (216cm)
Hometown: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Turned pro: 1993
Record: 50-1 (34 knockouts)
Trainer: Alexander Zimin
Fight-by-fight: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?cat=boxer&human_id=19904
The Ring rating: No. 5 heavyweight
Titles: Heavyweight (2005-07); heavyweight (2008-present).
Biggest victories: John Ruiz, Dec. 17, 2005, MD 12 (wins title); Ruiz, Aug. 30, 2008, SD 12 (wins vacant title); Evander Holyfield, Dec. 20, 2008, MD 12.
Only loss: Ruslan Chagaev, April 14, 2007, MD 12 (lost title).
HAYE
The essentials
Age: 29
Height / reach: 6-3 (191cm) / 78 (198cm)
Hometown: London, England
Turned pro: 2002
Record: 22-1 (21 knockouts)
Trainer: Adam Booth
Fight-by-fight: http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=155774&cat=boxer
The Ring rating: No. 8 heavyweight
Titles: Three cruiserweight titles (two 2007-2008, one 2008; vacated all three to move to heavyweight).
Biggest victories: Jean Marc Mormeck, Nov. 10, 2007, TKO 7 (won two cruiserweight titles); Enzo Macarinelli, March 8, 2008, TKO 2 (won a third title); Monte Barrett, Nov. 15, 2008, TKO 5 (only fight as full-fledged heavyweight).
Only loss: Carl Thompson, Sept. 10, 2004, TKO 5.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Skills: It’s easy to dismiss Valuev as a plodding sideshow freak, a fighter who‘s only special because of his size. However, while much of his ring success is due to his massive frame, the Russian has very solid boxing foundation, which includes balance, hand and foot placement, and correct punching technique. In fact, the form of Valuev’s punches is superior to Haye’s technique. There’s nothing special about Valuev (beyond his size) but he’s got a nice, classic stand-up style that relies on a busy jab. Haye has a more personalized style -- one that utilizes lead power shots from different angles -- which suits his speed, power and athleticism. He breaks a lot of rules, as talented fighters often do, but he usually gets away with it because of his accuracy and ring generalship.
Edge: Even
Power: You would think the near 100 pounds that Valuev has on Haye would translate to superior power, but it doesn‘t. For all his size, Valuev is not puncher. Most of his knockouts of world-class opponents occurred in the late rounds after he gradually imposed his mass on them. Haye, on the other hand, was a legitimate KO artist at cruiserweight and he appears to be a better-than-average puncher at heavyweight. While it took Valuev 11 rounds to grind down Monte Barrett, Haye dropped the former fringe contender five times en route to a fifth-round stoppage.
Edge: Haye
Speed and athletic ability: Haye‘s greatest asset is his athleticism. He’s fast, strong, powerful, and nimble. He’s got excellent reflexes and hand-eye coordination. Compared to Haye, the plodding Valuev has all the speed and mobility of a glacier.
Edge: Haye
Defense: Neither fighter is known for his defensive prowess. Haye‘s offense and reflexes have served has his first line of defense, while Value can usually rely on his height to evade most of the punches that are aimed at his enormous cranium. However, the Russian veteran does a better job of keeping his hands up and picking incoming shots off with his gloves and forearms. Haye has the ability to twist away or lean back from incoming punches, but he usually does so with his hands down, and often gets caught with straight shots while backing up.
Edge: Valuev
Experience: The 36-year-old giant was developed slowly over the first 10 years of his career, and as a result he has the most fights (51) of any world-class heavyweight apart from the champ, Wladimir Klitschko (56). Valuev is used to boxing 12 rounds and in recent years he’s gone the championship distance with former titleholders Holyfield, Ruiz, Chagaev, and Lyakhovich. Haye has faced a few world-class cruiserweights (Mormeck, Fragomeni) in competitive bouts that went more than six rounds, but he has only fought past 10 rounds once (going the 12-round distance).
Edge: Valuev
Chin: The giant has never been stopped or off his feet as a pro. Haye has been stopped once and dropped (officially) four times (once vs. super middleweight fringe contender Lolenga Mock, twice in his TKO loss to Carl Thompson, and once during his title-winning effort vs. Mormeck). Many observers believe he was knocked down by Barrett in the fifth round of their fight, but it was ruled a slip by the referee.
Edge: Valuev
Conditioning: Haye is in tremendous physical shape but it’s mostly anaerobic power derived from lifting weights. Haye‘s aerobic condition/stamina is very much in question going into this fight. His one loss is the result of fatigue, and that fight was stopped in the fifth round. Valuev fights in a very slow and methodical fashion but he’s a 12-round fighter (having gone that distance 11 times) and he’s never appeared to run out of gas late in his bouts. In fact, he often comes on in the later rounds.
Edge: Valuev
Wear and tear: The combination of Valuev‘s age, weight and 51 pro bouts have taken a toll on his big body. Those knee braces the giant wears on both legs are not a fashion statement. Haye is in his prime has never been in a punishing fight (including his one loss).
Edge: Haye
Corner: Valuev‘s head trainer, Alexander Zimin, was a standout coach in the old Soviet Union amateur boxing program. Zimin swtiched to pro training in 1990 and guided Russian flyweight Yuri Arbachakov to a major title in 1992. Arbachakov, one of the best flyweights of the 1990s, made nine title defenses under Zimin‘s guidance. Haye’s trainer Adam Booth doesn’t appear to have any world-class experience apart from his work with Haye.
Edge: Valuev
Outcome: Haye‘s plan is to use his speed to get off on the slow moving giant and then get out of the way, and he‘ll execute this game plan very well in the opening rounds of the bout. Haye will pot-shot Valuev with quick, sneaky body shots, and looping right hands that land on the bigger man’s arms and shoulders but still cause the beltholder to teeter and totter a bit. Valuev will constantly stalk forward behind his jab, but occasionally the behemoth will take a step back and try to counter Haye with hooks or right crosses. The giant’s lack of speed will prevent him from scoring regularly during the first half of the fight but his gradual pressure and ability to take Haye’s best punches will begin to take a toll on the challenger going into the late rounds. In rounds six, seven, and eight, Valuev will open up more offensively, mixing in left hooks to the body and head with his piston-like jab. Haye will do more backpedaling than in-and-out punching in these rounds, and he'll also catch a few right hands from his steadfast stalker as he moves straight back. In rounds nine and 10, Valuev will corner a tiring and arm-weary Haye, pushing the smaller man back into the ropes whenever he tries to escape and smothering him with his size in close. Valuev’s mauling tactics will repeatedly wobble Haye until the referee halts the fight or the former cruiserweight’s corner throws in the towel.
Prediction: Valuev by late stoppage.
