David Haye beats Russian 'Goliath'

Britain's David Haye has beaten the Russian Nikolay Valuev on points in Nuremberg, making him the WBA heavyweight champion. Haye, who is now Britain's first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis retired six years ago, scored 116-112 points on the scorecards of two judges, the third giving it a 114-114 tie. "This means everything to me. Since I was a little baby I wanted to be heavyweight champion of the world," Haye said in a ringside interview. "It's amazing, I dreamt of this now its reality... I hit his head early in the fight but it was the hardest thing I've ever hit, it was like hitting a brick wall. I made him look like an amateur. People doubted my skills... but I did enough to win." Valuev, the tallest and heaviest world champion of all time, who has yet to be floored in his 16-year professional career, struggled throughout the 12-round bout against a speedier opponent. The 29-year-old Londoner landed a handful of big left-right combinations in the early rounds that troubled the towering Russian who had trouble pinning the quick Briton to the ropes.

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ITN | November 8, 2009

Tags:. .professional. .valuev. .wanted. .nikolay. .rounds