Haye wins - Valuev v Haye, live round-by-round

David Haye became WBA heavyweight title with a majority points win over Nikolay Valuev in Nuremberg on Saturday, here's how I saw the action live. For my ringside report, see here, or here for what the future holds for Haye.

There are about 1,500 Haye supporters in the 8,000 capacity crowd at the Nuremberg Arena. David Haye is due to begin his ringwalk at 9.45pm (GMT) with the first bell at 10pm (GMT), after Valuev is played to the ring by Sunrise Avenue, a Finnish rock band, and the national anthems.

The referee is Luis Pabon, of Puerto Rico. Judges are Tom Miller, of the United States, Juan M Reyes Garcia, of Spain, and Stefano Carozza, of Italy. Pabon was also the third man in the ring for Valuev's last defence against Evander Holyfield 11 months ago and was also referee when Ruslan Chagaev beat Valuev in 2007.

There has been a flood of late money for Valuev at the bookies in Britain. The Russian has been backed down to be a narrow 4-5 favourite in places, with the best price now even money. At some bookies, both boxers are 10-11.

Haye walks to the ring smiling to "Ain't No Stopping Us Now", a disco classic, wearing Union Jack and white shorts. Valuev walks down a long flight of stairs and steps over the top rope to enter the ring. Fortunately, the Russian national anthem is mostly well-observed by the British fans.

1 - Slow round. Haye backing off while valuev chases him. Haye lands couple of jabs and body shots, but is caught by a right cross as he tries to move in for a right of his own. 10-10

2 - Haye lands a decent right hook, but Valuev scores with four firm jabs, the last of which seems to move him backwards. 10-9 V; 20-19 Valuev

3 - Valuev lands a one-two on the ropes. Right, left, right combination lands from Haye, but Valuev shakes his head. Valuev lands jab, Haye lands a hook to thhe body. An overhand right from Haye lands near the end of the round. 10-9 Haye, 29-29

4 - Haye trapped in corner, Valuev lands right and left to body. Cries of "Valuev, Valuev" from the crowd. Right uppercut from Valuev glances Haye's head. Jab starting to land from Valuev and he dominates the round. 10-9 Valuev; 39-38 Valuev

5- Haye keeps well away, no action before Haye lands with a left-right combination. Haye keeps on the move, right lands on top of his head but virtually no punches landing from either. Haye misses with right-left at end of round. 10-9 Haye; 48-48

6 - Haye playing a dangerous game as he just isn't engaging, The judges could go against him with negative tactics. Attack by Haye misses, Valuev lands a couple of clubbing rights in corner. But Haye lands with lead left hook and left-right counters as he makes Valuev miss. Turned into a good round for Haye as Valuev looked a bit clueless. Haye partial lands with overhand right on bell. 10-9 Haye; 58-57 Haye

7 - Valuev on top early on. Catches Haye with right hook, then they exchange punches, Valuev comes off better. Flurry of action at end of round, but Valuev's round. 10-9 V; 67-67

8 - Clubbing right by Valuev is felt by Haye. Very few punches. Haye lands to body, Valuev lands two jabs. Uppercut glances off Valuev's chin. Haye does well in dying seconds, making Valuev miss and countering. Haye showboats a bit. 10-10; 77-77

9 - Can Haye win it with the judges in Germany with so little action? Valuev plods after Haye. After two minutes, Haye lands a spectacular right-left. Valuev still chasing Haye, but Valuev looks tired. 10-8 H; 87-86 Haye

10 - Valuev lands clubbing right, Haye lands left hook, then a right to the body. Haye throws overhand right, but is caught by a shorter straight right. Valuev looks tired. Big overhand right by Haye, who takes a body short and a right cross on the bell. 10-9 H; 97-95 Haye

11 - Haye still dancing and moving, stamina looks OK. It's been rope-a-dope by Haye. The two exchange punches at end of round and Haye lands an overhand right. Most around me have Haye well in front going into the last. 10-9 V; 106-105 Haye

12  - Now or never for Haye. He counters with a an overhand right as a desperate looking Valuev chases him. Great right cross from Haye, then left-right rocks the Russian. Haye ticked off for punch round back of head. But Valuev looks exhausted. Final bell, Haye holds up one arm. 10-9 H; 116-114 Haye

Majority decision

Tom Miller, of the United States, 116-112 Haye, Juan M Reyes Garcia, of Spain, 114-114. and Stefano Carozza, of Italy, 116-112 Haye

Haye says he has a suspected broken right hand. "I hurt it early on and couldn't throw as many rights as I wante," he said. "I let it go in the last."

Comments

[Alano Saengprasit]

Well done Haye. True class performance and you dominated the last round by cathing Valuev with the left hook and making him almost stumble to the ground.
New World Heavyweight Champion Well Done.

[joe]

What a complete farce, boxing's corrupt side raises its head again. The result was rigged. There was only one boxer pushing forward trying to fight, Haye didn't throw many punches didn't land many punches and didn't live up to his massive billing.

The result proves the sport is all about the money, Haye is much more of a marketable fighter who will generate more cash.

Terrible fight, terrible result making a mockery of a great sport. Valuev's been done!

[WHAT]

Joe, what fight did you watch? How was the winner my bro and the Russian isn't the bigger man!

[E.John Baker]

Boxing used to be about 'The Noble Art of Self Defense' From the reports it seems that David Haye demonstated this very well. I hope he will have the courage to continue in this way. It takes courage to box clever and not to play to the crowd. Well done David.

[Blackpool Dan]

Well done David Fantastic Result A New British Champ but lets not get ahead of ourself Valuev is a big man not a true fighter he as got there by being big hence why he seems to run out of ideas the same thing happend with holyfield but the judges backed Valuev that night...(now that i feel was a fix)Wladimir Klitschko and Vladimir Klitschko i think would be a step to far just now for David lets see how he dose with John Ruiz who was made the WBA's mandatory challenger he also took Valuev to points but lost on a majority decision the thing is he is a true fighter and i will be interested to see how they do toe to toe but for now big respect to David who did just what he said he would and became world champ!!!!

[joe]

Sorry i forgot to mention above, during the 12th round the bookies online had Haye to win on points at 3/1 and Valuev at 1/3 the clear favorite. Bookies are very rarely wrong

[Steve Cullen]

It wasn't a pretty fight because Haye couldn't mix it with the big Russian for obvious reasons. Instead it was a very intelligent fight on the part of Haye and his handlers and a fully deserved win.

[Conor O'Rourke]

Delighted for Haye, deserved the victory. Now move on to the Klitschko brothers!

[Tom]

Bol#locks !!
Don't get me wrong here, I'm fair chuffed Haye won (and is undoubtedly one of Britains better Heavyweights - which admittedly isn't saying much ! ) but for my money, Haye only won about 3/4 rounds (Rounds 3, 8, 9 and 12 at best !) No doubt he'll beat Ruiz but I suspect he'll only hold onto this 'title' if he avoids either of the Klitschkos. Still, he's marketable...as Don King is clearly aware !!! Makes ye wonder what the Guys that didn't win anything in the late 60's/early 70's would have done to these two ?

[Derek Clifton]

This was a 'nothing' contest.....no action - no aggression - no punches landed - no visible signs of any boxing...the only no-no was that we couldn't get our money back for watching this shambles!

[BoxingSchool]

Well done David BUT

You'll have to throw a lot more punches than that against the Klitschkos. Don't be afraid to clinch and fight on the inside, punching your way out.

Good on you tho.