David Haye became a two-division champion when he fought a giant in Germany.
Former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion Haye hung up his gloves following a brace of fights with Tony Bellew. Rounding off his career with a professional record of 28-4.
From Haye fighting in the Playboy Mansion to becoming a two-division champion, ‘Hayemaker’ has certainly etched his name into British boxing history.
Names on the fighter’s resume include the likes of Bellew, Wladimir Klitschko, and Derek Chisora. However, there is another fighter that Haye faced that may have been his most intimidating.
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David Haye faced 7ft Nikolai Valuev for world title
In 2009, Haye would look to become a two-division champion, having previously held the WBA, WBC, and WBO World Cruiserweight titles.
With a record of 22-1, Haye was paired up with WBA World Heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev. The Russian had a professional record of 50-1 going into the bout and was coming off of a majority decision win over Evander Holyfield.
Standing at a whopping 7ft tall, Valuev is one of the tallest fighters across combat sports to date. Not only was Valuev tall in stature, but the Russian is one of the heaviest boxers of all time, and the heaviest to win a world title.
Having been a cruiserweight just a year prior, Haye would fight at a huge weight discrepancy.
When the pair weighed in for their fight in November 2009 in Nuremberg, Germany, Haye stepped on the scales at 217 lbs. His opponent came in just shy of 100 pounds heavier, at 316 lbs.
Going into the fight, no one had ever been at a bigger weight discrepancy in a world title match and won the bout. Given the size difference in the bout, the event was billed as ‘David vs Goliath’.
David Haye and Nikolai Valuev went the distance in Germany
Despite over 50 knockouts between Haye and Valuev, their world title meeting would go all 12 rounds.
As the two shared the ring, the size difference was strikingly apparent. Valuev was towering over the British fighter, however, it was David who defeated ‘Goliath’.
It was a patient and disciplined performance from the former cruiserweight champion. Active on the outside of the ring, Haye used his agility to move in and out of the Russian’s space, who dictated the center.
Although Valuev would find some of his punches reaching the target, it was not enough to convince the judges. Haye would even have one of the biggest punches of the fight, as he seemingly stunned the giant in the final round.
Winning the bout via majority decision, the much smaller fighter in Haye would steal the heavyweight title.