Haye 'aiming to knock out Valuev'

WBA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE: David Haye v Nikolay Valuev
Venue: Nuremberg Arena Date: Saturday, 7 November (Fight expected to begin about 2130 GMT) Coverage: Sky Box Office from 2000 GMT (pay-per-view), coverage on BBC Sport website
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David Haye will aim to knock out Nikolay Valuev when they meet for the Russian's WBA heavyweight crown on Saturday, says the Briton's trainer.

Valuev has never been floored in 51 fights and the popular view is that Haye, who stands 6ft 3in, should rely on his speed against the 7ft champion.

But Adam Booth believes his charge has the power to cause some damage.

"David always looks to try to knock someone out. This is going to be no different," said Booth.

606: DEBATE

" A snoozefest is likely, but an interesting fight nonetheless! I think it will be a split decision to Valuev, judging on Valuev's past "

Lennox Lewis, Britain's last world heavyweight champion, has advised Haye to use his speed against Valuev, as have Ruslan Chagaev, the only man to beat Valuev, and Evander Holyfield, who came close to defeating Valuev last year.

But Booth claims the 36-year-old Valuev is not as slow as many believe, adding that for all Haye's pre-fight bluster, their camp is far from complacent.

"We're not underestimating Valuev," he said. "There's an easy, obvious statement to make about Valuev that he's big so he's slow.

"But he's actually not that slow, if you look at the tapes of his left hand. And he's very effective at going 12 rounds.

BEN DIRS' BLOG

" Haye has the tools to beat Valuev, even without a slingshot. But only if he can control those gung-ho urges "

"Although he's even admitted himself he is still learning to box, he's only got to be a certain percentage of what other fighters have to be because he's got those attributes of his height and his weight to carry him along.

"So we have to look at what he does best, not what he does worst, and then have the answers for that.

"It's an obvious thing to say it is the biggest challenge of [Haye's] career because he [Valuev] is the biggest guy and it's the world heavyweight championship.

"But as a trainer, the Jean-Marc Mormeck [world cruiserweight title] fight was a big challenge because Mormeck's style was wrong for David so he had to adapt and do different things.

"I don't necessarily think Valuev's style is wrong for David. He's always thrived on taller and bigger opponents and ever since he was young he has always sparred with people heavier than himself."

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