Haye beats Valuev by decision for WBA heavyweight title

Haye beats Valuev for WBA heavyweight title

NUREMBERG, Germany — David Haye backed up weeks worth of boasting, winning the WBA heavyweight title with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev on Saturday night.

The brash British boxer used his superior quickness over the huge Russian, who still has never been knocked down but was close in the final round.

Haye won his third fight since moving up from cruiserweight. He fought Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion in history, after antagonizing the other heavyweight titleholders, brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

Haye (23-1, 21 KOs) probably won’t fight either one of them next. His first defense of the WBA belt is supposed to come against John Ruiz, who stopped German Adnan Serin in the seventh round earlier in the night.

Valuev’s record dropped to 50-2 with 34 KOs.