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HAYE: WORLD IS WATCHING 'FREAK SHOW'

ABOVE: Nikolai Valuev (left) and David Haye (right)

7th November 2009

David Haye believes the "freak show" element of his WBA heavyweight title clash with Russian giant Nikolai Valuev has really captured the public's imagination.

The size of the task facing Haye was brought into sharp focus on Friday as WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev weighed in a daunting seven stone heavier than the Englishman.

"It's going to be interesting, even to non-boxing fans," Haye (22-1, 21KOs) told Press Association Sport. "People like a freak show and it's like something you would see in WWE, not something you would see in a real boxing match. That has really captured the public's imagination."

Haye will attempt to take Valuev's belt in Germany to become the first British fighter since Lennox Lewis to hold a version of the world title.

While the size difference between 6ft 3ins Haye and 7ft 2ins Valuev has always been clear, the weigh-in in Nuremberg hammered home the fact emphatically as Haye weighed in at a career-high 15st 8lbs only to see his Russian opponent tip the scales at 22st 8lbs.

Haye added: "I can't afford to get hit with silly shots because a little shot from him is probably harder than anything I've been hit with before.

"So I've got to be razor-sharp, my defence has got to be impeccable and I've got to be throwing big, hard shots to get his respect early and break him down."

Valuev has never been floored in 52 fights and has only ever been beaten once. Haye, 29, has a clear speed and skill advantage over the lumbering but effective 36-year-old.

However, with a height difference of nearly a foot and such a deficit in weight, the Briton knows it would be an amazing story should he dethrone 'The Beast From The East' to take the WBA title.

"I've trained so hard throughout the years," Haye continued. "I was the undisputed, unified cruiserweight champion and that's what I want to do at heavyweight. This is my first mission, to go out there and fight this big, hairy, scary 'beast from the east', the so-called eighth wonder of the world, a mammoth of a man."