Wednesday, March 17, 2010 Previous editions
WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev shrugged off David Haye’s trash talk as the pair came face to face today, warning: “We’ll see what you can do on Saturday.”
Russian Valuev defends his title against Haye in Nuremberg, Germany after months of exhaustive pre-fight promotion from outspoken Londoner Haye.
The Briton has called 7ft 2ins Valuev every name under the sun, including ’bogeyman’, ’hairy freak’ and ’circus act’ as well as bringing the champion’s personal hygiene into question.
Yet Valuev has maintained his dignity throughout and said today: “It’s nothing unusual to hear stuff like that and that someone would like to knock me out.
“But to speak a lot before the fight is easy and everyone can do that. You have to prove it and show what you can do in the ring.
“We’ll see what you can do on Saturday. You (Haye) have a few more days to tell us what you intend to do on Saturday but then, finally, we’ll see what happens.”
Haye believes the focus on his pre-fight trash talk may lead to Valuev underestimating him.
“It’s going to be about speed and power which I’ve never lacked,” he said. “He’s never fought as anyone as fast or who hits as hard as me or accurate as me.
“I know he just thinks I’m a little mouthy man from England but he’s going to be in for a rude awakening.”
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