Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Russian Valuev slams 'idiot' Haye

David Haye (right) and Nikolay Valuev
Haye (right) is giving away a massive weight and height advantage

WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev has dismissed opponent David Haye as just "another idiot" after the British boxer's latest publicity stunt.

Haye has been involved in a number of incidents poking fun at Valuev and the Klitschko brothers, once wearing a T-shirt with a photo of them decapitated.

"I cannot take him seriously," said Valuev, who fights Haye on 7 November.

"When I heard about the T-shirts of the Klitschkos (Vitali and Wladimir), I thought 'Oh my God, another idiot'."

Haye was last week involved in a farcical press conference which saw him 'fight' a man dressed as a goblin, meant to be Valuev, before punching the head off a cardboard model of the Russian.

606: DEBATE

The 29-year-old Briton, who fights Valuev in Nuremberg, also called the 7ft giant a "circus show freak" while later mocking his personal hygiene.

"He can say whatever he likes - it will not get him my title," added 36-year-old Valuev.

And Valuev's promoter Kalle Sauerland admitted to being mildly amused by Haye's antics.

"Haye's behaviour is very strange and not normal at all," he said. "I think one German phrase sums it up well: '1,000 volts, but no light'."

Valuev, who has lost just once in 52 fights and has 34 knockouts, is nine inches taller and approximately 90lb heavier than his opponent.

Haye has lost once in 23 fights and is aiming to become Britain's first heavyweight world champion since Lennox Lewis retired in 2003.

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