By Troy Ondrizek

Without David Haye, we wouldn’t know nor care about the happenings in Nuremberg this on Saturday night. On the same night, HBO is offering up the sequel to Chad Dawson and Glencoffe Johnson’s thrilling fight, leaving the “other fight” vying for our attention.  The “other fight” consist of former cruiserweight champion David Haye taking on perennial fringe contender Nikolai Valuev. 

Billed as "David vs. Goliath" the pay-per-view opens up with the utterly boring John Ruiz versus Adnan Serin and closes with the equally insipid Valuev.  Haye hopes to grab some trinket hardware as well as some much needed fans as he faces the 7’0” Russian behemoth in his attempt to establish himself as a force and real attraction in the heavyweight division. 

Haye has made more of a name for himself with his vocal assaults upon the heavyweight ranks more-so than with his fistic exploits.  Goading perspective opponents with insults and enraging them with gory pictures of severed heads of siblings.  Haye managed to bait the Klitschkos (Vitali and Wladimir) into fights with his extracurricular self-promotion.

Too bad those fights didn’t materialize, but in Valuev, Haye has found an easy and willing target for his auditory barrage.  Can David back up his boastful claims, or will Nikolai silence the volatile Haye?  These surprisingly captivating questions are the only reasons this fight has intrigue; and the only reason they’re being asked is because of David Haye and his antics.  A miniscule amount of people want to pay money to see Nikolai Valuev fight; David Haye draws the boxing voyeur out in all of us.

His last outing against the legendary Evander Holyfield, Valuev was a non-existent participant in the affair.  It didn’t come close to resembling a fight, and the only thing worse than the action was the decision.  Dan Rafael opined that it was easier to argue that Holyfield won all twelve rounds than it was to argue that Valuev actually won the fight. 

I’m not sure if I should be proud of this, but I can honestly say I stayed awake throughout the entire bout. I scored the fight 117-111 in favor of Holyfield and I was being extremely generous to Nikolai.  Previous to that Valuev did “battle” with John Ruiz who has been in one entertaining fight his entire career and it lasted 19 seconds.  Fights with Sergei Liakhovich and Jean Francois Bergeron rightfully went in Valuev’s favor, but he failed to impress. 

I know how much flack Valuev takes from the press, and all of it is deserved.  However, he handles it all with dignity and keeps on working on his craft as diligently as he can.  His aesthetically displeasing style and penchant for receiving dubious decisions makes it hard to take him and his career seriously.  We are taking this fight very seriously though.

For it is the coming out party for the electric cruiserweight kingpin David Haye.  We’ve seen Haye win his two previous heavyweight bouts by knockout, but Tomasz Bonin and Monte Barrett aren’t two guys who will catapult you to legitimacy.  David was scheduled to take on Wladimir Klitschko earlier this year, but pulled out once Setanta Television went under.  It was supposedly an injury, but they were the only means for which Haye was going to be paid for that fight; it didn’t make any fiscal sense to continue. 

Then Haye landed Vitali as an opponent in what could’ve been a very entertaining and significant heavyweight fight, but Haye managed to leave another Klitschko at the ring-post and then proceeded to sign to fight Valuev.

The respect that David lost in his disappearing acts with the Klitschkos can be partially recovered with an impressive performance Saturday.  It’s something that Haye desperately needs and desires as he moves forward with his quest to emulate Evander Holyfield.  He was the first undisputed cruiserweight champion and the former heavyweight champion that turned a decorated amateur career into a championship cruiserweight stint.  Holyfield won the title at 190lbs and immediately moved onto much greener financial pastures at heavyweight where he flourished during the 90’s heavyweight boon as a two-time champion. 

Its Holyfield’s blueprint that Haye wants to follow in terms of monetary rewards, the legacy would be a bonus.  David is employing a completely different method than Holyfield.  Holyfield drew the big fights and fan’s attention because he was all substance; Haye at heavyweight is all fluff.  Evander exhibited substance in the ring by pummeling respected Pinklon Thomas and he went toe to toe in a memorable war with Michael Dokes.  David is throwing verbal “Hayemakers” and very few punches, which has left him out of much of the boxing conscious. 

His shenanigans has drawn the ire of many opponents and critics, but they have also drawn some much needed attention to a rather ho hum fight.  When I saw the pics of the Valuev inspired boxing mitts, I admit I laughed.  This is reminiscent of how Muhammad Ali carried himself for the media.  When you can back it up, people will give you a pass on the immaturity, it almost becomes endearing.  Haye gets somewhat of a pass because he is a former world champion and we know there is definite skill there, but it’s time for him to prove his worth to the heavyweights and to his remaining fans. 

Nikolai Valuev is a genuinely nice guy, but there is just no place for him in the boxing world, with his size he should be used to that.  All eyes not focused on Dawson/Johnson II will be on David Haye this weekend, just as he intended.  Now it’s time for the charismatic Brit to make us want to endure his gestures in future promotions. 

Side Notes:  The un-televised undercard of this event features some talented young up and comers.  Kubrat Pulev (2-0, 2KO) is being pushed fast as he faces off against Gbenga Oloukun (17-2, 10KO), who holds a recent victory over faded Lamon Brewster.  Robert Helenius (9-0, 5KO) was a very solid amateur and now he is racing along as a pro.  Who is his tenth pro bout goes up against the very able Taras Bidenko (26-3, 12KO), the biggest and most recent name on Denis Boytsov’s ledger. 

Sergei Liakhovich is making a comeback on this card against the overmatched insurance salesman Jeremy Bates.  Not exactly the type of fight to get Sergei back into the swing of things; it’ll give him a W and a paycheck.  Same can be said of talented young cruiserweight Alexander Frenkel (20-0, 16KO).  I’ve wanted to see Frenkel face a top 50 guy.  Not this time, Kelvin Davis is barely a name these days and I hope nothing happens to him here.  

In a bout between two former sparring partners of mine, DeLeon Tinsley (9-4-1, 5K0) is looking to upset another prospect.  Last one was Alfredo Escalera Jr. in a much deserved win, this time it’s Francisco Palacios (18-0, 11KO).  Francisco has more talent, but I always pull for an upset on every card and DeLeon is one of the nicest guys to ever punch me in the face.