Nicolay Valuev vs David Haye Preview

July 4.--Jack Dempsey won the heavyweight championship of the world this afternoon in an affair which was not a battle, but a slaughter. Never in the history of the American Ring has a Heavyweight Champion offered such a spectacle in defense of his title as that of Willard. From sixty seconds after the fight began Dempsey punched Willard virtually at will.’

New York Times – July 5 1919

You may wonder why I am starting an article on the upcoming Nicolay Valuev vs David Haye bout with the Newspaper report of the famous Jack Dempsey vs Jess Willard bout.

Firstly you need to understand the background to the Dempsey-Willard clash. Jess Willard became biggest Heavyweight champion of the world ever when he stopped the great Jack Johnson in the 26th round of a scheduled 45 round fight. Jess beat the great Johnson with a mixture of strength, toughness and determination.

Now Jess wasn’t the best Heavyweight champion but at the time many people believed he was the best of the current crop of Heavyweights. He was huge for the day standing at no less that 6’ 6 1/2. His physical strength was marveled at by boxing fans and he was loved and adored by fans for the determination he showed when de-crowning the hated and loathed Jack Johnson of the Heavyweight Championship of the World. Willard’s success was mainly due to his size. He used his considerable height and reach advantages to keep opponents at range with a long, but slow, jab. When an opponent did get inside the jab he would tie them up and tire them out using his great strength. He also traded on his toughness being able to take a solid whack and having the stamina to outlast his opponent. But he wasn’t particularly technically skilled or he did not pack a big punch but he was efficient.

Dempsey was still a big man for the day at 6’1 and 187 ½ lbs. However he fought as a littler man in a bob and weaving, crouching style. He had dynamite in either fist with both fists being lighting quick. He had the mentality of a killer in the ring. He was looking to bomb you out! With his great technical skills and his flash speed and devastating power he was the ultimate offensive machine in the Heavyweight division.

When Willard fought Dempsey he wasn’t in the best of shape having just less than a 3 year lay off. He did however still have these gifts he always had. But he did regard Dempsey as easy prey. But you know the story of the fight so no bother telling you guys any more.

Now what has this got to do with David Haye fighting Nicolay Valuev?

David Haye is the former Cruiserweight Champion of the world. He has recently moved up to Heavyweight where he demonstrated his strengths when beating the Gatekeeper Monte Barret in 5 power-packed rounds. He also revealed what many think are his weaknesses, a questionable chin and a lack of stamina. The strengths David revealed where like Dempsey although not as great. He showed good head movement to get inside. He showed quick handed combinations and power shots. He showed brutal power in either hand. But most importantly he displayed the mentality of Dempsey the kill or be killed savagery of knocking your opponent out as quick as you can.

Now Valuev in his last fight looked fairly lackluster in his last fight with Evander Holyfield. Letting the Ancient Holyfield circle him and land flurries while Valuev displayed his long, slow jab. Valuev like Willard uses his size but being 7’2 he is quite a bit bigger. Valuev is strong and tough (never being down in his whole career). He isn’t the best technician or the hardest puncher but he is effective and hits strong – but he lacks that snap you see in the huge punchers.

You might have by now noticed my Dempsey-Willard comparisons to this fight. I can see the fight being like that unforgettable night in 1919. I think Haye has the tools to bomb Valuev out early by getting under the long blows of Valuev and coming up with hard bombs and combinations to the chin of the Russian Giant. People will highlight Valuev’s brilliant chin but people thought Willard had a rock hard chin when he fought Dempsey. But this time I think the littler man will stop the fight in the 1st round. However, I don’t think Haye will risk trying this very very dangerous strategy.

I think Haye will play it more cautious taking counter punching chances as they come his way to land the big bombs on Valuev early. Around the 3rd or 4th Haye will realize Valuev is there to be hit and start looking for the KO with those trademark big haymakers. Now I do think Valuev has a good chin but there are only so many solid shots a man can take and I expect him to fall by the 9th. Reminiscent of Mosley’s masterful destruction over the ‘invincible’ Antonio Margarito. Some may say that Valuev’s punches will deter Haye but I don’t believe Valuev carries the snap in his shots to cause damage as he lacks the speed and precision and he doesn’t counterpunch well.

Whichever way this fight turns out expect a great fight and a Haye victory. And we will see a new owner of one of the myriad of titles that is ‘Heavyweight Championship of the World.’ Jus this Heavyweight Championship that’s being contested on Saturday is not as important or as valued as the one Jack Dempsey brutally ripped from the Pottawatomie Giant.