Haye makes good, clinches WBA title

David Haye (R) of Britain lands a punch to defeat Russia's WBA heavyweight boxing world champion Nikolai Valuev during their WBA title fight in Nuremberg, south Germany November 7, 2009. Haye won the fight on points. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

David Haye backed up weeks worth of boasting, winning the WBA heavyweight title with a majority decision over Nikolai Valuev on Saturday night.

The brash British boxer used his superior quickness over the huge Russian, who came close to being knocked down for the first time in his 16-year pro career in the final round.

Haye won his third fight since moving up from cruiserweight. He fought Valuev, the tallest and heaviest champion in history, after antagonizing the other heavyweight titleholders, brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

Haye (23-1) probably won't fight either one of them next. His first defence of the WBA belt is supposed to come against John Ruiz, who stopped German Adnan Serin in the seventh round earlier in the night.

Haye won over the judges with two scores of 116-112, while a third called it 114-114.

Haye tried to keep Valuev (50-2) on the move and opened with a left to the Russian's chin and a powerful combo, while Valuev struggled to catch Haye, finding him only with left jabs.

Nicknamed “The Hayemaker," Haye connected with big rights and lefts to Valuev's head to build up a points lead. Valuev finally came alive beginning in the fourth round, but in sixth Haye landed a right-left combo and two solid lefts.

Haye continued to make Valuev work while finding holes, including a strong right followed by a left to Valuev's face in the ninth and a big right in the 10th. He wrapped up the fight by landing two left hooks that left Valuev wobbly in the 12th.