WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev has arrived in Nuremberg ready for Saturday's fight with British challenger David Haye insisting he will leave Bavaria with his title.
Valuev, 36, takes on Haye at the Nuremberg Arena with former cruiserweight Haye eager to claim his first world title and the Londoner has accused the 2.13m tall Russian of being a ‘circus freak’ in the pre-fight build-up.
But Valuev has kept silent despite his opponent's taunts as he looks to pick up his 51st professional win with 34 knock-outs and just one defeat, to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007, on his record.
‘I am in great shape and I will take home my title with me,’ said the Russian.
‘I really look forward to the fight.’
Haye, 29, is 23cms shorter and nearly 40 kgs lighter than Valuev in what is a true David versus Goliath contest.
The brash Brit - who labelled IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko as 'Bitchko' - has been sparring with his trainer wearing 15cm-high boots to prepare for the height disadvantage he will face.
Referring to the biblical tale of diminutive David slaying the towering Goliath with a single blow to the head, Haye has used the fable in tv advertising for the fight.
‘David beat Goliath...,’ says Haye looking into the camera, ‘....and this is my sling shot,’ he says holding up his fist.
Valuev has never been knocked down in 51 fights, but Haye insists he can be the first fighter to put the towering Russian on the canvas.
‘There's a lot of people saying it's a crazy tactic to knock him out,’ he said.
‘He's never been hurt, never been knocked down. But on my record, 21 out of my 22 victories have come by knockout.’
