David Haye is world champion: Brilliant Brit slays Russian giant Nikolai Valuev

David HayeDavid Haye slew the giant last night and became a colossus in the eyes of British sports fans.

In amazing scenes in Germany the 29-year-old Londoner gave a masterclass of boxing skill to snatch the WBA world heavyweight title away from Nikolai Valuev, the giant Russian whom the doubters thought would be too big for him.

Derided as a big mouth, Haye proved beyond doubt that in the ring he is a class act, making the lumbering 7ft 2in man from St Petersburg look like a clumsy novice as he danced his way to a points victory.

And the former world cruiserweight champion proved his courage was beyond question, too, fighting from the third round onwards with a suspected broken right hand after one of his powerful punches had landed on Valuev's massive head.

In a sensational last round, Haye came close to fulfilling his promise of knocking out Valuev, 36, the 22st 8lb champion, who had never been off his feet in 52 previous contests. Although he had Valuev tottering, Haye was unable to land the decisive blow which would have rounded off a wonderful night.

Instead, the result went to the judges in a country which is notorious for its controversial decisions. Yet, Haye was not to be denied as two of the judges scored the fight 116-112 to Haye (eight rounds to four), while the third, incredibly, scored it a draw at 114-114, making the official result a majority decision.

That was good enough to spark ecstatic scenes of celebration among the hundreds of British fans who had made the trip to see Haye become the country's first heavyweight champion since Lennox LewisLennox Lewis retired in 2003.

Haye and his manager/trainer Adam Booth had concocted a plan - and Haye made it work brilliantly. 'The plan was to demoralise Valuev in the first six rounds,' said Booth, 'And then in the second half of the fight to stun him with big shots and then quickly get out of there.'

It was magnificent to watch as Haye's speed, balance and tactical nous proved far superior to the bulk of the incredible hulk. Once again, David slew Goliath in one of the sporting stories of this or any year. Now Haye, who insists that he will retire in two years' time, can fulfil his promise of reviving boxing, and the heavyweight division in particular.

A star has been born in Britain and all around the world people will have taken notice, none more so than the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, who hold two other versions of the heavyweight crown and are on Haye's radar as he seeks to unify the division.

Only three former cruiserweight champions have challenged for the world heavyweight title and only two, Haye and Evander HolyfieldEvander Holyfield, have achieved the ultimate glory.

This fight featured the second biggest weight differential in heavyweight history - a mighty seven stones. But it made no difference. Haye was that good.

He delivered and can now go on to become one of the greatest British boxers of all time, alongside Lewis, Barry McGuigan, Joe CalzagheJoe Calzaghe and the rest.

Haye took the opening round as Valuev found him so difficult to hit. A left-right combination from Haye had the crowd roaring before Valuev came back with a jolting straight left that rocked Haye.

Another good assault in the third round from Haye again lifted the crowd as the plodding Russian looked bemused at failing to land his jab against an elusive target.

Haye showed his growing confidence in the fourth round as he dropped his hands and appeared to taunt his giant opponent, who was finding it increasingly difficult to land punches.

The Briton's defensive work was brilliant at this stage as his lumbering opponent struggled to find him and Haye was ahead on points on most cards after five rounds. Even when Valuev did land a combination at the end of the fifth, Haye danced away and was not hurt.

Valuev had a better round in the seventh, occasionally getting his ramrod left jab through, but he was showing signs of his hard night's work, blowing heavily at times as he kept up his pursuit of Haye.

The Englishman had his fans roaring again in the eighth as he appeared trapped against the ropes but made Valuev miss, skipped away and landed good shots on the retreat.

In the ninth, Haye landed a clubbing overarm right which landed flush on Valuev's jaw. The Russian just shook his head and kept moving forward.

Haye seemed to be winning most rounds by the simple formula of making his clumsy opponent miss and then landing a few good shots himself. It was a question of whether the judges saw it the same way and his stamina held out.

The Londoner kept up the pressure in the 11th but to Valuev's credit he kept coming forward, a factor that might help him in the judges' eyes, even if not landing many punches.

The 12th was the most exciting of the lot, with Haye at one stage looking as if he was going to knock out Valuev and finishing the fight with his arm raised as he taunted the bemused giant.

Haye had spent the build-up trying to rile his massive opponent, calling him a 'circus freak' and 'ugly and stinking'. Valuev carried physical advantages never previously seen in the heavyweight division, and a reputation for durability.

Ever since he was a child growing up in St Petersburg, the son of two factory workers who, surprisingly, both measured only 5ft 5in, Valuev has towered over those around him.

And there was always the fear among Haye's supporters that the clubbing punches of his man mountain opponent would be too much for him. But he was as good as his word, emerging triumphant on an amazing night for British sport.