Nikolai Valuev Is "Better In Every Department," Says His Trainer, Alexander Zimin

by James Slater - As we all know, most of the pre-fight talk that has surfaced ahead of this Saturday night's WBA heavyweight title fight between champ Nikolai Valuev and challenger David Haye has come from Haye. There have been plenty of "I'm going to do this..." articles dedicated to the boasting and predicting of the former world cruiserweight champion, and in truth we've heard more than enough from him.

However, in giving his take on the intriguing fight, Valuev's trainer, Alexander Zimin, has given something of a different view on the fight. Not boasting or trash-talking about Haye, the coach has instead simply given his reasons for why he feels his fighter will emerge triumphant on Saturday..

Talking to The Mirror, the trainer who has now worked with "The Russian Giant" for three fights began by giving Haye some praise.

"David Haye is a good boxer and he is an original," Zimin said. "But he doesn't look like he's had too much education. He's got good speed, but he only uses certain combinations. When a cruiserweight spars with a heavyweight, they might make them look slow, but that doesn't mean that they will be slow in a real fight. Haye is different. He's very speedy and he uses that. But we have prepared for that. He's a little bit the same as Evander Holyfield, but Holyfield had a good defence and Haye's chin is not as good."

It will be interesting to see just how Valuev deals with the 29-year-old's speed of hand and foot, and it will be interesting to see how the giant reacts if he is caught flush on the chin with a hayemaker. Talking tactics instead of attempting to belittle Haye the way the Londoner has attempted to belittle his fighter, Zimin went on to make some more interesting points.

Zimin came on board as Valuev's trainer right after the 36-year-old had suffered what remains his only loss as a pro, to Ruslan Chagaev in 2007. Since then, Zimin feels he has made Valuev a better fighter in every department.

"Now he's had three fights with me we understand each other," Zimin said. "We're using different methods in training. We have worked on special preparations that are good for Nikolai, good for his size and good for his age. Now he has a good jab, he's a classic boxer. He's had experience that will make him ready for Haye. His fights with Holyfield, John Ruiz and Sergei Lyakhovich are good experience for him.

"Against Holyfield, after round five, Holyfield could not touch him."

While that last bit about Holyfield "not being able to touch him" may be an exaggeration, Valuev did look better in the later rounds than did the ageing "Real Deal" when the two met last December. And it goes without saying how Valuev has had a ton more experience at the weight than has Haye. Some fans have also pointed to the last fight of the Russian's (with Valuev winning a close points verdict over Holyfield just less than 11 months ago) and said the Haye fight will be somewhat similar, and now Valuev's coach has said something along those lines.

But will Haye have the discipline and, above all, the stamina to box to a game-plan for 12 rounds the way Holyfield did?

Zimin certainly does not think his man will lose on Saturday.

"He is better in every department and I cannot see him losing to Haye," he said in closing.

It's been said before, but it really does seem as though most of the pressure will be on the challenger's shoulders on Saturday. It's now time to see if "The Hayemaker" can back up his talk.