Published: 10 November, 2009, 12:16
Edited: 10 November, 2009, 15:05
Nikolay Valuev lost his WBA heavyweight belt to British David Haye because the referees were biased, says Aleksandr Zimin, the Russian boxer’s former coach.
“It wasn’t boxing, but long-distance running. In professional boxing you get points for actions. In particular, attacks and counterattacks. On this basis, 80% of the time in the ring Nikolay attacked. Maybe it was not effective, but he didn’t whip the ropes with his butt like Haye did. You are deprived of points and not given a victory in pro boxing for this,” Nikolay Zimin tolds Sportbox.ru.
The 2.13-meter-tall Russian Giant lost the 12-round bout on points to an opponent 22 centimeters shorter last Saturday, which was his second ever defeat as a pro. Valuev and Zimin parted ways after the defeat.
“According to my calculations, Haye was successful in his counter attacks only in four rounds,” the coach explained.
Zimin suggested that it was not Haye’s boxing skills, and not even his speed, that decided the bout’s outcome.
“This was not boxing, but running about. Of course, Nikolay couldn’t cope with such speeds. In my opinion, this was at least a draw. The judges’ verdict was strange: one gave a draw, while two others awarded a win to Haye with a difference of four points. This simply can not be. The referees were biased,” the coach explained.
Zimin added that the refereeing is even more surprising given the fact that the bout took place in Germany, where Valuev is widely supported, and was organized by the Russian boxer’s promotion company.