By Maria Bezchastnaya

WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev is wrapping up his training camp for the bout with David Haye which is set to take place on November, 7. Last time out, the Russian stepped into the ring nearly a year ago, in December 08, to win a decision against Evander Holyfield. The boxer and his trainer are sure that the long break in fighting won’t be a problem and Valuev will win regardless.

“I don’t regret that I’ve had a long break between the fights, - told Valuev to Sportbox.ru. - It surely didn’t affect me in a negative way. Probably it’s even better for me!”

“Sometimes a long pause between bouts is good for a boxer, - agrees Valuev’s trainer Alexander Zimin. – “That’s what happened this time. He had a good rest, restored his energy, had a good training camp. He is ready to fight Haye and to beat him”.

David Haye in his numerous interviews stated that he was trying to get under Valuev’s skin by insulting him so that the anger would be in the way for the Russian giant in the ring. But Nikolai claims that he takes all the gibes lightly, though he thinks highly of Haye himself.

“It would be unforgivably stupid not to take Haye seriously, - says Nikolai. – “In reality he is an experienced and dangerous boxer. What is my game plan? We’re working on different variants. The goal of every boxer is to dictate his own rules in the ring. That’s what I’m going to do in the fight with Haye.”

Valuev also remembered his last fight with Holyfield. Though the Russian emerged as the eventual winner, many boxing fans thought that Holyfield was the one who deserved victory.

“When you rewatch your old fights you always understand that you could have done better in that or this episode, - says Valuev. – “So there is a feeling of dissatisfaction. Though the bout with Holyfield was definitely interesting. Maybe it wasn’t one of the best fights in my career, but I’ll always remember it.”