British challenger David Haye launched a war of words with WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev on Wednesday by insulting the Russian giant and branding him “ugly.”
The pair are due to meet in Nuremberg on Nov. 7, but Haye, who is no stranger to controversy, has attempted to antagonize the 2.18m tall Russian by describing his opponent in far from glowing terms.
“He is the ugliest person I have ever seen,” Haye told German tabloid Bild. “I have seen the Lord of the Rings films and there are some characters in those movies who look quite strange. But for a human being to look like him [Valuev] is really shocking.”
PHOTO: REUTERS
And just to make sure his verbal assault irked the champion, Haye also launched an attack on the champions personal hygiene.
“Valuev is the ‘Beast from the East,’ he has a very hairy body,” said the 28-year-old brash Brit. “If I am to fight him in the ring, he must shave himself before, otherwise he could really stink during close combat.”
But the 36-year-old Russian was taking the British fighter’s comments in his stride.
PHOTO: EPA
“It would be stupid to inform you of my opinion of his comments,” Valuev told Bild.
Haye has made a habit of annoying world champions: He famously insulted IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko by calling him “Bitchko” before their fight in June was canceled after Haye withdrew with a back injury.
Haye also appeared at a press conference in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, wearing a T-shirt showing an image of Haye holding aloft the severed heads of both Klitschko brothers.
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion then looked set to fight Klitschko’s brother Vitali, the WBC champion, only to walk away from negotiations at the 11th hour to fight Valuev instead.
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