Haye tipped for greatness but plays down Ali comparisons

By Martyn Herman

LONDON (Reuters) - New WBA heavyweight champion David Haye has shrugged off comparisons with Mohammad Ali after de-throning giant Russian Nikolai Valuev on a majority points decision in Germany at the weekend.

It was only Haye's third heavyweight contest and he won plaudits for his eye-catching style and speed and ability to charm outside the ring.

"I read the Ali comparisons in a few reports and felt a bit uncomfortable seeing that," Haye told reporters in a London hotel on Monday while sitting on a throne.

"Ali was the greatest and I've had one heavyweight title win, that's it, so I can't come close to even being mentioned in the same way as Ali.

"I've got a long, long way to go. Even if I knocked out both the Klitschkos in one night and cleaned up the rest of the division, I still couldn't be mentioned in the same breath as Ali.

As long as I'm talked about in 50 years as a great heavyweight I know that I would have done my job."

While Haye, who outclassed Valuev despite breaking his right hand on the Russian's granite-like head in the third round, said he was concentrating on a mandatory defence against American John Ruiz next year, Richard Schaefer, the chief executive of Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions predicted Haye could become huge across the Atlantic.

CHARISMATIC FIGHTERS