Haye thinks he can adapt for Valuev

David Haye admits he is entering uncharted territory in his heavyweight clash with Nikolai Valuev but insists he is ready to deliver the first knockout of the Russian's career.

Haye takes on WBA champion Valuev on 7 November at an as-yet unconfirmed venue in his first title fight since stepping up from the cruiserweight division.

The 28-year-old Londoner, who is aiming to unify the belts as he did at cruiserweight level, cannot fail to see the size of the task ahead of him in the shape of the seven-foot Valuev, who has lost only once in 52 fights and has never been floored.

But Haye is confident that he can slay the giant and in doing so take the first step towards domination of his new division.

'It's uncharted territory for me, I've been used to fighting guys at cruiserweight and so going up against this guy will be a real shock to the system no doubt,' Haye told Press Association Sport.

'But I feel that I can adapt and that I can figure out a strategy to beat this big guy. He's the WBA heavyweight champion of the world - I said from day one that I wanted to become heavyweight champion and here's my opportunity.

'I've trained so hard throughout the years. I was the undisputed, unified cruiserweight champion and that's what I want to do at heavyweight.

'This is my first mission, to go out there and fight this big, hairy, scary "Beast from the East" - they call him the eighth wonder of the world, he's a mammoth of a man. When I envisaged winning heavyweight titles it was against someone big, although not this big!

'But I feel I've got the skill, the will, the heart and I'm going to go out there and knock this Russian out and bring these titles back to Britain.'

Haye suggested he could work Valuev's superior size to his own advantage.

'His head is about three times the size of mine, so I'm not going to have to worry about missing him,' Haye said.

'I just have to make sure I keep chucking enough shots, hurting him and breaking him down and then knock him out.

'In 50 odd fights, he's never been knocked down or knocked out, he's knocked out 75 percent of his opponents, and he's a good fighter - an underestimated fighter.

'His skills might be a little primitive, but for somebody that big, you don't really need to have much skill.

'He just imposes his strength and his size and that normally gets him the win. But I can't allow him to do that to me. I've got to go out there, put him on the back foot and lay him out flat. There will be a little tremor no doubt.

'I can't wait to go face to face - or face to waist - with him.'

Haye was talking at Ricky Hatton's gym in Hyde, Manchester where he had been invited to use the facilities as part of his ongoing preparations for the fight.

Hatton said his money was on a spectacular defeat for Valuev that would send a message to the Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali, the division's other champions who Haye has long been eager to get in the ring with.

'He (Haye) doesn't want to take too many punches but I think the key in this fight will be the speed factor,' said Hatton.

'As big as he (Valuev) is and as tall as he is, the difference in speed is massive and I think if David boxes a very clever fight, a smart fight, and keeps his chin down, I don't think Valuev will be quick enough to hit him.

'David packs a lot of power and I think he can do to Valuev what no-one else has done to him. I think he'll knock him out in sensational fashion.

'When he does that, he can sit down at the table with the Klitschko's and he'll have a lot more pulling power.'