David Haye won the WBA heavyweight championship in surprising Nikolai Valuev by a majority decision Saturday. The brash British boxer used his superior quickness against the huge Russian, who came close to being knocked down for the first time in his 16-year pro career in the final round. “The key was my speed,” Haye said. “People don't realize I am very fast. And I have a powerful punch. I'm athletic and if I wasn't a boxer I would be playing football or rugby.” Haye, a former cruiserweight world champion, won his third heavyweight fight to improve to 23-1 with 21 KOs, despite giving up nearly a foot and nearly 100 pounds to the tallest and heaviest champion in history. Haye won over the judges with two scores of 116-112, while a third called it 114-114. His first defense of the WBA belt will be against former titleholder John Ruiz, who earlier beat German Adnan Serin in the seventh round by TKO. Nicknamed “The Hayemaker,” he connected with big rights and lefts to Valuev's head to build up a points lead. Dawson stays unbeaten Chad Dawson defended his International Boxing Organization title with a unanimous decision over Glen Johnson in a light heavyweight fight in Hartford Saturday. Unbeaten Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs) won on all three judges scorecards 115-113, 115-113, 117-111 over Jamaica's Johnson (49-13
