Team Sauerland have backed their decision to choose David Haye as opponent for their Russian charge Nikolai Valuev.
The 7ft giant lost his WBA heavyweight title when the Londoner captured the belt with a majority decision in front of a sell-out crowd of 8,000 fans in Nuremberg.
Team Sauerland general manager Chris Meyer said of the fight which drew a TV market share of more than 40 percent in Germany: “After negotiations with Vitali Klitschko had fallen through because he would not get back to us, we were looking for a new opponent for Niko.
“After Chagaev got beaten, Valuev had to fight Ruiz in a mandatory defence, but Niko had already beaten him twice. This bout wasn’t marketable at all.
“That is why we considered a showdown with up-and-coming David Haye the far better option.
“All parties, and that includes Niko, his coach and our partner Don King, agreed to the bout as there was no real alternative. As the split decision indicates, it was a very close fight.
“We expected Niko to dominate late in the fight, and had he won the final two rounds, he would still be the champion. But David Haye put on a great performance and left the ring as the winner.”
Meyer added on a positive note: “The contracts do guarantee Niko a rematch and we are sure the outcome will be different when the two meet again.”
