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Haye blasts German hotel

Berlin - David Haye has had some sleeping problems ahead of his showdown with WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev on Saturday night.

Valuev, 36, takes on Haye at the Nuremberg Arena. The British challenger, a former cruiserweight, is eager to win his first world title and has made a habit of taunting the 2.13m tall Russian.

But Haye was quick to change hotels after arriving in the Bavarian city on Monday, insisting he could not sleep in his original bed.

"When I reached German soil, I was guided towards a disgusting hotel, with a dingy room," the former cruiserweight wrote on his blog.

"After a quick call or two, we managed to depart the rancid lair with our legs and arms still intact.

"We actually ended up at a lovely five-star hotel, though we had to pay for the five-star privilege.

"Still, if it saves us from the guaranteed Black Death of the first place, it will be well worth the price.

"The foreign promoters are always looking to give their guy any possible advantage and they'll look to screw you around left, right and centre if they think it's going to unsettle you."

Valuev has a professional record of 50 wins, 34 by knockout, and just one defeat; to Ruslan Chagaev in April 2007.

Haye, 29, is 23cm shorter and nearly 40kg lighter than Valuev "I don't care whether he can sleep or not," Valuev said on Tuesday. "And I don't really care about what hotel he stays in.

"I am really looking forward to Saturday night when I will meet him in the ring and defend my title. I cannot wait to land a few heavy blows on him."

Valuev and Haye held open workout sessions at a shopping precinct in Nuremberg on Tuesday. Valuev did some light stretching and shadow boxing before Haye entered the ring with his coach having turned his pads into a special mask.

"That is Valuev," said Haye. "This is how we have prepared for him."

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