Britain’s David Haye (8/13 with Totesport) weighed in at a career-heavy 15st 8lb for his clash with WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev (11/10 in upcoming fights) on Saturday.

Haye looked in excellent shape as he tipped the scales at seven stones lighter than his 7ft 2inch Russian opponent – nicknamed ‘The Beast from the East’.

Despite weighing in at 22st 8lbs, Valuev was lighter than expected with the champion aware he needs to counter Haye’s hand-speed.

The 29-year-old Londoner is bidding to become Britain’s first heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis and the former undisputed champion has tipped him to succeed.

But Valuev, 36, has lost only once in 51 fights – to Russian southpaw Ruslan Chagaev – and has a five-inch reach advantage over the former cruiserweight world champion, who is fighting at heavyweight for only the third time in his career.

Haye, who has also lost just once in 23 fights, has vowed to become the first man to knock Valuev to the canvas.

The Briton has clinched 13 of his 22 win inside two rounds and claims Valuev has not been in the ring with anyone possessing his punch power.