WBA Heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev arrived at the Nuremburg Airport late Sunday afternoon. “I’m looking forward to the fight on November 7th,” said Valuev. “My preparation was very intense and focused, and I want to defend the world title.” Normally airline flights aren’t so comfortable for the seven-foot heavyweight. “But this time was different,” he reported. “I got a place in the plane with plenty of extra legroom.” With that, the 36-year-old world champion and his trainer Alexander Zimin caught a VIP shuttle to the hotel where a visit to the sauna was quickly on the agenda.

Valuev’s challenger David Haye is expected in Nuremburg on Monday morning. On Tuesday, the two fighters and their trainers are scheduled to participate in a public workout at 1PM at the Mercado Mall (Carl-von-Linde-Strasse 5). Things could get interesting if they meet face to face, as Haye has rarely missed an opportunity to belittle the “Russian Giant.”