David Haye certainly backed up his brash prediction.

Haye used his superior quickness to surprise Nikolai Valuev, earning a majority decision last night and winning the WBA heavyweight title at Nuremberg, Germany.

The British challenger came close to knocking down Valuev (50-2) for the first time in his 16-year pro career during the final round, but had to settle for the decision. The scores were 116-112 on two of the judges' cards, and a 114-114 draw on the other.

"The key was my speed," Haye (23-1, 21 KOs) 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."

The former cruiserweight titleholder won his third fight at heavyweight, despite giving up nearly a foot and 100 pounds to the tallest and heaviest champion in history.

"Everybody thought I was crazy," Haye said, "but I knew I could make him miss."

Haye had spent months taunting fellow heavyweight champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, and even embarked on a press tour to promote a fight against Wladimir Klitschko before it was called off. Now, he'll probably escape facing the two men considered the best in the division because his first defense of the WBA title is supposed to be against John Ruiz.

The former titleholder earned the shot by stopping Adnan Serin in the seventh round earlier in the night — and already Haye is offering another prediction.

"He's a good fighter who is very underrated," Haye said of the American. "He is not the most spectacular, but I don't feel like I will struggle with him. He's about the same size as me and I think I will knock him out."

DAWSON WINS TITLE

Chad Dawson, fighting in his home state, won a unanimous decision yesterday over an older and slower Glen Johnson in Hartford, Conn., to remain undefeated and win the interim WBC light heavyweight title.

The 27-year-old Dawson (29-0, 17 KOs), who vacated his IBF title to fight Johnson (49-13-2, 33 KOs) for a second time, outboxed his 40-year-old opponent, who was never able to get close enough to land the hard punches.

Dawson now awaits the winner of the Dec. 11 bout between WBC champion Jean Pascal and Adrian Diaconu.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge will have surgery on his right elbow on Wednesday, while outfielder Raul Ibanez (sports hernia) and reliever Scott Eyre (left elbow) will have surgery tomorrow. ... After Jocelyne Lamoreux gave the U.S. women's hockey team the lead midway through the first period, Canada got goals from Carla MacLeod, Meghan Aghosta, Tessa Bonhomme, Cherie Piper and Jayna Hefford en route to 5-1 victory in the Four Nations Cup final yesterday at Tikkurila, Finland.