The Panel were surprised, yet delighted by the decision to crown Londoner David Haye the new WBA heavyweight champion courtesy of a points victory over Nikolai Valuev in Nuremberg.

The 29-year-old won a majority decision to become Britain's first holder of a title in the showcase division since Lennox Lewis' retirement in 2003, ensuring a narrow win in the game of cat and mouse by flourishing in the final round and becoming the first man to genuinely rock the giant Russian.

Haye: a surprise points winner say the panel

One judge scored it 114-114 and the final two 116-112 and former cruiserweight king Nelson admitted he was shocked when the scores were read out.

"I'm surprised because going into the latter rounds (Haye's trainer) Adam Booth felt they were behind on the scorecards and actually needed the last three rounds.

"He knew that he had to turn it on and that's why he got the decision."

Glenn McCrory - a former world champion himself - was one of those that thought Valuev would be too big and too strong for the ex-cruiserweight.

But he was delighted, if not a little surprise to be proved wrong and welcomed the arrival of a new star on the heavyweight scene.

"I'm a little bit surprised," he said.

"I thought he was following the tactics that we all knew would win the fight a little bit too much to the letter and he wasn't getting enough punches off.

"I thought they could've done with the gunslinging tactics a little more but they got the decision and that's all that matters. A new era is dawning and it's David Haye's time."

Valuev was left swinging at fresh air for the vast majority of the evening as Haye proved as elusive as everyone had predicted, but the Bermondsey man's own attacking threat was depleted early when he sustained an injury to his right hand in round three.

Nicky Piper had backed Haye to knock Valuev out in the middle rounds but revealed he had scored in favour of Valuev.

But he admitted that even back-pedalling, the better man had won on the night.

"I had Valuev winning it by two rounds because I didn't think Haye was working hard enough. His stamina was lacking. If he did hurt his right hand then he has a genuine excuse.

"I think if he'd have worked harder throughout the fight he could've knocked him out. He's clearly the better fighter."

All three pundits though, were full of enthusiasm over where Haye goes from here.

Trainer Adam Booth and darling of British boxing Ricky Hatton have both backed the Londoner to become one of the sport's biggest stars and McCrory couldn't agree more.

"I think this is what the world wanted," he said.

"David's in the right place and the right time, says the right things, looks the right way and there are some big money fights out there for him. All of a sudden the heavyweight division has a star and is lit up."

Jim Watt, at ringside, agreed with the consensus in the studio that the Briton was fortunate to be handed the title.

"I didn't think he did enough to win the fight," he said. "I thought the rounds were decided on one of two punches and that not many were landed.

"The judges must have appreciated his defensive boxing. But I'm delighted - I think it's the best thing that could happen to the heavyweight division. Massive time now for heavyweight boxing - thanks to David Haye."

John Ruiz is Haye's mandatory challenger and turned in a good performance in stopping Turk Adnan Serin in seven.

All the talk now is bound to centre around a unification bout with either of the Klitschko brothers, but Watt believes the Quiet Man would be the perfect foe for a fighter who still only has three heavyweight fights behind him.

"That (Ruiz) would be a good fight," he said.

"He's a full-blown heavyweight, he's a good tactician and that's a fight we can look forward to. It'd be wonderful if it was in London."

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