Victory was surreal... it hasn’t sunk in yet, says champion Hayemaker

A victorious David Haye today told how becoming world heavyweight boxing champion was a "surreal" experience that had not sunk in yet.

Speaking in the capital, the Londoner said: "Yesterday when I arrived at Stansted it was surreal. People were waiting for miles. I wasn't expecting that at all."

The boxer said he had been "too tired" to properly celebrate after the 12-round fight although he said it was like "shadow boxing" because of his opponent Nikolai Valuev's lack of mobility.

Haye, 29, said: "I always go for the knockout but this time I showed a completely different side to myself. I showed discipline. When the chips are down I can adapt."

The Bermondsey-born fighter became world champion when he defeated the "Beast from the East", who towered almost one foot above him and weighed seven stone more. Now he could make about £20 million after taking the WBA crown from 7ft 2in Valuev.

Today his family told how he had dreamed of being world champion since childhood. He began throwing punches as a tot in their Bermondsey council flat. His father Deron, 54, a minicab driver, said: "The first time he ever expressed a view on boxing he was just three. We were watching boxing and he said, One day dad, I'm going to be champion of the world'."

His son — known as the Hayemaker — won on points after 12 rounds in Nuremberg, despite breaking his hand in the second round, to become the first Briton since Lennox Lewis in 2003 to hold a world heavyweight title. His parents were unable to be at ring-side because his father is recovering from a back operation but spoke to him after the fight ended on Saturday night.

His mother Jane, a librarian at London South Bank University, said: "We told him he did the business. He was really pleased and we said we would see him soon."

Haye married Natasha last year and has a 19-month-old son Cassius, named after Cassius Clay, the original name of Muhammad Ali. The ex-world cruiserweight champion, who has homes in Clapham and Cyprus, earned £5 million in his latest victory but that could soar to £20 million from defences and sponsorships.

His mother, 50, who now lives in Catford, said he grew up surrounded by crime on Bermondsey's streets but his love of boxing kept him out of trouble.

Mr Haye said he hoped his son could be a role model for children growing up in London: "There are lots of kids who need somebody to look up to. Hopefully they can look up to David and see what he has achieved."