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Bombs Away!
Hold on to your hats folks, David Haye is back in action this Friday night at Bracknell Leisure Centre but the man standing between the London area bomber and his fast track to world glory is European titleholder, and former two-time WBA title challenger. Alexander Gurov of the Ukraine. |
In a forty odd fight career, there isn’t much that Gurov hasn’t seen, indeed his wealth of experience (including having sparred with Haye) is what manager Philippe Fondu feels will be the difference between the two. Coming to England to take on “The Haymaker” wont bother Gurov who is well travelled and will be having his third outing in a British ring, his last being a one round blitzing at the hands of Terry Dunstan in 1998.
Since that date, Gurov is unbeaten in all but one of his eighteen contests, an eighth round stoppage loss to WBA champion Jean Marc Mormeck. Gurov was making a good fist of his challenge to Mormeck’s title, winning most of the early rounds until the persistent Frenchman caught up with him at the end of the seventh, unleashing a torrent of punches as Gurov was trapped on the ropes.
Gurov survived the round but the eighth had barely started before the referee was waving it over, Gurov had paid the price for his early work rate.
The Ukrainian’s defeat at the hands of Mormeck was paralleled by Haye’s fifth round stoppage loss to Carl Thompson some fifteen months back, when Haye blew a gasket in an attempt to ice the wily IBO champion in the first two sessions. Since Haye’s “learning experience” at the hands of Thompson we have seen the Orpington puncher in action four times.
In March of this year Haye impressively put away Aussie hard man Glen Kelly, although Kelly is in the twilight of his career and it was probably just as impressive a piece of match making as it was power punching. Two short months ago Haye was back in action smashing the world rated Vincenzo Rossito in two rounds in what for many was his best performance.
Question marks remain over Haye’s conditioning, whilst he always looks a million dollars, his stamina has always been called into question and his capitulation against Thompson added fuel to that fire. Team Haye and the man himself assure us that there is no problem in that department and at present all we have is their word for it, since he fought Carl Thompson, Haye has had four fights averaging just two rounds apiece.
If Haye getting some rounds under his belt will ease the worrying of some, I believe that they will get their wish on Friday night. Haye, post Thompson, has been making a concerted effort to take his time and I think that will suit Gurov initially as he will attempt to command with his southpaw jab. It will however, be the calm before the storm as at some point Haye will initiate a war and these to will duke it out, and this, once again will be Gurov’s undoing.
Contact Matt Cotterell: mattcotterell@mail.com
Gurov’s willingness to trade will eventually play into the heavy hands of David Haye and I expect the rising star to dispose of Gurov in impressive style at around the half way mark, afterwards David Haye will thank his lucky stars that Alexander Gurov doesn’t quite hit as hard as his resume suggests.
