Boxing Press Conference: David Haye – Lasse Johanesen

Click for larger image © Stefan Christou Saddo Boxing

EBU champion David Haye and Lasse Johanesen today spelt out their intentions in the final press conference before their European Cruiserweight title fight in York Hall this Friday (24 March), while manager Frank Maloney insisted the fight will go ahead, blaming boxing’s “undercurrents of very jealous people” for the “unfounded” rumours of cancellation.

Maloney remained tight-lipped over who exactly he thought might be attempting to disrupt the fight saying only; “we have our opinion [on who it might be].”

Haye’s last five fights have all been won within 3 rounds and he hopes Johansen will be a step up in class that Haye feels he needs. He said: “I’m not expecting to hit him with one shot and for him to go over. I’m positive he thinks he can come and beat me which is exactly what we need, some tough opponents that can come give 100%.”

His training sessions in Miami with Lennox Lewis are expected to pay dividends, Haye continued: “You might be a little bit surprised but you’ll see on Friday night, it will be explosive, that’s one thing you can guarantee with me, I bring excitement and explosive power and its going to be a good entertaining fight. I’ve had real good sparring partners, Lennox has been very important in my training he’s brought a lot of experience.”

Maloney followed on: “Lennox has got two great punches, I know David Haye has got one of them I hope he inherits the second one.”

Haye and Johansen met as amateurs in the Acropolis cup in Athens in 2000. It was a close tie with Johansen bitterly disappointed with his first career defeat and Haye eventually having to retire from the tournament due to a facial injury and a busted knuckle he sustained during the win.

Johansen said: “It was a great fight, but now I’m 10 kilo’s heavier and I’ve come hear to win. That was that time but now is now. The fight was straight, in the computer boxing is nothing for me because I took too many punches that time, but now I knock people out. This is defiantly going to be my hardest professional fight, this is a challenge for me, but I’ve come hear to take the title.”

Frank Maloney, Hayes manager and the fight promoter said: “When you look at their records and you see one fighter with fifteen wins fifteen KO’s and another fighter with 14 wins and ten KO’s I think you can expect an explosive night.”

If Haye comes through as the winner of Fridays fight then Maloney is hoping to arrange a world title shot by the end of the year: “We’re happy to aim at one of the major body’s, the WBC, WBA or the IBF, were quite happy with the WBO which ever one will suit and whichever one we will make is the one we will aim for.”

Whatever the outcome Haye is expected to make a step up in weight in the near future: “Moving up to heavyweight is definitely the long term plan, I’m a bit too big as a cruiserweight, I’m getting a bit too big really, its getting a bit of a nightmare getting down to the weight, the sooner I can get up to heavyweight the sooner I can be a lot healthier.”