Haye and the Heavy's - Not to be taken Lightly ?

Taken from BoxingCapital.com

I was impressed with the devastating display of speed and athleticism from David Haye on Saturday night. He looked fast, mobile and confident and those talents were enough to confuse and eventually overwhelm Monte Barrett. Barrett though, at 37, was seen as somewhat of a trial horse in this fight.

Concerns though remain for me about the ability of Haye to withstand the punches of the Heavy's and to deliver the kind of power shots needed to compete with them. The fight was not without problems for Haye he seemed to be hurt himself a few times in the fight from Barretts punches. Barrett was able to score what looked like a legitimate knockdown of his own on Haye before blatantly hitting him again when he was on the floor. I couldn't tell whether Haye was more hurt, annoyed or embarrassed but the fact is he was put on his pants again.

Haye is no stranger to tasting the canvas having been stopped by Carl Thompson and dropped by 3 times by Mormeck and by Mock all at the lighter weight. It could be that Haye has the Joe Calzaghe syndrome and needs to get knocked down to wake him up in a fight.... I hope not because the near 7ft 17+ stone monsters that lurk at heavyweight these days are not to be taken 'lightly'.

On there plus side Haye was able to knock down Barrett 5 times but that in itself asks questions. If Haye was punching at a concussive level at heavyweight should he not have got Monte out of their earlier once he was hurt ?

I find myself comparing Haye with another small British Heavy called Herbie Hide. Hide's speed and mobility gave Riddick Bowe all kinds of problems until Bowe caught up with him and landed flush with a jab. The look of shock and dare I say fear when Hide felt the force of that punch told a story that any fighter moving up to Heavy should be made to read. Hide of course went on to be knocked down several times and stopped by the much bigger American.

I can think of 5 fighters who have held a title at a lower weight have gone on to win a worthwhile version of the heavyweight crown -
Bob Fitzsimmons
Michael Spinks
Evander Holyfield
Michael Moorer
Roy Jones Jr

It takes a special breed of fighter to make the jump from a lighter weight division up to heavy recent successes are the enigma that is Roy Jones Jr and the warrior Evander Holyfield.

With Jones Jr in all honesty this was against a relatively small and 'average' Champion in Ruiz and not one of the bigger 'Super' Heavy's. Roy Jones against a prime Klitschko or God forbid Tyson would have been an accident waiting to happen. Evander Holyfield who - without doubt - was a special breed of fighter and maybe the most successful heavy after moving up in weight. Is Haye in the same class as The Real Deal... I'm not convinced. Talk of fighting for the heavyweight title after only two ventures at the weight suggests that it is premature and also says something about the lack of depth to the Heavyweight division.

I'd like to see Haye have at least two more fights at the weight before he challenges either of the Klitschko brothers. Call me old fashioned but I'd like to see Haye test himself against a British or European Champion first. This would give him time to settle in at the weight - I think he needs at least another stone to be at his optimum at Heavy. any more and he loses his advantages of speed and mobility - any less and he risks being bullied and mauled by the real big men of the division That said if Haye can adjust to the weight and cope with the extra power he is facing he would undoubtedly liven up a fairly dull heavyweight scene.

Haye will have to carry the extra burden that comes with being a promising British heavyweight. The expectation from British fans will be enormous matched only by the scepticism and scorn that our American cousins will label him with. Haye will undoubtedly be portrayed as another in a long line of British heavyweights who fall short at the big moment (Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno at the 4th attempt excluded).

The Hayemaker is certainly making the right noises but needs to be careful not to leave the fans behind. He seemed to have misjudged support slightly looking at the ticket sales for the Barrett fight. Fans are rightly cautious of any fighter at the moment who proclaims he will win a world title fight soon. Memories of Amir's proclamations of winning a world title before being humiliated in a 54 second knockout and the continual contradiction that is Audley Harrsion have left fans wary of such comments.

Haye was written off as a pretty boy early in his career seeming to spend as much time in the night clubs as he did at the gym (his friend list on Facebook is like a who's who of page 3 beauties !!!). Recently though Haye has been taking the game far more seriously spending the majority of his time secluded in his training base in Northern Cyprus. Hate is a like-able, exciting fighter with a big punch (can he carry it up to heavy ?) he's good looking, clean and 'cool' making him a magnet for the younger fight fan.

More questions than answers at the moment but one thing is certain with his good looks, speed and marketability the Hayemaker bandwagon will continue to develop pace until either he achieves the dream or..... the wheels fall off.....