Emmanuel Steward: Haye's a genius
Steward: Haye's a genius
Legendary trainer heaps praise on Klitschko foe
Wladimir Klitschko's trainer Emanuel Steward has labelled David Haye 'a genius' for bringing a buzz back to the heavyweight division.
And the Hall of Famer even went so far as to say that Haye is the most exciting fighter to hit the world stage since Cassius Clay more than 40 years ago.
Many have found the Briton's trash-talking distasteful as he almost goaded the IBF/WBO/IBO champion into taking him on, despite having just one warm-up fight since moving up from cruiserweight.
But Haye got his wish, with the pair entering the ring in front of 70,000 fans in Gelsenkirchen, Germany on June 20...and Steward can hardly wait.
"David Haye brings an excitement like Cassius Clay in 1963," he said. "I was training then and he was creating excitement just verbally in addition to knocking out guys.
"This is the first time I have seen anyone do what David Haye is doing. He hasn't even fought a quality heavyweight, he's got a knockout against Monte Barrett, a guy (Klitschko) knocked out about 10 years ago.
"But he's a genius to create this excitement, he's even got me excited. I wanted to go to training camp this week and Wlad said 'no', wait a couple more weeks. So there's a lot of excitement in this fight."
Lacklustre
Importantly for Steward, he believes Haye's aggression in and out of the ring will inspire Klitschko into raising his game following lacklustre recent defences against Lamon Brewster, Tony Thompson and Hasim Rahman.
"Wladimir will be fighting a guy who isn't like who he's been fighting in the recent past," he added. "Recently they've all been old, veteran guys who've been fighting to survive. This is somebody who's going to come to knock Wladimir out.
"He's going to bring energy, excitement and explosiveness we have not seen for some while.
"And Wladimir fights at his best when fighters come to him. Wladimir fights very good when he's attacked. He does not fight good with fighters who lay back.
"David Haye is going to come at him and be very aggressive and it's going to be one of those type of fights that's not going to go 12 rounds."
But Steward, naturally, believes his man will have the power to end it first.
"I want this fight over with quick," he underlined. "I want him to knock out David Haye within six rounds because we cannot play safe this time.
"We'll break him down slowly and then he'll feel the strength of a full heavyweight."
Re: Emmanuel Steward: Haye's a genius
Steward always heaps praise on his fighters foes, it is part of his style. Manny doesnt want to add any pressure on his fighter. You have to take anything he says with a grain of salt.....
The buzz must be in Europe cause there is no buzz here in the US for Haye/Wlad.
Funny how Dan Rafael from ESPN doesnt give Haye a chance in hell to beat Wlad...
Re: Emmanuel Steward: Haye's a genius
Steward didn't give praise to Pavlik.
Re: Emmanuel Steward: Haye's a genius
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Hunter
Steward always heaps praise on his fighters foes, it is part of his style. Manny doesnt want to add any pressure on his fighter. You have to take anything he says with a grain of salt.....
The buzz must be in Europe cause there is no buzz here in the US for Haye/Wlad.
Funny how Dan Rafael from ESPN doesnt give Haye a chance in hell to beat Wlad...
I have looked on alot of different boxing forums and there is alot more buzz from US fans on this Klitschko fight than many of his other fights.
I always find Manny to be candid and the man deserves alot of respect. When he talks its good to take note.
Re: Emmanuel Steward: Haye's a genius
I think Manny praises the opposing fighters that he feels pose little threat to his fighter.
Manny has seen David throw wild haymakers and he knows Wladimir's jab will keep those at bay.
Manny has seen Haye get rocked by guys much smaller and much weaker than Wladimir.
I think Manny thinks that Haye will be there for Wlad to hit and that Haye has given Wladimir incentive to go for the KO. Remember he praised Cris Arreola for what was in my opinion a horrible fight vs McCline. Manny might also be hyping up Haye and Arreola so if Wladimir KO's them he is finally given some credit.