David Haye v Enzo Maccarinelli - Cruiserweight Title Unification RBR

[bzkfn]

As I've mentioned a few times before, I'm heading to London this Saturday to watch the fight as thought it was far too good an opportunity to miss. It's a difficult one as I like both guys and as far as I see, at this point in time they are very evenly matched. You have to feel that as good as this is for British Boxing, the outcome will benefit one division, and hinder the other. If Enzo wins, its great for the Cruiserweight Division but may seriously hinder the confidence of Haye moving up to Heavyweight. If Haye wins though, this will hurt the Cruiser division as he is almost certain to vacate 3 big world titles, and add a defeat to one of the best in the divisions records. Although having a big exciting puncher will only help the most glamorous division in boxing that is in desperate need of some fresh blood.

As an English guy, I'm rooting for Haye and my feeling is that he is a better fighter than Enzo so I've gone with a Haye KO. This is wityh my fair share of doubts though, as I worry that David finding it difficult to make weight could benefit Enzo the longer the fight goes on.

Tactically, I believe Enzo will adopt a similar tactical style to what he did against Braithwaite. Enzo will use fast hands and a high guard and try and outbox Haye, dragging him into the later rounds for the KO. Haye on the other hand is looking to prove superiority in a big way, and I imagine will go for the early KO. I believe Enzo won't be able to avoid the big shots, and I think we'll see the end around round 7.

I'll take the camera with me, and post some vids & phots when I get back.

Oh, and rep to Rhun, for setting this one up.

[donnydarkoIRL]

I would really like to give a nice crisp analysis of all of the potentially great fights that we have on offer this week. However, I'm far to distracted by the "main event" so to speak.
Enzo and David are to evidentally big hitters. Both men have the power to anihalate any man in the division and together they present an exciting match up.

However, it is my view that this power may be the cause of a disappointment, as both men are aware of the others power prior to entering the ring. They could provide fireworks, but this surely would end in a knockout in the early rounds...Is their a minimum time frame for a great fight? It could also see both men being overly cautious, afraid of fatigue in the later rounds or a flash knockdown in the early rounds.
I see Haye starting Hot, Enzo starting Cold and aimining for the later ounds. Haye fading if it goes past 5 and then Enzo will ignite.
I don't see the two guys at full steam at the one time.

So will it be a great fight? I'm not so sure.
Will it be a great finish? Almost certainly.

Praying for an Enzo stoppage Round 10.

[Bomp]

Good point by BZ about each winner being detrimental to particular division, probably the best result would be an Enzo win by close decision with Haye able to blame the weight thing. Like you I'm being patriotic and picking Enzo by KO, but I don't dislike Haye at all. It might be bluffing or something, but I get the feeling from all Haye's quotes that he's putting all his eggs in one basket and going for the early knockout, maybe that's just what he wants Enzo to think.

Both guys IMO will be going into unknown territorry against their best opponents to date on Saturday, though David was in a big fight last time out, I feel there'll be more pressurre on him this time being a the favourite. I'm picking Enzo toknockout a tiring Haye late on, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Fenster]

You guys that think the fight is going late can get some tasty odds with the bookies, they're position is firmly in the short night camp.

I'm almost looking forward to Mitchell-Johanneson as much as the big one. Before the scheduled last fight I fancied the fresher Mitchell, but changed my mind because what exactly does Mitchell do that makes him that bit better class? He's pretty ordinary, no?

The more seasoned Carl to pull a Gomez-Arthur job.

[Bomp]

If I get really good odds on Enzo round 10 I'll consider it. But I'm fully aware that Haye could do it real early if Enzo laps in concentration for a second.

[Fenster]

Yeah I guess it's a crazy fight to bet on.. I think it's an early job

I expect Enzo to start cautious but I also expect Haye to "frighten" him into going gung-ho

Come on Haye!!!

33/1 for Enzo round 10.

[Pugilistic]

i predict enzo to win in the mid to late rounds by ko/tko. there will be a knockdown or two in this fight

[Bomp]

Yeah I guess it's a crazy fight to bet on.. I think it's an early job

I expect Enzo to start cautious but I also expect Haye to "frighten" him into going gung-ho

Come on Haye!!!

33/1 for Enzo round 10.

I'll take 33/1, while Enzo is powerful, I don't see him blasting Haye with a single shot, he'll have to wear him down, Haye has the edge in power IMO.

This fight could go in so many different directions, I change my mind every time I think about it, but am beginning to settle on it lasting into at least the middle rounds. One of the fighters will have to adopt a pretty careless strategy for it to really finish early, IMO both are facing there best opponents to date, and possibly the most difficult opponents to land there punches on (since most of the quality of opponents for both guys have been poor so far) and if this is true it should really go gurther than the average distance fo their respective fights to date.

[bzkfn]

Undercard discussion time for me now...

Kevin Mitchell vs. Carl Johanneson

I was looking forward to this one around the time I heard Carl was booked in for a fight with Gomez, and I'm so glad the fight got postponed in January because it means I now have a shit hot undercard fight to watch. Carls performance against Gomez was a cracker. He looked seasoned, he didn't panic and he used his head, picking his punches perfectly before grinding Gomez down. This showed tremendous heart and discipline and will only help his confidence going into this one. Mitchell though, has yet to taste defeat and looks like he could be on his way to very big things. He packs a decent punch, and looks fairly calculated when in the ring. I predict he'll use this as a stepping stone and stop Carl in around 6 in a firecracker of a fight.

Being from Liverpool, I'm really happy that I get to see Paul Smith live. Smith has a decent future, although I'm unsure if going on the contender helped or hindered him yet. He has a shot at the vacant English Middlewight title against Cello Renda, who I must confess I know very little about. Smith is 22-0-0, and on that record you'd be hoping he'd be in line for a British shot soon but he needs a test to prove he's ready. Renda has a record of 14-5-1 (9 by stoppage), is coming off the back of two wins, although has notable losses to Prince Arron on points, and was knocked out by Nathan Cleverly victims Ayittey Powers & Joey Vegas. Smith should be on another level to him and should force the stoppage by the midway stage.

Souleymane M'Baye also continues his comeback from losing his WBA 140 title to Gavin Rees last July. He faces Dominican Jose Soto (22-4-2) in a ten rounder. M'Baye's only losses have come against Rees and Junior "The Prick" Witter victim Vivian Harris. 3 of Soto's four losses have come by KO, and M'Baye is the classiest opposition he will have faced so I see no reason why he can't follow suit.

[Memphis]

Must get Setanta card sorted for digi box. Anyone else done this? Straight forward is it? please say it is.