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Re: Questions re: David Haye
Originally Posted by Dizaster
David Haye beat WBC No.1 contender and undefeated Giacobbe Fragomeni in 2006 in a fight where Frag held a high, tight guard and bulled forward - Haye boxed while landing thudding bodyshots. Haye was cut late on and with the cut getting worse, he upped the tempo and Ko'd Fragomeni in the 9th.
After this fight, it was well acknowledged that Haye was desperately struggling with the weight but as he was now the No.1 contender he wanted to stick around.
His next fight was at Heavyweight and against Poland's Tomas Bonin who was rated about 11th by the WBC and had a 37-1-0 record, the loss was against Audley Harrison in the 9th round 3 years earlier and was somewhat premature though Harrison was winning the fight.
Haye blew Bonin away with 3 knockdowns and weighed 217lbs to Bonins 231lbs.
Haye then had to get backdown to Crusierweight for his shot at the Undisputed Crusierweight Champion France's Jean Marc Mormeck who had defeated American O'Neill Bell in his previous fight.
The weight loss for Haye was almost to much as though he boxed a smart fight, he was on weak legs but he survived a knockdown (which was partially due to standing on an advertising board) and stopped Mormeck in the 7th a win made greater as it was in front of Mormecks fans in Paris.
Haye then destroyed Enzo Maccarinelli in front of 20,000 fans in London. Haye appeared stronger at the weight and this he contributed to not having to get down from Heavyweight and he'd maintained his weight at the Cruiserweight limit in the months before the Enzo fight.
I've followed Haye's career since he won Silver in the World Amateur Championships, he carried a shoulder injury into the final against Cuba's Odlanier Solis and after almost flooring Solis in the 1st round, he faded and was stopped.
The shoulder injury occurred again at the Commonwealth Finals - Haye won a 1st round bout but had to retire from the competition.
At 216lbs against Bonin he looked better than he has in his last 5 fights at Cruiserweight. More solid, stronger but he kept the quick hands and reflexes. I believe his stamina will be fine as he his stronger at the higher weight and not fighting on hollow legs as he did against Mormeck.
Haye is 6"3 with a 78 inch reach so fundamentally has the natural size to be a Heavyweight.
He's not currently active, as he planned to train and put on the weight naturally and this he's done with trainer Adam Booth's program. Haye always said November and that date is still on - its just finding an opponent of decent quality to be in the other corner.
Haye's main attributes are power and reflexes but he also has fast hands and feet - his boxing ability is often overlooked because of his power but he can certainly dance and jab if need to.
He has been talking alot and has always used the Internet to publicize himself. If you watch the interviews it's usually tongue in cheek and he knows when he speaks it goes flying around the Internet. He's well spoken and charismatic though has left the playboy lifestyle behind and settled down.
On whether he can win fans over - I think Yes because of his style and his attitude of wanting to fight the best. When I went to the 02 to watch him fight Enzo, with my mates, after the fight my mate said that Haye didn't have many fans before the fight but just converted 20,000(the crowd).
What do I think he will achieve at Heavyweight? Everything he wants to - there is no one there to stop him. He'll still only be 28 later this year so has plenty of time to develop even more.
His multi million pound contract with Setanta is for 2 non title fights then a title shot and 1 defense. The title shot is dependent on a champion agreeing to meet him and he is having trouble finding his next opponent.(out pricing themselves)
Haye, if he is as good as his talent suggests can be one of the Greatest Heavyweights of All-time IMO.
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