What of David Haye's reputation in the Vitali/Valuev aftermath?
by Scott Christ on Jul 24, 2009 2:16 AM EDT
in Boxing Commentary & Opinion
Email
Print
With the news coming out yesterday that David Haye bailed on a fight with Vitali Klitschko for September 12 to take a shot at 7-foot Nikolai Valuev in November, I'm starting to wonder where Haye's reputation is at. Let's recap his career since he fully went up to heavyweight last year:
- Rampaged over a half-shot Monte Barrett, which was fine. Barrett was a good first heavyweight test. He isn't the fighter he once was, but he's a fringe contender still and came out ready to let his hands go. He couldn't deal with Haye's power, simple as that.
- Talked crazy trash about both Klitschkos, particularly Wladimir.
- SIgned to fight Wladimir on June 20 of this year, then skipped out claiming an injury in camp. Some said it was legit, others had their doubts. I have no idea what the real story was, so don't ask me.
- Signed to fight Vitali on September 12. Huge arena in Germany again, a 55,000-seat venue. Great fight on paper, everyone excited.
- Bailed. Signed to fight Valuev instead, a far less intriguing fight and a decision that kind of makes Haye look like a punk.
I think Dan Rafael of ESPN summed it up nicely in his latest blog entry:
[I]t may turn out to be a smart move because Haye has a way, way, way better chance to beat Valuev than Klitschko. After all, Valuev couldn't deal with the movement of the ancient Evander Holyfield, who is much slower, much older and not nearly the puncher that Haye is.
But the way Haye dealt with Klitschko was pathetic. Had Haye simply taken one deal over the other without all the drama, that would be one thing. No problem.
Instead, he strung Klitschko along for weeks while talking crap about him -- and his brother, Wladimir Klitschko, before bailing on him, too, last month -- only to double-deal behind his back and then pull out of a fight that had been agreed upon. I talked to [Haye's manager/trainer Adam] Booth, and frankly, I didn't believe him when he said they didn't have a deal. His story sounded like the dog had eaten his homework. I've followed this process every step of the way, and I believe Klitschko's team of Bernd Boente and Shelly Finkel when they say they had a deal. Say what you want about them, but they are professionals, they've negotiated a zillion fights, and they made a compelling case that the deal was done.
Haye is as marketable as he is -- and he's no giant superstar or anything, at least outside of England -- in large part because he talks trash and has a very exciting style in the ring. The prospect of one of the Klitschkos facing a hard-punching, athletic, quick guy who's in great shape was really exciting for a lot of us. And Haye made it even more fun by even sometimes going a bit overboard with his PR stunts and trash talk.
Haye made us want to see those fights. Now he's backed out twice to fight a guy nobody wants to see.
What's your current feeling on David Haye?
14 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Well....
If the deal’s not right for him, then it is what it is. Sure it could have been handled in a far better way all round, possibly by targeting Valuev first and then seeking to unify as a champion, rather than all the song and dance before. I don’t believe that after he beats Valuev, he runs from the Klitschkos or anything.
As for Dan Rafael, I respect his opinion, but just because he thinks that Adam Booth is talking b-s and Boenthe and Finkel are not, doesn’t make it so. Its clearly more complicated than that with accusations going back and forth. A sophist can make a compelling case on anything. Thats just my opinion. Its worked out the best for Haye anyway, because an impressive win over Valuev will make any Klitchko fight even bigger.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
As for Dan Rafael, I respect his opinion, but just because he thinks that Adam Booth is talking b-s and Boenthe and Finkel are not, doesn’t make it so.
To be fair, Booth about blew the deal with Wladimir too, and Richard Schaefer had to step in and save it. I’m not saying I know for sure, but Booth doesn’t sound like the world’s best manager.
by Scott Christ on Jul 24, 2009 8:16 PM EDT up reply actions
it doesn't seem that he is
He’s clearly not handled the whole thing well and his negotiating stretegy may need some work, but I just didn’t think it was as clear-cut as Dan Rafael made out.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
i've said again and again
This guy is a fraud with a mouth stronger than his chin and hands put together. I didn’t blame him for getting out of the Wlad stomping because the money disappeared but now ducking Vit after all the shit he talked. Dude is a fucking COWARD. COWARD. I say that knowing full well he steps into the ring in a sport where people die. But I also know full well if he was taking a beating he’d take a knee and let the 10 count come cause his heart is as big as the asian dude in the Hangover’s dick. NONEXISTANT. FUCK YOU DAVID HAYE.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 24, 2009 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Not sure why the knives are out here
Wladimir fight – Setanta went bust therefore massive loss of $$$ for Haye. Not worth it.
Vitali fight – No one really knows what the contract terms were so it’s all specualation.
Fact is, everybody’s talking about Haye because they want him involved in this division. He has the talent to mix it up with the best of them. If he was a nobody then there wouldn’t be pages and pages of discussion about him. He did a job in the cruiserweight division and started quite slowly as a heavyweight. Everybody seems to keen for him to be piling into the biggest fights straightaway. Let him establish himself. The Valuev fight is perfect for him, I firmly believe it will be a one way street.
I could care less if he left boxing today
fuck I’d be HAPPY if he got his big mouth out of boxing and never fought again.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Jul 25, 2009 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
the Valuev fight is a perfect chance for him to look good.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Look, Raph hit the nail on the proverbial head, here. From what I can make of Booth in the interviews I heard him in, he is way, way, way out of his depth at the bargaining table. It could be youthful inexperience, or it could be that he is, in fact, a dumbass. But he hasn’t done a lot of good for his promoter or his fighter (who happen to be the same guy). The formula between them is an unusual mix, but some exotic cocktails work and others taste like dog puke. Haye hasn’t helped his cause much either. He’s beaten no one in the division, and has racheted up the propaganda machine so much that a loss to anyone at this point will completely destroy his career.
You know how you hear some guys in post-fight interviews asked questions about their next fights and they say “well, that’s up to my manager and my promoter”, and then you here these dumb pundits calling them “robots” and “pawns.” Well, that’s usually not the case. Most of these guys are simply mature, and willing to play the game more closely to their chests in order to keep their careers flexible. Not Haye. He’s gambled everything on his mouth. If he loses one fight now, he will vanish faster than David Copperfield at the MGM Grand.
"This fight'll be the nastiest thing you'll ever see. I been sober for six weeks, and that makes me vicious."
-- Randall 'Tex' Cobb
I don’t genuinely think he’s at much risk of that L in his next fight, and after that he can get his big money Klitschko fight. Otherwise the next biggest fight for him, especially in the US, would be maybe with Cris Arreola and the shape he normally shows up in, I would like Haye’s chances an awful lot in that one.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
I’d probably pick Haye over Arreola, but Haye still has chin questions to answer and flabby or not, Arreola can throw some bombs.
by Scott Christ on Jul 26, 2009 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions
very true re chin
Agreed that Arreola would have a punchers chance but I think he would also gas badly from the mid rounds too…would be a good match up at least early.
We're all given some sort of skill in life. Mine just happens to be beating up on people. (Sugar Ray Leonard)
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Full Coverage
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
