David Haye Says He'd "Do Things Differently" in Klitschko Rematch
by Scott Christ on Jul 5, 2011 3:45 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
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Yesterday, I asked this question:
If there was a rematch, do you think Haye would do anything differently? I'm not asking if you think Haye would win, that's not my question here. I'm just asking if you think he would take more risks, which is what was clearly missing in that fight and in his execution in the ring.
Pretty much everyone who replied said no, that Haye would not do anything differently in a possible rematch. But Haye has basically answered the question himself, too:0
"I did the big talk but on Saturday night I didn’t walk the walk. You’ve got to take your lumps. You can complain about a million and one things but it didn’t change what happened in the ring. My toe is not an excuse for what happened in the fight. If I were to fight him again, I’d do things differently."
Now I doubt this changes anyone's mind, and another thing that was brought up in the comments of a recent post here was that Haye simply wants to get word out there that he'd like to have a rematch, but that given the split he'd be offered for one -- far from the 50-50 he and Adam Booth managed this time -- he wouldn't have any interest in taking it anyway, so it's all a moot point. But it looks good for him to chase a rematch, so he "is."
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Well, I imagine that Haye can either state that he regards himself as so inferior to Wladimir that a rematch is pointless, or he can claim that he would like a rematch, because he’s really better than what we all saw for whatever reason.
The latter strategy seems a winner, because negotiations, whether over split, location, or whatever, offer ample opportunity for the collapse of a “good faith” effort.
I’m a terrible cynic.
It would certainly not be a good strategy to tell: “Next time I got a big money-fight against a K I will again try not to get hit too much, hope for some lucky punch but not really take a risk to set sth. up. Who knows, maybe it will work that time!” I mean, of all bad things people have been saying about Haye here, no one claimed that he was stupid, did one?
"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter
As far as I know, no one has to this point accused Haye of being a dope, and I think it’s pretty clear that he’s not.
I think his choice boils down to which he likes better: boxing, or the limelight. He can have the latter, so long as opponents, promoters, and whoever else who has a say in the matter cooperates. He can, I think, also have quite a bit of the former, but maybe not to the degree that he has enjoyed to this point.
I’m not sure which consequences those choices would have. Does it mean that saying yes to the limelight would make him desperately try to get a rematch with WK / a match with VK at any price? And that the choice for boxing would make him travel the stony road of fighting fellow-top-10-HWs in order to build up a solid reputation as a HW and one day earn his right at another title-shot?
"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter
Yeah, I got it! ;)
I’m pretty sure that the limelight is of high importance for the like of Haye. That for sure speaks against the option that he would stick to his promise and retire. If he’s really so eager for the rematch.. I’m not sure. He was really hesitating to answer the respective question of WK at the post fight press conference. Another loss would probably quite turn out the limelights for him. So stepping a little back and fight competition that he could win in a spectacular fashion against might be the best option for him.. like walking the difficult road to slowly make the lights shine brighter on him. Wouldn’t that be a nice compromise?
"Sure, there have been injuries and deaths in boxing – but none of them serious." Alan Minter
Stepping back a bit
and fighting legitimate competition (whoever they may be) would be, by every measure I personally can think of, his best way of recovering or reestablishing respect.
He could be a very entertaining and popular fighter, if he just did it as a living. I say this as someone who really, really dislikes Haye, but is prepared to be persuaded otherwise.
We all said that David Haye would have to take some risks in order to win. He did not. The only winning strategy for Haye was to get inside and land some clean punches on Wladimir’s chin. Is that as easy as it sounds? Of course not, but it was the only way David Haye was going to win that fight.
More often than not Haye settled for lunging overhand punches from well outside; not exactly a recipe for success against a very large, very skilled boxer like Wlad.
Several people have stated that David Haye simply does not have the intestinal fortitude to take some chances in order to win and win by KO. I am inclined to agree.
I acknowledge that the probability of Haye fighting either brother again is pretty low, but I think my preference would be for him to fight Vitali next. I think Vitali would not let Haye off so easily, largely because he’s naturally more aggressive, and does not have the chin/beard issues his brother has.
I agree with your summary of Haye’s strategy. What could he realistically do differently in a rematch? He was very quick against Klitschko, was not a stationary and squared-up target, and did try those lunging shots from the outside because of K’s jab. Maybe more body work might be in order, but that would still require getting inside that jab, and I don’t think this can happen.
I think Haye is extremely good, all in all, and if he wants to fight, I think he could keep doing it.
no point
there’s never going to be the buzz again that there was for this one. He’s cashed out wonderfully well with this fight, and its a good time to go (leaving us with his view that he would do things differently in a rematch for fans to hang on to…)
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I like Arreola, and I like Adamek.
Haye as HW has fought the gigantic Valuev, whose body looks like the only training it experienced was the process of growing that big; Harrison, who is (was) a transcendentally disappointing big man who seems never to have become accustomed to being hit without headgear; and Wladimir, who is apparently a simply unscaleable height for Haye to climb.
Arreola, if (BIG if) he stays in shape and keeps active with mouth wide shut as far as food is concerned, would be a real fight for Haye, and perhaps a bit more in his ballpark. Adamek, who is reasonably popular and completely credible, and small but incredibly tough with almost miraculous recovery ability, would really be a good fight for Haye.
This is all predicated on the assumption that Haye would like to continue fighting, and just maybe regain some semblance of credibility. But, he doesn’t have to do either of these things.
by DrRck on Jul 6, 2011 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
way with words...
the gigantic Valuev, whose body looks like the only training it experienced was the process of growing that big
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
He’s just not willing – that is the bottom line.
And it’s unfortunate, because he’s got real skill or at least real talent if not skill.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
More bombast :
If Haye wants to retire, then let him do so. He’ll probably be OK.
If Haye really likes to fight, and wants to keep it up as an excellent but not #1 HW, then SC had a list of good possible opponents. I think Arreola would be a terrific choice; Adamek would as well. I think Dmitrenko would be a clear win, and a stepping stone back into credibility.
I hesitate to mention Quarry again, because I got just a bit scorched last time I did, but Haye could have a few years fighting against good opponents that most people respect.
I respect this guy less and less everytime he opens his mouth.
"You can't search me without probable cause Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion Listen while I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction" - Fugees
its sad, really...
first the toe and now this extending on…just more pointless posturing, and this time no-one’s buying it. He should just be quiet and go count his money already…
"I live what you talk. I Live What You Talk.'’ (Bernard Hopkins)
I like Haye
I think he fought the wrong strategy. It was a very winnable fight for him and he didn’t do his homework to plan a backup strategy. He found out how technically good Klitschko is when he tried to set him up for counters for the majority of the fight. But i don’t feel sorry for him. I just wish he had more Joe Fraiser in him.
Wlad beats Haye 95 times out of 100. He needs to fight and beat Vitali to get a rematch with Wlad. I would only want to see an immediate rematch if the fight was close and say a knockdown or a penalty point had made the first fight a toss up of a decision or there was a very late 12th round stoppage after a GOOD fight.
That said, I think Vitali beats him 95 times out of 100 also…..Wlad has very nice form; crisp punches etc….but Vitali’s punches are thudding ones and he has the attitude to use them. He’s not quite as cautious as Wlad.
So….he can’t beat Wlad and he won’t beat Vitali…..so match him with Arreola or Adamek with winner takes Vitali, then winner takes Wlad. Of course I don’t think any of those guys can beat them either (Vitali already beat Arreola) so I’m not sure where that puts the HW’s. I look for Vitali to retire soon, possibly after fighting Adamek…..I would look for Wlad to fight for the WBC belt, then retire himself….at least that is what I would do; possibly after a defense or three. Maybe then Haye could win the belts as even he is better then the bulk of the remaining HW’s.
This space for rent.
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