By Terence Dooley
Hayemaker’s ‘Head of Boxing’ David Coldwell will bring his own brand of bash to Birmingham on September 23rd when he stages a ten-fight card at the city’s Tower Ballroom venue. Local boy Max Maxwell faces Avon’s Martin Robins in a main event that Coldwell believes will catch fire early and sets the tone for the supporting bouts. The former flyweight hopes to put on an atmospheric autumn night of fisticuffs, the first of many exciting evenings in England’s second city.
“Tickets are going really well and I’m excited about bringing the fighters to Birmingham to be honest. I’m good mates with [Midlands boxing legend] Jon Pegg and working with [Dudley’s] Ryan Aston so we can keep Ryan’s fanbase at home and it gives me an opportunity to spread my wings and see what I can do down there, maybe bring a few fighters through,” enthused Coldwell during a recent chat.
“It is my show but Jon is helping with the groundwork and Ryan Aston’s trainer, Paul Gough, has been helping out as well. It is a three-pronged attack, really, and it should pay off. Both their sets of lads are selling tickets and we’ve a couple of Errol Johnson fighters on the bill, if it goes well, and it looks like it is, then I’ll be doing a few more shows in Birmingham in future.”
Many writers would lazily drop a ‘bald Brummies’ pun at this point, and I just did, but Coldwell, Pegg and Johnson hope that their triumvirate will help stir the Birmingham area’s fistic follicles and give young fighters in the area a chance of regular local run outs plus an opportunity for the local to have a bit of a do every once in a while.
“I’ve had a lot of good comments from people down there who are interested in tickets,” said Coldwell as talk turned to the local supporters and the bill itself. “Top of the bill is Maxwell against Robins, Max is a top ten ranked fighter who had a strong KO win last year over Brian Rose and is fighting Robins who is 7-1 and another good prospect, it is a fifty-fifty fight. I’ve got Jerome Wilson against Vinny Woolford, which is a positive match up.
“I’d like to be part of that (a Birmingham boxing revival) because it is a boxing city, you do get good fighters coming out of there, so hopefully I can do a little bit to put it at the forefront and put on some big, exciting shows. You have to bring your prospects through but it is good to put them in fights where it can go either way. On my last show at Rotheram’s Magna Centre my own fighters had a draw and a loss [Navid Monsouri and Jerome Wilson against Dee Mitchell and Jay Morris respectively], that is how it has got to be, fans have got to know the fights that are on a bill are competitive and they’ll get that with this show.
“I want journeymen who come into win or beat your young prospects, safer matches but ones that will test the lads, which is why I picked Jay Morrison last time out, he’s not got the best record but comes to try and win. Fans don’t care about records, they just want guys who try to win fights.”
Fear ye not Sheffield boxing fans, Dave will be hosting a show near his home turf before the year is out, the atmospheric Magna Centre, this writer’s favourite boxing venue, is penciled in for a November date. “I’m trying to confirm a date for the Magna in November. If that comes off it will be a pretty good show,” revealed Coldwell.
The popular fight figure was on a potential hat track of boxing successes earlier this year, George Groves’ decision win over James DeGale on May 21st the first of what Dave hoped would be a trilogy of wins for himself and Hayemaker Promotions. It was not to be, Saul Alvarez derailed the second part of the treble by defeating Ryan Rhodes in a WBC light-middleweight defence before Wlad Klitschko handed David Haye a point’s defeat on July 2nd. Dave, though, was philosophical when asked about the two losses.
“Listen, a few years ago no one would have thought Ryan would have got there. My dream back then was making him British champion again to get his respect because people had written him off, he’s won the British, won the European in a fight of the year with Jamie Moore, the fans love him and he’s fought for the WBC world title, it has been a wicked ride and I’m really proud of where he’s at. I’m proud that wherever we go the fans love him and he has got the respect,” he declared before underlining Alvarez’s top-level credentials.
“If Golden Boy looks after him and don’t rush him he will become a great fighter and Golden Boy are on the same page as me, they won’t rush him and want him to have learning fights at that level first.”
As for Rhodes, the ‘Spice Boy’ has won many titles at light-middleweight and only ever lost in challenges for versions of the world crown at both 154 and 160lbs. Coldwell believes that his charge has a few chapters left in his amazing story.
“No at all, no”, insisted Coldwell when asked if Ryan should or will retire, “he’s chomping at the bit, he can’t wait to get back out there. The Hattons might have a date for him but if they don’t I’ll put him on my own show in November.
“If the furthest he goes is European champion and world title challenger then it is a great career. Once he gets the European title back you never know, he may got a shot at the other champions, he won’t beat Alvarez in a million years but I’d put him in there with [IBF boss] Cornelius Bundrage. That is the fight that I’d love for him but he needs to win this next one first. Let’s take a back step, get the European title and see what is next.”
Haye was practically crucified after talking a good fight going into his unification match with Wlad before failing to fire on the night, with many incredulous when Haye cited a toe injury as one of the chief reasons for his defeat. Quibbles over his performance aside, Haye’s fight with Wlad briefly energized the heavyweight division, at least in terms of hype and exposure – Coldwell believes that Haye can walk away with pride should he stick to his October retirement date.
“I’ve always said that David has set his timetable and as far as I’m concerned he won’t fight again and will announce it when he’s ready,” Coldwell’s answer to questions of whether Haye will continue.
“Would I ask him to fight again, no. He’s been unified cruiserweight champion, WBA heavyweight champion and fought in the biggest fight out there at heavyweight. He fell short but had a great career, made some money and for me it has been a great ride but I would like to see him call it a day. You never know with him but I don’t think he will fight again.
News that Groves has signed a deal with Frank Warren has sparked speculation about the future of Hayemaker Promotions, David’s outfit threatened to become a real player in early-2009, it had the weight of Setanta behind it and a charismatic figurehead only for the demise of Setanta here in the UK and, later, Haye’s defeat to prompt many to stick a fork in the company. Coldwell feels that reports of Hayemaker’s demise have been premature.
Saying, “Hayemaker was never just David Haye from the start, when we had Setanta we had loads of different fighters so it wasn’t a case of just David, obviously he is the flagship but Golden Boy carried on when Oscar retired so it doesn’t just hinge on his career.
“What put us in a bad situation was Setanta folding. In this climate it is hard to get a TV deal. We’ll see in the future whether Hayemaker is done or not, that is not my call. You can’t do anything on a big scale without television. Hayemaker Promotions is separate from ‘Hayemaker’ the boxer, its about management, promotion, everything, so there are different sides to it and Hayemaker is still operational, we’re just not putting on shows right now.”
Haye has shown brilliant self-promotion skills during his time at heavyweight, prune away the odd rough edge and we could see Haye become a promotional player should he decide to remain in the sport in this capacity. “I think that is fair to say,” concurred Coldwell.
“If he wants to carry on as a promotional figurehead he’d be great, just like Oscar. I don’t know if that interests him or not, I don’t know his plans for the future and for now it is all about him spending time with his family and winding down.
“All I can say is that whatever happens I’ll be eternally grateful for being part of the ride right from day one when Adam brought me in as head of boxing. I’ve had business meetings with Oscar and Richard [Schaefer], met Lou DiBella and some of the big business names in boxing as well as being involved in big world title fights and a huge domestic title fight with George and James. Boxing has its ups and downs but the exposure being with Hayemaker has given me has been fantastic.”
You can follow Dave on Twitter to obtain ticket details for the Birmingham show, @davidcoldwell.
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