By Terence Dooley
WBA heavyweight title holder David Haye is working hard in Miami as he bids to hand Wladimir Klitschko his first defeat since the Ukrainian fell to Lamon Brewster over five rounds in 2004. Haye's daunting task is made that much more difficult by the fact that a win against Wlad would lead into a face off with Vitali Klitschko, the older brother and considered by many, Wlad included, to be the more natural warrior of the two.
Haye could be a brace of wins away from holding the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and IBO versions of the belt, assuming of course that the sanctioning bodies do not take umbrage over the series of unifications and/or introduce a slew of interim, super and silver titles to replace the unified ones.
Bernd Boente, the Klitschkos advisor, revealed that “The contracts for the [June 25 or July 2] bout are finalized” when discussing Wlad's next move with German daily Die Weit as well as indicating that a number of countries are in for the contest, with South Africa the latest to express an interest in hosting the event.
The impeccably coiffured manager has been a key figure during negotiations, leading me to ask Haye exactly who is Boente, and what is the deal with his hair do? “Bernd is Wlad's right hand man,” said Haye to BoxingScene.com. “And I'm not quite sure what the deal is with his hair, maybe you should ask him as I hear he used to be a famous hair stylist.”
David is serenely confident going into the bouts, insisting that he is going to live up to boasts that his speed, power and agility will make him look like something out of the film The Matrix when he finally squares off against Wlad.
“No doubt I can become 'The One',” confirmed Haye when discussing his heavyweight career thus far. “It is like my opponents are fighting in slow motion when I'm in there at heavyweight. In fact, Neo ain't got sh*t on me – I'll squeeze him in between the Klit Sisters if he'd accept a 50/50 split of the gross revenue.”
Lennox Lewis's legacy showdown against Mike Tyson had an equally long and protracted gestation period. Moreover, Mike threw the bout into jeopardy by taking a chunk out of Lennox's leg during a presser confirming the fight. When they finally did meet in the ring, British commentator Ian Darke remarked that it was strange to see the two men face off. Seeing Haye against either brother will be equally discombobulating for fans but not for the 30-year-old Londoner – Haye has always maintained that he is destined to beat both the Klitschkos en route to heavyweight domination.
“No, not really,” he said to my question of whether the agonising wait for the contest has had any impact on him. “What IS going to seem strange is the terrified look of Wlad's face as I charge across the ring at his petrified lanky chinless ass!”
Vitali finished Odlanier Solis in a single stanza last month yet the 39-year-old has looked creaky in recent times. 'Dr Ironfist' suffered facial injuries against Kevin Johnson in December 2009 despite only taking a handful of shots; although dominant against Shannon Briggs last October he did not finish the Brooklyner, having to settle for a points win over 'The Cannon'. Was there a temptation on Haye's part to go against conventional wisdom and plump for the WBC boss?
“No, my first choice has always been Wlad, he has the most belts, and he's the one who's been mouthing off the most. Wlad keeps making those homoerotic, black and white videos of himself baby oiled up saying how much he wants me in the ring,” stressed Haye.
“I'm not really surprised by the fact I'm going to have to travel”, he answers in response to the list of locations considered for the event, “because I knew Wlad isn't confident enough to take this fight on my turf, so always deep down knew I'd have to travel abroad to make the fight.”
The 25-1 (23), 2001 World Amateur Championships silver medallist has kept abreast of forum, Twitter and Facebook posts during the intense contract discussions. The former cruiserweight champion accepts that there will be a lot of online chat going into this one, telling me that he hopes K1s online contingent remain visible.
“I hope the Klit fans become as vocal as they can before this fight, as they will run and hide back under the rock they came from after I smash him,” says Haye, he then went onto address the recurring claim that his chin will not be able to withstand Wlad's blows.
He said, “Being labelled 'Chinny' doesn't bother me. If I was labelled a non-puncher it wouldn't stop me knocking people out. The myth of my chinnyness actually makes me more exciting to watch!”
Haye has been officially floored four times as a pro, twice against Carl Thompson and one apiece versus Lolenga Mock and Jean Marc Mormeck respectively; a touchdown in his fifth round stoppage win over Monte Barrett was ruled a slip by referee Richie Davies only for Haye to declare that he had been legitimately knocked down.
Certainly, the 'Hayemaker' has never shied away from admitting that boxing matches, and particularly heavyweight boxing matches, can be ended by a single blow. However, his problems came from temple shots when down at cruiserweight, a sign, perhaps, that his struggles to make the weight accounted for these lapses?
“No, it was down to me not taking a shot to well on the temple!” he admitted as talked turned to shaky moments in his 200lb outings, none more shakier than his sole professional defeat, an IBO title reverse to Carl 'The Cat' Thompson in 2004 – a result that means Wlad and Haye share one thing in common, the year of their last loss. David was still on his feet when referee Terry O'Connor halted the bout at 2:53 of the fifth round on the advice of Haye's trainer and manager Adam Booth. More commonality for David and Klitschko, then, as Wlad's defeat against Brewster came in the same round.
“Maybe people do overlook my heart and grit when they looked on that fight, but people in the game who know their shit, knew I would have fought on to the very end,” he declared. “Looking back, Adam made the right decision to save me for another day by throwing in the towel. As look where my career went from that day. Carl made me make those mistakes, he was the better man on the night, who prepared for battle a lot harder then I did. I credit Carl for the win rather than look at my own mistakes.”
Booth's meticulous approach has been a huge factor in Haye's rise. Adam is a strong cornerman, composed when he needs to be but willing to bring his fighters to task if they go off-message. I was ringside for Haye's 2006 EBU title defence against Ismail Abdoul, in which Booth seemed to use the championship schedule to test his man's ability to go twelve rounds.
“Yes, I remember that one. Adam is a perfectionist. He has high standards. My job that night was to win every one of the twelve rounds on all three judges score cards, and that's exactly what I did. I'm happy for the way I won that on points and won the [Nikolay] Valuev [WBA title] fight on points. The Valuev fight was a great tactical battle that I implemented perfectly.”
As mentioned, wins over the two Klitschkos would go a long way to silencing a lot of critics. Haye, though, refused to entertain the idea of sticking around beyond 2011, reiterating his desire to retire before the year's end.
“No, when I retire, I will retire. I've been clear from the start of my career about this,” he insisted, pointing out that he will take his lead from Rocky Marciano, Marvin Hagler and Lennox Lewis by walking away from the sport without so much as a backward glance or a comeback, or two. Even if that does mean failing to surpass Lennox's impressive heavyweight legacy.
“I've been a huge fan of Lennox Lewis for many years, and he spent many years at the top of this division. It is not for me to say I'm better or I've achieved more than him. Personally I feel he'll go down as one of the top three greatest heavyweight of all time. I wouldn't dare put myself in that category,” was his analysis of potential 'Haye or Lewis' debates.
“I look forward to the new generation coming through, but I have lots left to achieve outside of competitive boxing,” he mused.
One of his goals is to become an actor. In the past he has referred to himself as potentially “The first black James Bond'” [Writer's note: My money is on Idris Elba]. This gave me the opportunity to inquire if he had already put his acting skills into play when hyping his British grudge match with fellow Londoner Audley 'A Force' Harrison.
“No, our long-standing feud was genuine. But I've seen him since and it's all in the past,” he said. Haye, however, is in the same boat as many boxing fans when it comes to Big Aud, an imposing physical specimen who has the tools yet often leaves them in his bag. “I can't explain it,” he mused, “only Audley knows why he's like that.”
Haye has no such problem, quite the opposite, he goes at his opponents with a desire and verve reminiscent of a latter-career Nigel Benn, who, like David, could box to a plan when the need arose but preferred to go straight for the jugular.
“It's a natural born gift,” he says upon mention of similarities with 'The Dark Destroyer'. “I've mixed it on the streets from a young age against guys a lot bigger then me. You can't learn instincts. Put it this way, I'll triangle choke my way to victory against Wlad or Vitali if the ref would allow me! Left hooks, right hand, or even a flying knee, as long as my hand is raised at the end of the fight, that's all that counts.”
Haye versus A Klitschko has been a long time coming, in the interim period boxing has lurched from one disappointment to another: cancelled fights, decimated bills and the failure to make key fights – factors that have contributed to cries of 'The sport is dying (for real this time)'. We faced a similar situation at the turn of the 1990s only for Oscar De La Hoya versus Felix Trinidad – poor fight but a mega event – and the rise of Lewis to the heavyweight throne to usher in a bright(ish) new dawn. Boxing is pyramidal in structure, a thriving heavyweight division trickles down to the lower ranks, the sport could be Haye-Klitschko and Manny-Mayweather away from a revival.
Does Haye believe the fight between Floyd and Pacquiao will happen? He is positive about the possibility, “Yes, I believe they will fight, but early next year. It is a great fight and one I will be ringside for. But I can't pick the winner for you.”
It was time for the former Bermondsey's finest to head back into the gym for a training session. He faces a long, hard road to the top of the mountain yet Haye feels that his personality goes a long way to providing him with the outlook needed to annex the Klitschkos titles and rejuvenate the division.
“I love to laugh and to take life in my stride so I can keep my bubbly spirit going throughout these negotiations and training camps. I'm a Bobby McFerrin fan, 'Don't Worry be Happy' is my mantra to life,” he concluded.
Sky Sports join Haye in Miami: http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,26691,13273_6853273,00.html
Thanks to Hayemaker's Online P.R. Officer Andy 'Spud' Woollatt.
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