Spotted this on ESPN.
When asked what his legacy in the sport would be, Haye said he will be remembered as one of the greats by boxing fans should he decide to retire now.
"Hopefully they will remember me as one of the best cruiserweights of all time - I think I'm second behind Evander Holyfield," he said.
http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/259853.html#3QjUlzZfmIdiGAWs.99
Poll added.
He ducked Cunnigham for sure, Cunningham was calling him out to have a unification fight to have the first undisputed champ since Holyfield but Haye wanted no part of it.
I don't think Ademek was a Cruiser at the time so there was no duck there.
Not sure why though because he would've easily blasted Cunningham out of there...
Haye is an odd man
He ducked Cunnigham for sure, Cunningham was calling him out to have a unification fight to have the first undisputed champ since Holyfield but Haye wanted no part of it.
I don't think Ademek was a Cruiser at the time so there was no duck there.
adamek was a cruiser,, he went up after the dawson loss in early 07
haye should have fought cunningham for sure, adamek, huck, lebedev,,,
That's just it.
I didn't follow Haye's CW career, but some people say he ducked Cunningham and Adamek. Is that true?
He ducked Cunnigham for sure, Cunningham was calling him out to have a unification fight to have the first undisputed champ since Holyfield but Haye wanted no part of it.
I don't think Ademek was a Cruiser at the time so there was no duck there.
Mormeck and Maccarinelli... what a truly outstanding championship run.
That's just it.
I didn't follow Haye's CW career, but some people say he ducked Cunningham and Adamek. Is that true?
It's pretty much Holyfield and then the rest.
And no, Haye wouldn't have had a hope in hell against a slick pressure fighter like Qawi. Horrible, horrible matchup for Haye.
I totally forgot about gomez. I feel certain hed have beaten haye. he didn't have the speed and power of haye but better in all other areas and he had an impressive number of title defenses unlike haye
Never against top fighters in his division though.
Definitely up there. Don't know about second Holyfield's No1 though, I would have said yes if he didn't gas out in the second half of the fight, and thats where Jirov and Toney might have taken him out.
Juan Carlos Gomez? Anyone? Anyone at all?
I totally forgot about gomez. I feel certain hed have beaten haye. he didn't have the speed and power of haye but better in all other areas and he had an impressive number of title defenses unlike haye
No, but he just barely misses out. Nelson, Holy, De leon all above Haye but other than that, I can't see anyone better than him, Qawi? Toney? Jirov? No, no, no. I think it speaks volumes of a division where a guy with 2 world championship fights is in the top 5.
I disagree with qawi and toney. I feel theyd have weathered the early storm and taken haye late. I think jirov would have been a pick em fight. jirov was a beast at cruiser
No,, he would be top 10 maybe top 5 but i think holyfield, jirov, toney would all beat him
I would have liked to seen him at cruiser vs adamek, cunningham, huck and lebedev
I agree and he didn't have even near the longevity to be considered as such
I hate when fighters try to talk up their "legacy" in history. As Eubank says, it's not for them to do, it's for others to assess. A real lack of humility.
Deff not the second I mean he did his thing but you add the weak division and the strong division back in the days he's not up there in my book.. If beat the kitch then he would be number 5 at best maybe 4.. Personally not a favorite fighter of mine either but I like how he sells the fight with all drama that's the only things I'll miss