I'm no Klitschko fan but Briggs was never up to much in his prime, let alone now. A snooze-a-thon dominated by Wlad's jab with a KO coming in the last few rounds.
I would like to see a link that confirms 23K for a Haye fight in England. I am pretty sure that is at the very least a slight exaggeration.
I saw attendance for the Ruiz fight at around 16K or 18K depending on the site that reported it.
If that's the case it doesn't speak well about Haye that he grew 7K less fans to the Ruiz fight than he did for either the Valuev or Enzo fights.
Why such a sudden decline in popularity?
A mandatory defence is hardly the same as the Enzo vs Haye Battle of Britain and a fight on foreign soil against a freak of nature for a world title.
It does make me laugh how everyone on here seems to think that they know exactly what discussions have taken place between Klitschko and Haye's respective camps. Haye's been marked down as a bottlejob by everyone when I reckon that he's being shrewd and ensuring that he gets the best deal that he can.
I'll wager with anyone that Haye will fight a Klitschko this year.
As for Chagaev; do me a favour. Haye would knock him out.
Not the same Pac was a well known fighter before he moved to WW and had huge fights with future hall of famers. The same can't be said about haye ,and he also was fighting in one of least popular divisions......
Exactly.
If Haye were to beat a Klitschko, or even lose in a gallant fashion then his profile, and ticket sales would go through the roof.
Delaying a fight doesn't translate to getting the best deal. There is only so much Haye can get from a Klitschko because he's not even a draw in his own country. Both Klitschkos pack arenas in Germany on a regular basis, so they will dictate the terms of the fight, not Haye.
Haye is a massive draw in England. The box office figures for his fight against Valuev were up there with the best ever. He has also packed out every venue he has fought in over the past few years. He may not be a world name but he is very much the most popular boxer of the moment here in Britain.
First round knockout but this fight won't happen anyway. If it does, it'll be a tune up for Haye to fight one of the brothers Grimm. (I hope so anyway otherwise even my patience will start to wear thin!)
Funny you have to repeat about the Valuev fight, it has already been mentioned. Stop ducking the point, that is the only HW fight of Haye that did close to what the Klitschkos do. The figures against Ruiz were not released, why?
The Klitschkos are much bigger draws than Haye.
Haye is new to the heavyweight division, he hasn't been around for donkey's years like the brothers Grimm and of course the Valuev fight is going to be a bigger draw than Ruiz. First of all it was for a world title and secondly it was against the biggest freak of nature ever seen in the boxing world. A fight against a dull, past it 'Quiet Man' was never gonna cut it in comparison.
I've acknowledged that there's an unfortunate race issue with Amir, For some reason the British dont like the kid because of his color. Even Khan himself said "If I were a white British fighter, Id be a superstar".
So my question to the British is if Amir Khan was white would you like him more?
I hate to say it but the UK seems like its not at the same level as the US when it comes to race relations and tolerance, Heck just look at the US president.
American fans are pure boxing fans. They dont bring prejudice into the boxing arena. For instance Manny is oriental yet he gets great support in america. That would never ever happen in britain. Only place manny would get support in the UK is in china town or Chinese restaurant.
That being said I know that Britian is a very divided country, There is no such thing as "British", You are either English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, or a derogatory term for anything else. Perhaps the problem the UK faces is that they have been unable to define a national identity. For instance in the US there are Italian-Americans, Jewish-Americans, Arab-Americans, African-Americans, Latino-Americans....But are all still Americans.
Last time I looked Haye, Eubank, Benn, Bruno, Honeghan, Lewis, Hamed...(I could go on)...weren't white.
The US is a far more divided country racially than Britain.
No, that shit happens too.
I saw them run out of the shop. I was told by a friend later that he was burnt alive. And no mate, you'd think it would make national news but F did it. This is my point. You dont see it so you dont wanna believe it. This doesnt happen everywhere, and happens very very rarely to this extreme... but it happens.
What's that I can smell...hmmm, yep BULLSHIT!
Haye will fight a Klitschko this year. We're all frustrated that nothings been sorted yet but in all fairness we know **** all about what's been offered by the Klitschko camp. The fight will happen.
Lewis was too Green for Bowe at that time, he would have gotten KOed.
Bowe wasn't fit to lace Lewis's boots. He battered him in the amateurs and would've done the same in the pro's.
why are we talking tua? well, anyway since we're here i think tua can put haye to sleep. but just the same i doubt if haye has the balls for it.
Mong.
Tua is a joke; he should've just disappeared after his pathetic performance against Lewis. Lard arse bum and nothing more.
Nothing Warren has to say should be taken seriously. He's a scumbag with far too many axes to grind. His constant sniping at far more talented fighters than those he promotes is pathetic.
haha, so many experts adamant that Haye is running. Let's wait and see what the man himself has to say first eh?!
Considering Haye's supposed to be looking after his sick missus at the moment, Stewards timing is muggy in the extreme.
This would be hilarious if Audley got a shot at Haye's title!!
I hope that even if the Klitschko fight gets the go ahead some time soon that Haye fights Audrey as a tune up and puts him out of his misery, the man's a bad joke.