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From Setanta:
STRONGER MAN
It is no secret that Haye’s aspirations for the future lie in the heavyweight division. He has spoken at length about his battle with the scales, and prior to putting pen to paper on the deal which secured the biggest all-British bout of 2008 he looked set to begin his campaign for a shot at the biggest prize in sport. Whether coming down in weight will weaken him in any way remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Haye is the bigger man. Maccarinelli is very comfortable at cruiser and because of this one wonders if Haye’s extra size will convert to extra strength.
NEEDS JUST ONE OPENING
Given the styles of the two boxers one would imagine that it will be Maccarinelli who will push the fight. Also, given the threat posed to the Londoner’s questionable chin by Maccarinelli’s heavy hands, Haye may try to tie up his opponent should the action get to close quarters and drain him with a little wrestling. This could allow him to dictate the fight and create openings – and in a fight like this one chance will more than likely be enough.
HOME ADVANTAGE
Haye, as champion, will also enjoy the benefits of home advantage. Granted, many neutrals are supportive of both boxers, but with 20,000 people set to pack the O2, one would imagine that the majority of those in attendance will be London born and bred. This of course could work against the former amateur star. We saw how he can cope when the crowd is against him - last time out against Jean Marc Mormeck - but we have also seen him crumble when the crowd is strongly in his favour.
EXPERIENCE
There is no doubt that Haye felt obliged to put on a show for his home fans in his sole defeat (to Carl Thompson at Wembley) but there are indications that he has learned from his mistakes and now boxes to win rather than just to entertain.
Experience is perhaps the biggest difference between the two boxers. Asides from Maccarinelli’s victory over Wayne Braithwaite, there is no doubt that Haye has mixed in higher classes. What he has learned could come in useful, should he face adversity against the Welshman.
ACCLIMATISATION
As has become the norm in recent years, big British fight nights are taking place in the middle of the night to cater for American TV, and although Maccarinelli is no stranger to burning the 3am oil - having done so on the Calzaghe v Kessler card - Haye has gone one step further by setting up a training camp in Miami. Maccarinelli will have done his best to adjust his body clock in the Calzaghe gym, but nothing beats going the whole hog and shifting timezones to get ready.
CONTROL FIGHT WITH JAB
Adversity is something he will almost certainly have to deal with. Maccarinelli will come forward at every opportunity, he will throw hard, fast and plentiful jabs, crosses and hooks and look to set a fast pace. Post-Thompson, Haye has lowered his output considerably. He likes to jab for much of a round before exploding in bursts. Should he be able to keep Maccarinelli off with the jab, the fight is effectively his.
That said, he could win every round and get KO’ed in the dying seconds a la Meldrick Taylor! Roll on fightnight.
It is no secret that Haye’s aspirations for the future lie in the heavyweight division. He has spoken at length about his battle with the scales, and prior to putting pen to paper on the deal which secured the biggest all-British bout of 2008 he looked set to begin his campaign for a shot at the biggest prize in sport. Whether coming down in weight will weaken him in any way remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Haye is the bigger man. Maccarinelli is very comfortable at cruiser and because of this one wonders if Haye’s extra size will convert to extra strength.
NEEDS JUST ONE OPENING
Given the styles of the two boxers one would imagine that it will be Maccarinelli who will push the fight. Also, given the threat posed to the Londoner’s questionable chin by Maccarinelli’s heavy hands, Haye may try to tie up his opponent should the action get to close quarters and drain him with a little wrestling. This could allow him to dictate the fight and create openings – and in a fight like this one chance will more than likely be enough.
HOME ADVANTAGE
Haye, as champion, will also enjoy the benefits of home advantage. Granted, many neutrals are supportive of both boxers, but with 20,000 people set to pack the O2, one would imagine that the majority of those in attendance will be London born and bred. This of course could work against the former amateur star. We saw how he can cope when the crowd is against him - last time out against Jean Marc Mormeck - but we have also seen him crumble when the crowd is strongly in his favour.
EXPERIENCE
There is no doubt that Haye felt obliged to put on a show for his home fans in his sole defeat (to Carl Thompson at Wembley) but there are indications that he has learned from his mistakes and now boxes to win rather than just to entertain.
Experience is perhaps the biggest difference between the two boxers. Asides from Maccarinelli’s victory over Wayne Braithwaite, there is no doubt that Haye has mixed in higher classes. What he has learned could come in useful, should he face adversity against the Welshman.
ACCLIMATISATION
As has become the norm in recent years, big British fight nights are taking place in the middle of the night to cater for American TV, and although Maccarinelli is no stranger to burning the 3am oil - having done so on the Calzaghe v Kessler card - Haye has gone one step further by setting up a training camp in Miami. Maccarinelli will have done his best to adjust his body clock in the Calzaghe gym, but nothing beats going the whole hog and shifting timezones to get ready.
CONTROL FIGHT WITH JAB
Adversity is something he will almost certainly have to deal with. Maccarinelli will come forward at every opportunity, he will throw hard, fast and plentiful jabs, crosses and hooks and look to set a fast pace. Post-Thompson, Haye has lowered his output considerably. He likes to jab for much of a round before exploding in bursts. Should he be able to keep Maccarinelli off with the jab, the fight is effectively his.
That said, he could win every round and get KO’ed in the dying seconds a la Meldrick Taylor! Roll on fightnight.