David Haye - The boxer

[hookoutofhell]

Haye promised much in the build up to the Valuev fight, one promise being to knock Valuev out. However, the reality inside of the ring didn't reflect the boasts and predictions made outside of it. Instead of the spectacular knockout pledged beforehand, Haye delivered a boxing masterclass that answered more questions than it raised.

Fighting a 7+ foot giant of a man, who weighs 100 pounds more than yourself is never going to be easy, but for the most part Haye made it look like childs play. His gameplan was perfect. If there are doubts about your punch resistance and stamina issues, there is a simple way to negate them...don't get hit, and don't dispence with wasteful punches that drain your energy. Use your footwork and head movement to dodge punches and avoid being trapped on the ropes, and only strike when the opportunity arises. For 99% of the fight, Haye stuck to these tactics, and made very few mistakes. Many people didn't believe that Haye had the patience or the schooling to fight in a calculated, and intellectual manner, which makes the manner of his victory much more impressive than a KO win. We already know that Haye can punch, but last night he proved that he can box pretty well too.

Some uninformed and hateful posters, who frankly don't know anything about boxing, may call his performance uninspiring and unexicting, but the truth is, you can't look good against Valuev. Holyfield even said that the perfect gameplan to beat Valuev is a boring one. There may be a case that Chagaev and Holyfield performed better in their respective fights against Valuev than Haye did, but neither of those fighters had to accommodate a weak chin into their fight equations. It's easy to stand in front of the man opposite yourself and wing in punches when you don't have to worry about being knocked out. You have to remember that Haye has been hurt against much lesser fighters than Valuev. To stand and trade with such a beast, would have been suicide.

Finally, if you are criticising Haye for not engaging enough, and are now calling him "boring", watch the other 22 or so fights in his career where he is knocking out guys left right and centre, then come back and call him "boring". First and foremost boxing is about winning. Sometimes you can't take risks and you have to do what you have to do. This is especially true when the guy you are fighting is 7 foot tall. Haye did what he had to do, became the first man to hurt Valuev, and thus proved he is a top heavyweight and a force to be reckoned with. He has the skills, he has the speed, he has the power, and he has the mouth to set alight the heavyweight division again. I'm looking forward to it.

iv followed hayes career for a while now and i think alot of people don't see this side to him. haye first showed that he could box intelligently when he fought ismail abdoul, in that fight haye did enough to win the rounds and got the decision. last night he did the same thing, easing off once he had won the round, not giving the other guy mistakes to capitalise on and not doing anything reckless.

imo though i think haye was forced to do this becauseof the broken right hand, if he hadn't broke it i think he would have thrown more punches.

[Bigchill79]

Haye was sweet last night

[King_Lukas]

The performance was a bit of a suprise to me but nowhere near as much of a suprise as the judges scorecards like! Can't believe they gave the right decision!!

Me too, I felt an almost certain Valuev decision even if Haye won by 6 rounds, the judges must not have been german

[Bigchill79]

Me too, I felt an almost certain Valuev decision even if Haye won by 6 rounds, the judges must not have been german

Knowing Germany I was worried - until Haye closed the show final rounds

[RoyJonesJrp4pno1]

wow, are you serious?

Duck the real champ Wlad than fight Valuev and then run for his life then act like a real champ after.

[- JCHING -]

Duck the real champ Wlad than fight Valuev and then run for his life then act like a real champ after.

You are a complete and utter idiot.

[RoyJonesJrp4pno1]

You are a complete and utter idiot.

Did Haye duck Wladamir and Vitali?

[S.G.]

Haye missed dozens and dozens of countering opportunities. I'd hardly call it a Mayweather-esque performance.

[colin scott]

I think haye boxed very intelligently and showed good skills and considering the weight and height advantage it would have been silly to box any other way,I had haye winning by a few rounds.Valuev kept walking forward all night but landed very few in the way of clean punches.Also i think the fact that haye broke his hand quite early on in the fight makes the win even more impresive.

[Syf]

Haye could have knocked out Valuev..But overall I think he did OK