Comments Thread For: Steward: David Haye Will Be Wladimir's Signature Fight

[Gumby McPokey]

Haye is a very poor choice for a rivalry for Wladimir. Other than suddenly declaring himself the "heavyweight saviour" three years ago, Haye has done nothing memorable. Five years from now, no boxing fan will be talking about any heavyweight fight David Haye has been in. Haye's entire existence at heavyweight has been based on his constant talk about beating the Klitschkos, something that most boxing fans have been hoping to see for a long time.

Boxing fans around the world have been dreaming of a brash young fighter who would explode onto the scene in the manner of Mike Tyson, and work his way up the heavyweight division, demolishing everyone in his path, until the climax of his career against Wladimir Klitschko. Haye has cleverly chosen to paint himself as this mythical fighter, and plays the part in the media even though his achievements in the ring have been mediocre.

Now we've reached the point in the story when the exciting newcomer meets the previously-invincible champion, and fans everywhere are excited. Unfortunately, the narrative is entirely imaginary, and the real fight is bound to be an anti-climax. Haye is nowhere near being "even odds" (as someone stated earlier in this thread) for this fight. His only real chance is to land a surprise shot early, but the odds against that are quite long. On the morning of 3 July, a great number of people are going to be scratching their heads, wondering how they ever could have bought into the idea that David Haye was a serious contender.

[tlarry]

Haye Will Catch One Big Bomb And It's Over!

Hate will try to do a flurry and run nights. Throw a bunch of patty-cake flurries then run. Then try to swarm again, then run. The problem is he's never been hit by a real heavyweight, and when he catches that ball bat right hand or left hook on the jaw, turn the shower on. Hate had NO chance.

[Feint]

Both are right. Haye has done nothing at Heavyweight to justify the hype, but he's a genius at self-promotion, and has managed to convince a lot of people that he has a serious chance of winning. It's the first time for years that a lot of people think Wlad has a genuine chance of losing. Also, even though Haye is over-rated by many, he still has a combination of power, speed and explosiveness that Wlad hasn't had to face since the Sanders fight. Thus he does have a puncher's chance, despite his lack of skills and defence. So even though Haye is seriously over-rated, as Wlad's fans say he is (although not as over-rated as some of them claim - he is explosive and very fast), he will still be Wlad's signature fight in a way, because so many people have bought into his hype, and because he does have a puncher's chance of winning.

Great post. Not much more to add.

[Jack Napier]

in terms of hype, yes
but Byrd is the best fighter Wlad has beat and probably will beat
Haye overrated as hell

[Mike Tyson77]

WLAD TKO8 Haye

[jisi]

Steward is right and Wlad will be aggressive in this fight.

Wlad by KO round 5.

[-Kev-]

I agree.

Haye is dangerous puncher, especially in the early rounds. Like Marco Huck, Haye knows how to put his full weight into his punches.

But Haye is overrated by his fans - he really doesn't have elite boxing skills.

Steward is mistaken in his strategy for this fight.

Wlad SHOULD make it into a chess match as much as possible, because that the kind of fight Haye cannot win. Wlad is a smarter, more skillful boxer than Haye.

However, if Wlad is too aggressive early as he was with Sanders and makes it into a war, Haye will have a real chance of catching him with a combination of hard shots and putting him on the canvas.

I feel a bit uneasy about Steward being in Wlad's corner for this one. Steward seems to want Wlad to become popular with the American media, but that honestly can never happen no matter what Wlad does in the ring because of where he's was born.

I remember how Wlad gassed in the 5th round against Brewster after going all-out to KO him for 4 2/3 rounds. Manny should be telling Wlad to pace himself and do what he's normally been doing since 2005, and Haye will eventually make mistakes and leave himself open for left hooks and straight rights.

I agree, not every boxer can successfully fight in different styles. I don't see Wlad being able to stay aggressive and go toe to toe with Haye without getting caught. The only active fighters who can box in one fight, and go toe to toe in another fight is Floyd Mayweather Jr and Andre Ward, that I am aware of.

Wlad would have been a better received boxer if he had more than one style, unfortunately boxing smart is the only way he is successful. But with that said he is very good at what he does. If he boxes Haye, he would win 120-108. And even if he fights toe to toe with Haye, I see Wlad winning anyways, but Haye will be able to catch 2-3 times.