Tweet
Haye must learn lessons from his humbling
Interesting article on BoxRec from a UK sports writer (Martin Williams, who was previously very supportive of David Haye):
http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/hay...s-his-humbling
http://news.boxrec.com/news/2011/hay...s-his-humbling
When David Haye stood toe-to-toe with Wladimir Klitschko last Saturday night I could never have envisaged such a one-sided beat-down. The 12-round clinic that followed and ensuing stories about the 'Bermondsey Bomber’s' dodgy foot were difficult to swallow. Haye’s capitulation and the tide of wallowing self-pity and excuses which swept through his camp this week have all but destroyed the foundations of any legacy he created.
A giant tree fell before the Hayemaker on his path to the Hall of Fame at Canastota.
Before the fight, I predicted: “If Haye lands big and backs up the big Ukrainian, taking him out of his comfort zone, then the fight is his. If he lets ‘Dr Steelhammer’ get into his rhythm and assert his jab then he will get stopped or lose on points. It’s going to be intriguing.”
From the second round onwards you could see how the fight was going to pan out. Haye jumped in and out with no focus or game plan. He was clueless and barely got past Klitschko’s jab all night. He landed the odd hook but failed to establish himself or stamp his authority at any point.
So he was disappointing; that’s a given. And to Wladimir. What a performance – speed, accuracy and a strong chin were all he needed to negate anything the former WBA champ threw his way. He was quite brilliant on the night, and I take my hat off to him.
I had described him as pedestrian in the past but was proved completely wrong by his actions in Hamburg. Klitschko rammed home the jab like a scud missile. He made Haye look like an inexperienced amateur as the 30-year-old winged away with wayward, looping would-be humdingers.
It was a poor showing, and he should have held his hands up, congratulated the champ and been humble. Instead he took his boot off and showed us his damaged toe, then limped out of the ring (despite not limping into it, or at any point in the fight) and made excuses for not being able to push off his foot and land his big shots.
It was laughable.
And this was after making the greatest British boxer in recent history – the awe-inspiring Lennox Lewis (who would have beaten both of them on the same night) – hang around waiting for almost 15 minutes like a hotel porter as he played mind games in the dressing room.
I was a big Haye fan, and I still believe he has the talent to become a world champion again, but not while the Klitschko brothers are around. He is supposed to be retiring in October, so where does he go from here? Strictly Come Dancing? Celebrity Big Brother? A role in a B-movie with Steven Seagal? Or maybe he should shelve his ridiculous plans to leave the sport, get back in the ring in September/October and take on the likes of Tomasz Adamek, Eddie Chambers or even the winner of Tyson Fury vs Dereck Chisora.
His stock is low having made so many excuses; plans to take the entertainment world by storm are just that – plans. Now that he’s no longer a champ there will not be a queue of lightweight chat show hosts ready to sit on a couch with him and discuss what it’s like to punch somebody in the face.
David Haye is a fighter, a very good fighter who came up against a man who nullified every weapon in his arsenal. Klitschko has proven he is the real deal, a true champion who can now enjoy a proper legacy.
Haye can’t do that. He won’t make it to the HoF unless he gives the people what they want – proper fights, the proper attitude and no excuses.
I truly hope he boxes again and learns lessons from Klitschko, who showed true class in and out of the ring in the build-up and aftermath of their showdown.
As for a rematch? Don’t make me laugh.
A giant tree fell before the Hayemaker on his path to the Hall of Fame at Canastota.
Before the fight, I predicted: “If Haye lands big and backs up the big Ukrainian, taking him out of his comfort zone, then the fight is his. If he lets ‘Dr Steelhammer’ get into his rhythm and assert his jab then he will get stopped or lose on points. It’s going to be intriguing.”
From the second round onwards you could see how the fight was going to pan out. Haye jumped in and out with no focus or game plan. He was clueless and barely got past Klitschko’s jab all night. He landed the odd hook but failed to establish himself or stamp his authority at any point.
So he was disappointing; that’s a given. And to Wladimir. What a performance – speed, accuracy and a strong chin were all he needed to negate anything the former WBA champ threw his way. He was quite brilliant on the night, and I take my hat off to him.
I had described him as pedestrian in the past but was proved completely wrong by his actions in Hamburg. Klitschko rammed home the jab like a scud missile. He made Haye look like an inexperienced amateur as the 30-year-old winged away with wayward, looping would-be humdingers.
It was a poor showing, and he should have held his hands up, congratulated the champ and been humble. Instead he took his boot off and showed us his damaged toe, then limped out of the ring (despite not limping into it, or at any point in the fight) and made excuses for not being able to push off his foot and land his big shots.
It was laughable.
And this was after making the greatest British boxer in recent history – the awe-inspiring Lennox Lewis (who would have beaten both of them on the same night) – hang around waiting for almost 15 minutes like a hotel porter as he played mind games in the dressing room.
I was a big Haye fan, and I still believe he has the talent to become a world champion again, but not while the Klitschko brothers are around. He is supposed to be retiring in October, so where does he go from here? Strictly Come Dancing? Celebrity Big Brother? A role in a B-movie with Steven Seagal? Or maybe he should shelve his ridiculous plans to leave the sport, get back in the ring in September/October and take on the likes of Tomasz Adamek, Eddie Chambers or even the winner of Tyson Fury vs Dereck Chisora.
His stock is low having made so many excuses; plans to take the entertainment world by storm are just that – plans. Now that he’s no longer a champ there will not be a queue of lightweight chat show hosts ready to sit on a couch with him and discuss what it’s like to punch somebody in the face.
David Haye is a fighter, a very good fighter who came up against a man who nullified every weapon in his arsenal. Klitschko has proven he is the real deal, a true champion who can now enjoy a proper legacy.
Haye can’t do that. He won’t make it to the HoF unless he gives the people what they want – proper fights, the proper attitude and no excuses.
I truly hope he boxes again and learns lessons from Klitschko, who showed true class in and out of the ring in the build-up and aftermath of their showdown.
As for a rematch? Don’t make me laugh.
Comment