Make Or Break For New Heavyweight David Haye
Posted in Uncategorized on November 14th, 2008 by admin
Haye connecting with a left against Ismail Abdoul July 2006
BY: Pete Goldthorpe
With this month being the most important on the British calendar this year for both amateur and professional boxing, numerous British fighters have already got wins under their belts and more are looking to do the same. This Saturday is one of the most important nights in Cruiserweight sensation David Haye’s 21-1-0 career, who steps up to Heavyweight on his quest to follow in the footsteps of great former champion Evander Holyfield to win both Cruiserweight and Heavyweight World Titles.
A lot has been speculated on Haye moving up in weight for the second time as to whether he will be able to adapt to this division without losing his qualities which have got him to where he is today, such as his slick movement and speed which gets him into all the right angles to land his devastatingly powerfull shots. But according to the Haye camp, he is in the best shape of his life and is ten times more physically and mentally prepared than his last outing against Enzo Maccarinelli and there’s nothing to worry about.
I personally do not think that there is anything to worry about, as now he will be fighting at more his natural weight. So if anything we will see a more relaxed Haye than ever before, although this is make or break against the highly motivated and totally focused fighting machine known as Monte “Two Gunz” Barrett 34-6-0. This bout could possibly be a blockbuster as neither fighter have a height or reach advantage and both have questionable chins along with reputations as knock out artists in their respective home countries.
Barrett has fought against some of the best Heavyweights going at the minute, Hasim Rahman, Nikolay Valuev and the main man in Hayes sights Wladimir Klitschko and also an experienced veteran in ‘Terrible’ Tim Witherspoon, as well as numerous world title fights. So ‘Two-Gunz’ Barrett is an experienced fighter who will be anything but a pushover, but at thirty-seven years of age the relatively youthful Haye will be looking for this fight to end inside the distance, and this looks a possibility as Barrett has been knocked out in devastating fashion against a questionable opponent Cliff Couser and taken a drilling from W.Klitschko which resembled Joe Frazier’s beating at the hands of George Foreman shows just how susceptible he is to the big punchers of the division.
He is also renowned for not putting his opponents under enough pressure and not willing to take his chances. However Barrett is fantastic when picking off and wearing down his opponents, easily finding his range from a distance. Barrett doesn’t like being closed down and if Haye can take the fight to him, his legs will not be able to withstand the pressure as the age gap will be extremely important and visible for all to see. I think Barrett could go into survival mode staying unscathed working off the back foot eagerly waiting for that one opportunity to end it there and then. Whilst Haye will be his usual self, firing on all cylinders going for his grand stand finish ironically throwing them devastating Hayemakers.
But overall I believe this will be an extremely successful time for Haye with this just being the start of better things to come and if all goes to plan for Haye we will see the start of a new era, not only for the British heavyweight division but the entire world as shortly after this there will undoubtedly be some mega-fights on the horizon. Also keep an eye on Liverpool’s unbeaten lightweight sensation John Watson (8-0), who will be fighting on the under-card. Certainly one to look out for.
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