Report from Haye's press conference

[dondada]

There will be a huge scramble for the olympic boxers, probably already started behind the scenes.

Definitely has started. Paul King of the ABAE is trying to put together a financial package that will keep some of the younger lads on until 2012.

But the ABAE is, once again, in danger of imploding at a crucial time - an apparent fall out with UK Sport.

[Max Molyneux]

I not being negative, I just think its a big risk which he could have done without.

True, Haye and Booth are being far too over confident and havent even started their heavyweight job yet. Hope Haye does It but I'm finding It hard to take to It like many have, It sounds too fairy tale like and fighting only twice a year In two years then retired doesn't Inspire my confidence In his chances.

I think he can win a belt but thats It.

[charlieb]

Strike while the iron's hot.

Good luck to them, I'm sure they'll find a lot of friends in high places, GBP for a start. This sport has been mishandled and allowed to decay from the inside out for far too long. The wind of change started blowing in 2007 and it hasn't lost it's bluster yet.

[twenty six]

Just a naive question.
Who precisely within Hayemaker has a Promotor's licence ?

[Maelstrom]

Just a naive question.
Who precisely within Hayemaker has a Promotor's licence ?

I thought they had linked up with Dave Coldwell at Koncrete to promote?

[Maelstrom]

Why do people who want to achieve something have to come out with a massive fanfare and stroke their ego so much?

Why can't they just get their head down, do the job and prove to everyone what they are about?

This kind of stuff makes me want them to fail.

To be honest, it isn't so much Haye but smug faced Booth.

I can see the smile on his face now as he was putting everyone 'on notice'.

Jesus mate... who the HELL are you?

Talk about riding off the back of a naturally talented fighter. I reckon I could have trained Haye and got him to a world title!

Let's ask Spencer Fearon and Sugar Ray Clay Jones Junior whatshisname about how good he is.

One thing in common with that mob.... all style, no substance.

I just hope Haye isn't dragged to their level...

They're talking about getting into the promotional business but you wonder why they cant just shut up and do it on the quiet?

Well Charlie, that's a rather one dimensional response.

Was it that hard to ascertain that I would rather they rant on about the fighters and fights they actually promote in the future, rather than tell us how good they are at something they have no track record in...?

[charlieb]

Why do people who want to achieve something have to come out with a massive fanfare and stroke their ego so much?

Why can't they just get their head down, do the job and prove to everyone what they are about?

This kind of stuff makes me want them to fail.

To be honest, it isn't so much Haye but smug faced Booth.

I can see the smile on his face now as he was putting everyone 'on notice'.

Jesus mate... who the HELL are you?

Talk about riding off the back of a naturally talented fighter. I reckon I could have trained Haye and got him to a world title!

Let's ask Spencer Fearon and Sugar Ray Clay Jones Junior whatshisname about how good he is.

One thing in common with that mob.... all style, no substance.

I just hope Haye isn't dragged to their level...

They're talking about getting into the promotional business but you wonder why they cant just shut up and do it on the quiet?

Well Charlie, that's a rather one dimensional response.

Was it that hard to ascertain that I would rather they rant on about the fighters and fights they actually promote in the future, rather than tell us how good they are at something they have no track record in...?

One track bias only demands one dimension of comprehension.

[Gray-Fox]

Incidentally, I think Dominic Guinn would be a good starter fight for Haye at heavy.

[m1kee50]

Incidentally, I think Dominic Guinn would be a good starter fight for Haye at heavy.

JD Chapman? lol

[Autobarn]

Some really mardy gits have been crawling out recently. Haye obviously had a decent break after draining himself for Mormeck, keeping his weight down for Mac & winning that fight. Then he's probably finding his right weight in the gym and sorting out his promoting company. Don't be too alarmed by the "top contender" bit. Top contender could mean anything from rated in the top 10 by sensible, independent rankings to the WBO.

Roy Jones was paid 5mil per fight on HBO for fighting "top contenders" - as rated by the IBF, WBC and WBA resulting in fights like he had vs Richard Frazier & Otis Grant.

After Haye has had the first fight at the weight, it will be a different story. If mistakes or rough edges are found, then he will fight at a modified schedule, obviously.

Also, I think with ppl on here being so reluctant to consider change, few are considering that Wladimir Klitschko may not be champion or even still be boxing when Haye is ready for a title shot.

[twenty six]

It's a weird thing, Autobarn.
Sometimes looking at poster's history you wonder if some of them have any backbone at all.
Their opinions float and change with the slightest of a breeze.
The very people who have slagged off certain promotors, crying desperately for change, now have a go at someone who is willing to do something about it, by trying to break the mould.
Make your mind up Guys.
In 5 years time, the big three in the UK could easily be Haye, Hatton, and Calzaghe - and I don't mean boxers.
Oh and if anyone of you seriously believes that this will lead to a mass of 50/50 fights you are sadly mistaken.
Boxing, in particular Promoting, is a business.
Promotors like it or not, exist to make money.
Secondary to that, is are the wills and demands of the fans.

[big lennox]

I think it will be interesting to see Haye as a promoter. I wonder whether he will match his fighters tough like he has.His instince is too take on the best so it will be fascinating to see if he expects the same of others.

[twenty six]

Ian,
Your report at the start, intimates you were at the press conference.
You have said Rhodes was there - he wasn't.

[Old bones Ian]

I think it will be interesting to see Haye as a promoter. I wonder whether he will match his fighters tough like he has.His instince is too take on the best so it will be fascinating to see if he expects the same of others.

Good point that, Haye had huge belief in his own ability right from the start of his pro career, so wasn't afraid to take on good quality opponents.
If you look at Hennessey as a promoter , he wasn't afraid to match his boxers tough from the start, and he hasn't got many of them left now. So maybe there's a lesson to be learnt there for Haye.

[Dioufy]

I can't wait for this - if Haye and Booth use the same philosopy with fighting the best and always taking a risk then we will see some very evenly matched fights. I actually expect Rhodes to be matched tough against Moore or even someone like Karmazin (incidentally does anyone know what's going on with Roman?).

[dondada]

Ian,
Your report at the start, intimates you were at the press conference.
You have said Rhodes was there - he wasn't.

My report intimates no such thing - it's just the facts. I watched it live on Setanta. However, I'll go and amend the bit on Ryan.

Booth actually turned round, looked down the table and nodded towards someone out of shot and said that Ryan was on board, 'Old Spice Boy', etc. I took that as meaning he was there - will change, so thanks for that.

[twenty six]

Ian,
Dont take it the wrong way mate I wasnt havin a go !
Just that several people have said to me he was there but he wasn't.
He's abroad with his family.

[dondada]

Ian,
Dont take it the wrong way mate I wasnt havin a go !
Just that several people have said to me he was there but he wasn't.
He's abroad with his family.

No, thanks for pointing it out mate - appreciated. He always seems to be jetting off!

[twenty six]

It's a working holiday, Ian. Trust me !

[Goz]

If Haye does follow through his pledge to gun for the best the Heavyweight division has to offer and actually sparks them all too - does anyone agree he has the potential to become the most famous British boxer of all time?

He has it all, the chat, the looks (not my type), knockout power (yet to be proven at HW granted) - if all goes according to Plan Haye he could be absolutely unbelivable.

[Dioufy]

He could spark them all but I guarantee that if he does he will still be remembered for that loss to Carl Thompson forever ago. He should be the most exciting boxer in the world by now - he knocked the unified champion in Jean Marc Mormeck clean out in France, he then totally unified against one of his biggest rivals and is now going for the linear heavyweight champion in Wlad Klitsckho. But still, people, especially the Yanks always remember him for one bad defeat years ago. I am therefore convinced that he won't get the credit he deserves because of that loss. And people wonder why boxers don't take risks, because we crucify them when it goes wrong. Pathetic.

[Goz]

He could spark them all but I guarantee that if he does he will still be remembered for that loss to Carl Thompson forever ago. He should be the most exciting boxer in the world by now - he knocked the unified champion in Jean Marc Mormeck clean out in France, he then totally unified against one of his biggest rivals and is now going for the linear heavyweight champion in Wlad Klitsckho. But still, people, especially the Yanks always remember him for one bad defeat years ago. I am therefore convinced that he won't get the credit he deserves because of that loss. And people wonder why boxers don't take risks, because we crucify them when it goes wrong. Pathetic.

Yes agreed, it's where boxing is different to all other sports.

In football you lose one week, all forgotten after the 3-0 home win the next week.

Get knocked out of the French Tennis Open in May, don;t worry Wimbledon is coming in June followed by the US Open in September. All of which will be happening again next year!

But boxing, you lost a fight? Woooaahh there, it couldn't have just been an 'off night'. Oh no let's bash them for it for the rest of their career.

I play enough sport myself to understand the implications of an 'off night'. Some nights you are just pure shite.

I think you are as good as your best win personally. That said I think David Haye can put that defeat behind him, even in the eyes of his biggest detractors. Cutting a swathe through the Heavies will make that defeat seem an awful long time ago.

[rhino222]

i dont agree, people dont only remember for his loss against rahman or mccall, they remember lennox as a great champ who basically unified the division, took on allcomers and beat the majority of them.

[Dioufy]

But Lewis got his revenge and that's something David will never get the chance of doing. Haye should be the most exciting boxer in world boxing for the reasons I gave - he wants only the best and usually beats them but certain people only remember him for that loss more than they do for being the unified crusierweight and probably the future linear heavyweight champion. I actually dare you to create a thread in the Yankee section and within five posts I bet Carl Thompson is mentioned. And that's wrong, because in his only 10th or 11th fight he took on a beast in Carl Thompson for a 'world-title' and he got burned but he has leanrt his lesson and that has made David a better person and a better boxer. However, some people love to cricitise folk for taking a risk and it not working out and the same people have a go at people like Amir Khan and Joe Calzaghe because they pad their records up with bums. You just can't win sometimes and David Haye is the most exciting fighter on the planet at this moment in time - there should be no doubt about that.

[Asterix]

He could spark them all but I guarantee that if he does he will still be remembered for that loss to Carl Thompson forever ago. He should be the most exciting boxer in the world by now - he knocked the unified champion in Jean Marc Mormeck clean out in France, he then totally unified against one of his biggest rivals and is now going for the linear heavyweight champion in Wlad Klitsckho. But still, people, especially the Yanks always remember him for one bad defeat years ago. I am therefore convinced that he won't get the credit he deserves because of that loss. And people wonder why boxers don't take risks, because we crucify them when it goes wrong. Pathetic.

I disagree. Haye will be remembered more for his wins against Mormeck and Maccarinelli than his loss to Thompson. The majority of people agree that Haye only lost due to inexperience, not ability.