Check David Haye out!! 235lbs!!

[Kilburn]

Exactly. Haye doesn't look that much bigger to me at all.

Not quite sure what all the fuss is about.

[DG.]

Exactly. Haye doesn't look that much bigger to me at all.

Not quite sure what all the fuss is about.

Anyone with a decent bit of muscle can see DH is just pumped up after training. He would have shrunk within the hour.

[DIRT SUGAR]

He's just rolling his shoulders too. I think he looks in tremendous shape and what we need now is to see him in with someone. I think Toney would be a great test. A big name who's still got some pop in his right hand and the skills to give Haye something to think about. Then test him out against someone bigger and stronger.

I met him a few years ago Wembley and was surprised at how slight he seemed, considering how muscular he is when he's in the ring.

Whatever happens it'll be interesting. He's a proper heavyweight for sure. Whether he can do his thing against Klitschko remains to be seen, but let's be honest, he's hardly shined recently has he.

It's all there for Haye to prove us wrong and I think he looks in superb shape. Being muscular never stopped Ken Norton (even though his chin let him down against punchers). And to be honest, he doesn't have to worry about the likes of Ali/Foreman/Frazier to worry about does he?

[J]

exactly if he had bitch tits everyone would be moaning he doesnt live the life...
a load of cobblers aint half spouted on here at times.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He's just rolling his shoulders too. I think he looks in tremendous shape and what we need now is to see him in with someone. I think Toney would be a great test. A big name who's still got some pop in his right hand and the skills to give Haye something to think about. Then test him out against someone bigger and stronger.

I met him a few years ago Wembley and was surprised at how slight he seemed, considering how muscular he is when he's in the ring.

Whatever happens it'll be interesting. He's a proper heavyweight for sure. Whether he can do his thing against Klitschko remains to be seen, but let's be honest, he's hardly shined recently has he.

It's all there for Haye to prove us wrong and I think he looks in superb shape. Being muscular never stopped Ken Norton (even though his chin let him down against punchers). And to be honest, he doesn't have to worry about the likes of Ali/Foreman/Frazier to worry about does he?

Personally I think 235 is too heavy. Punch resistance is innate to a large degree, and the shape of a fighter also comes into play. Almost every fighter with terrific punch resistance I can think of were barrell chested, with very short squat necks, which Haye definetly is not.

The extra weight and bulk may help him in clinches, but it WILL NOT enhance his ability to take a shot to the chin. If anything, the speed he loses will put him more at risk.

I'm looking forward to Haye's heavyweight adventure, but history would suggest that adding extra weight to your frame, does little if anything to enhance a fighters ability to compete.

If haye succeeds at heavyweight, which he may well do, I think it will be in spite, rather than because of his bulkier frame.

Maybe I'm just jealous because I'm a fat blob

[WildWaylon]

Is there that much difference?

Yes I would say so, the muscle isnt so well defined. As we all know Hatton puts on loads of weight between fights but its fat that can be shed in the gym and also by road running. Not so easy to lose weight if you bulk up with muscle. Maybe he can get down to 230 but that will be tough going. He has always had power and speed which were his greatest assets. He will still have the power but speed, stamina and endurance are now questionable I think. When did he last have to go the distance, its a while ago, I think. Maybe the division is lacking a bit at the moment but Klitsko, Chagaev and Valuev and are not likely to fall over in the 3rd or 4th rounds are they, so staying with them will require real stamina as a HW. We shall have to wait and see how he gets on but I for one am dissapointed he has bulked up that much. Had it been too much Guinness I would say so what.

[Autobarn]

First off it's good to have a heavyweight who takes care of himself & works to be in condition. Haye has often said as a heavyweight he'll have "speed and athleticism", so hopefully he'll have plenty.

But extra weight can be dead weight in a long hard fight. I aslo think overdeveloped muscles hinder your punch delivery.

[Kilburn]

I say for now lets leave it to the professionals to decide how heavy Haye should be. He could be great at 235 for all we know.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Is there that much difference?

Yes I would say so, the muscle isnt so well defined. As we all know Hatton puts on loads of weight between fights but its fat that can be shed in the gym and also by road running. Not so easy to lose weight if you bulk up with muscle. Maybe he can get down to 230 but that will be tough going. He has always had power and speed which were his greatest assets. He will still have the power but speed, stamina and endurance are now questionable I think. When did he last have to go the distance, its a while ago, I think. Maybe the division is lacking a bit at the moment but Klitsko, Chagaev and Valuev and are not likely to fall over in the 3rd or 4th rounds are they, so staying with them will require real stamina as a HW. We shall have to wait and see how he gets on but I for one am dissapointed he has bulked up that much. Had it been too much Guinness I would say so what.

To be fair about this; Haye is going to look a lot more defined in picture one, as he is making weight for a fight at Cruiserweight. He is going to be deyhdrated.

Take into account also that he has obviously just completed a workout (forcing blood into the muscles engorging them), and he is also flexing to make his muscles bigger.

What is undeniable however, is that his pectorals are much much bigger now than they were.

[knockout]

Remember that training video he had on youtube a year or so ago.
he was 224 in that so he has put on 11lbs. He will not fight at this weight i guess, he will come in lighter when he steps up the training for the fight.

In athletics terms he is in his "winter training" he will lighten and sharpen as the fight approaches.

[El Raincoat]

As the old saying goes you can't put Muscle on your chin though.

His phsique was never going to be a problem. I completely reserve judgement until we see how he hold s up under fire to a real Heavyweight.

We'll have an incling into how he feels and the confidence Golden Boy have in him by how he's matched latter this year.

[Autobarn]

Yeah, in pic 1 he would look defined as he has no fat on him from making weight. Dehydrating like that is what movie stars do for martial arts and action films so that they look awesome (but are knackered and ratty during filming) and ppl in body building contests take that to the extreme also.

[Autobarn]

Hmm, so all the promtoers that wanted to get their fighters busy in September/Oct are going to have a much harder time now.

[Poncey]

Remember that training video he had on youtube a year or so ago.
he was 224 in that so he has put on 11lbs. He will not fight at this weight i guess, he will come in lighter when he steps up the training for the fight.

In athletics terms he is in his "winter training" he will lighten and sharpen as the fight approaches.

Saw that too, whcih is why I'm surprised about the fuss being made about him at 235. His walking weight is documented as between 217 and 225, so I really don't see the problem with him adding 4% extra body weight. He probably loses that much after having a shit.

[DIRT SUGAR]

Well it's a case of wait and see, but you see pictures of a well-defined, at his peak Muhammad Ali (Liston rematch) and you'd say he was the perfect fighting specimen.

Haye looks in tremendous condition and I can't wait to see how he matches up against the bigger, flabbier bunch of no-hopers (Klitschko aside) we have running the show at the moment. I think Haye will wipe the floor with all of them. Only ones I feel who could do him some damage are are Vlad and Samuel Peter, who is big and can punch but has been tucking into some serious dinners since becoming champion.

[Stephen]

I remember Gil Clancy saying that old time trainers used to say a fighter with the washboard abs couldn't take a bodyshot as well as a fighter who had a layer of subcutaneous fat over his abdominal muscles. Which kind of makes sense if you've ever seen anybody go down from a liver punch. Having a sculpted physique may not be a great advantage. I can think of fighters of years gone by such as Goyo Vargas, Tony Ayala Jr, Greg Page who would never impress anybody by how aesthetic their bodies appeared yet kicked the crap out of a lot of body-beautiful types. Even Larry Holmes and Muhamad Ali were kind of soft looking for a large number of fights in their respective careers. Then again, Klitschko doesn't throw many body shots. Ibragimov on the other hand used to really pound the body, back when he was a very aggressive brawler. I'd love to see Haye fight Sultan Ibragimov. Ibragimov has a rock solid chin, I've seen him take some huge punches from Klitschko, Austin and sparring partner Corey Sanders, only to dust himself off and get right back to it. If Haye handles Sultan well I'll take Haye as a serious heavyweight contender. Rahman and Maskaev don't really do that for me.

[jeej]

I doubt very much he will look that 'chunky' come fight night.

[lurkyshaka]

Some seem to be totally overeacting to this photo with all the talk of him bulking up to much, steroids etc.....he's clearly flexing for the picture during a training sessions when his muscles will be pumped.

Haye as a 230 heavyweight will be fast, dangerous and every inch legit. Its not a guarantee of success at the weight, but he has every possible chance against the current crap parading around as the baddest men on the planet.

[Raff The Frenchman]

I laugh when I see how so many people are jerking themselved on in front of David Haye pics flexing, is this a mr Universe contest or what?
Yes its important to be in shape, yes muscle definition does matter, and we all know Haye comes in great shape, but this sounds a bit too much to me.
Carrying all that muscle won't mean Haye will beat any HW, too much muscle isn't good either, and Wlad or Briggs could tell you about it.
For the moment, Haye hasn't beaten any top30 HW, and we don't even know the name of his opponent yet, so why not stop phantacising over Haye's physique and have some real info on whom he is going to face?

[josh fg]

Is there that much difference?

yeah I think his neck muscles (not sure what they are called sorry guys) are much more defined but other than that I think he's just pumped after a work out. Would learn much more from a video of him training though.

any news on the opponent (I've been unable to follow boxing for a while!)

[Raff The Frenchman]

Is there that much difference?

yeah I think his neck muscles (not sure what they are called sorry guys) are much more defined but other than that I think he's just pumped after a work out. Would learn much more from a video of him training though.

any news on the opponent (I've been unable to follow boxing for a while!)

dude, anyone flexing with such posture after right after weight lifting would look like he has bulky neck muscles...

[EddieShredder]

I don't see what the fuss is at all... he's probably within 5-10lbs of the weight he walked around at when he was a cruiser.... certainly not too much more. He's pumped from training, and he's posing....

There's no issue at all.

[Hardhitters11]

Agree with Eddie, Fuss about nothing.

[Grilling Machine]

Why can't folk these days just ask for a white coffee?

I'd forgotten people call them lats! I'm no bodybuilder, y'see.

[Stephen]

He looks impressively fit, I think he fights impressively too, but he needs to do more than flex his muscles and beat his gums. Why doesn't he fight Sultan Ibragimov and see if he can KO Sultan? That's something Klitschko could not do. Haye called Sultan a bum so he ought to underscore his assertion of superiority by actually proofing it. Or is it going to be yap-yap-yap until he finds some ex-beltholder whose chin has been turned into fine crystal over the years? Is Ibragimov too dangerous for this chiseled achilles?