David Haye-Kevin Johnson Reportedly a Done Deal

[Mensa07]

update on BS says Johnsons out, Haye gets a KICKING fromt the writer of this piece...

http://www.BS.com/?m=show&id=15936

[MightyWarrior]

Let's hope he sticks with KJohnson, a decent test, and not hillbilly JD Chapman, who looks like he could be an out and out bum.

[Max Molyneux]

People on ESB are reporting he might pick Chambers who's a good pick even though he can't crack an egg. They posted no sources about Chambers though.

[Poncey]

Because it's written by Rick Reeno, I don't trust that as far as I can throw it.

[Bard of Boxrec]

this is getting ridiculous, its been what 5 months since his last fight???

[Captain Hook]

i would rather haye fight johnson than an easy KO of Rahman who is totally washed up.

christ fellas, its an unbeaten fighter !!!!

I agree rhino !!!

So do I, what do people expect!?

[DavidPayne]

I tire of BS. I've referenced it once or twice but it is filling the gap left by DHB/Boxingtalk a) its trying publish every whisper going, quantity not quality lads and b) it tries to install things every time I visit.

It also has the most unavigable styling. You cant tell PR guff from insight, for the likes of TK Stewart that a shame.

[chris s]

It is Chapman, fought nobodies but rated.

[Twinkle Toes]

Talk is obviously cheap in the Haye camp - After all the bluster about his first heavyweight outing being against somone who will blow us away.

He then jumps in with Kevin Johnson, and even now it is looking doubtful now, JD Chapman? - Don't make me laugh.

I'm a fan of Haye and what he is trying to achieve, but lets not brush over the double standards on show here - If it was Warrén making this match he'd be getting a mullering form all corners.

[EddieShredder]

from setanta;

David Haye's proposed opponent JD Chapman on November 15 has pulled out of a fight with him, but Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is still confident that he will be in the opposite corner at London's O2 Arena in two months' time.

Haye's manager and trainer Adam Booth said that Chapman (29-0, 26 KOs) is the third opponent to pull out of a proposed fight.

Schaefer revealed he spoke with Chapman's representatives before the press conference and is confident a deal can be made.

"I have a pretty good feeling that JD Chapman will accept the fight," Schaefer said.

"I've spoke to his people. I'm pretty confident JD Chapman will show up on November 15.

"I've never experienced something like that. I had a conversation with Shelly Finkel, who is the manager of Wladimir Klitschko, and he said they will accept a fight. At that level it will be okay."

Haye himself expressed his disappointment at the news, but is hopeful the American will have a change of heart.

"He comes to brawl," Haye said. "I haven't seen his fights but I liked the sound of him. He hadn't fought anyone but had never been knocked down.

"I love the thought of fighting a guy who is the same size as Klitschko. I hope we can shame him out of his hole and he'll come and fight."

Booth earlier spoke about how sudden Chapman's pull-out was and revealed rumoured opponent Kevin Johnson asked for too much money.

"He didn't get on the flight," Booth revealed. "He said: 'I'm not coming to England to get knocked out'."

"This after agreeing a substantial amount of money. He is the third opponent in four days to agree terms and then to pull out.

"These opponents are running away from an allegedly chinny cruiserweight.

"Hopefully his balls will drop again and he will take the fight

"We will have an opponent on a similar level to a high profile lightweight a few weeks ago, but on this occasion the home fighter will win.

"We've got three more [names]. I'm not telling you who. There is some strategic interference going on. This is boxing."

"This has happened all the way through David's career.

"It's annoying who wants to have to do the work three times over.

"I'm not going to mention their names because I'm hoping they will come back to me.

"We went after Kevin Johnson but he over-negotiated his position."

Haye suggested the fight would take place at around 12.30am, two hours earlier than his bout with Enzo Maccarinelli started.

[Shirow]

I think Team Hayemaker might regret talking the big talk and sticking it to the HW division calling them fat slobs etc before getting a signature on the line.
I reckon the named contenders are turning down reasonable offers to a) make Haye look stupid or get desperate or b) to avoid the risk and stay on the title fight merry go round (i'm thinking Rahman, Ruiz, Golota etc)

[MightyWarrior]

After all the talk of a big name surprise, if Haye goes for this palooka Chapman he's going to get ripped for it.
Looking at his record, he's a dead ringer for the typical US mid west cowboys the Germans love to bring over, good looking record but can't fight a lick.
Setanta are suckers if they buy this one.

[Poncey]

Didn't Chapman start out on Stacey's Promotion?

[Goz]

this is getting ridiculous, its been what 5 months since his last fight???

Haye was always going to do that though - he said he would want 6 months to properly bulk up to Heavy.

[fatton]

"We will have an opponent on a similar level to a high profile lightweight a few weeks ago, but on this occasion the home fighter will win.

Booth is clearly laying the groundwork for the acceptance of Chapman by comparing him to Prescott, i.e. an unknown puncher who proved to be a lot more dangerous than people thought. (Although in Chapman's case I don't think there's any doubt that he's a mid west club fighter in an undefeated prospects body).

Booth and Haye were very naive in standing up and saying they were looking at taking on top ten heavies in his first fight. That immediately left them in a poor bargaining position and set peoples expectations very high. They also seem to have handled the whole negotiation process pretty badly. Goldenboy clearly haven't been much help either and despite all the PR surrounding them I remain to be convinced that Golden Boy will be a long term promotional force and unless Haye and Booth start learning a bit quicker I'll reserve judgment on their staying power as a promotional entity as well.

[chris s]

It is beginning to smell of Audley running his own career. Like a poor man's version of the Mike Middleton fiasco

[TerribleTerry]

Chapman is definitely NOT an acceptable standard of opponent.

If he is confirmed as the opponent I would be looking to get your money back Emerson - an early ugly blow out would be onthe cards in that fight.

[Poncey]

I think any fight would be a blow-out for his first big step in the division tbh. Who knows, the undercard might be good.

I do wonder why some British Promoters insist on a date before an opponent, though. It dunalf narrow their possibilities. Perhaps it's the TV deals they have.

[Lenny]

Chambers, Johnson, Rahman, Maskaev, Golota, Toney, Ibragimov, Barrett, Dimitrenko = All acceptable opponents that have been mentioned

JD Chapman = Farce

I'm a big Haye fan but you can't make the noise he has made and talk down the rest of the British heavys and fight JD Chapman. It's like Herbie Hide v Damon Reed. Nobody in their right minds has Chapman in their top 10s and I hope someone at Setanta stops this from going through

[E]

Out of interest - though it's likely he's a Damon Reed-type opponent, has anyone seen Chapman fight? (ON TV / Youtube, anywhere)

[Neri]

You all moan about Kevin Johnson - a respectable, unbeaten, hungry fighter who along with Chris Arreola has been classed by many as one of the top american up and comers, it falls apart and we get JD Chapman, who started I think with Stacey Goodson, says it all.

It's obvious to me that Haye and Booth are struggling to nail down a top class opponent, I don't think they themselves will be happy with JD Chapman, but will still have to come out with a load of hype about how Chapman is a big undefeated heavyweight knocking all these fellas out and poses a huge threat to Haye.

[Poncey]

It's not Chapman, Stacy has spoken to him:

Could some one explain pulling out to me.
J.D. Chapman was told about the fight ,
and said with in 10 minutes he was not
interested in taking it.What I am saying
is that ,I think one has to be in something
to pull out of it.Now keep in mind that I think
a fighter pulling out of a fight is a bad thing
unless he is in bad health , and many times
I have had fighters that have faked injuries
to take another fight or just changed their mind
because they did not train properly or just did not
wanna get their ass beat .And me losing money only
played a small part in the bitching I may have give
them LOL .The main reason is these kind of back
outs hurt boxing very very bad ! But now I have talked
to J.D. in the last few Hours, he has left Florida
because after refusing a fight that he felt he was
not prepared for since being inactive since this
last February that he was being bombarded by
the people he has felt was his friends saying
things like he must take the fight no matter
what he feels like ! So now he is in Arkansas with
his family and discussing with them if he will ever
even fight again ! But knowing all that has happen
and been said to him in the last 24 hours by the people
that he thought was his friends for last few years.
I would say at best his career has seen it's better days.
But tomorrow J.D. is supposed to come and talk
to me at the Slug Out Gym about all that has happen after
he visits with his family . Be sure and to listen in
and find out the rest of the story Next week on the
State Of Boxing (http://www.stateofboxing.com) I am sure its
gonna be a knock out !

[Neri]

Oh so dramatic.

[rhino222]

if it is chapman, his record is certainly no worse than a certain padded guy who destroyed amir khan not too many days ago !!!

[Poncey]

A guy on Current Scene that knows Chapman has said the other fighter is Taras Bidenko. Bit left field.