BoxRec News' take on the Haye-Harrison 'fight'

[dondada]

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2010/david- ... on-tragedy

I haven't read the threads but I just felt sick last night. I'm sure many of you did too.

[dalcumly]

Nobody likes a 'know all ' and I've got more wrong predictions than correct ones but I opened a theme towards the end of October entitled Haye v Harrison -a farce waiting to happen . I predicted a stoppage within 6 minutes ( I was out by 3 !!) and Harrison not to land a single punch . I also predicted a national press backlash and I still refused to pay almost £15 for PPV although I was tempted because of the Anderson v Groves fight .
I'm just an ordinary boxing fan , with a bit of a background in the amateur game , but surely anyone could see this was a complete mismatch . Haye and Harrison have got rich overnight . I blame Haye for taking easy money against a 'nobody ' . I don't blame Harrison because I would have fought Haye if offered the same purse .I blame SKY SPORTS and ALL their pundits for conning the public out of their hard earned cash . They should never have accepted Harrison as an opponent - but they HAVE made lots of money for themselves albeit bringing discredit to our sport .
I just knew this would happen thats why I stuck my neck out weeks ago on this forum . By doing this I earned the right this morning to make these comments .

[REAL_DEAL]

Well done to the boxrec staff who had the common sense to get it right in the boxrec news staff predictions.

Ian McNeilly and Nelson Stanley

[SteveDow]

As someone who paid 150 quid for a ticket for this I feel pretty angry with what I saw. Harrisons negativity was mind blowing. This was his one chance to prove to people that he wasn't an utter fraud and he blew it big time.

[DIRT SUGAR]

Well that's that for Audley who has always talked a good game. Shame he came to the pro ranks late at 29. He was up against it the minute he first took that gold medal from his neck after his excellent display in Sydney.

For Haye, it's time to put his money where his mouth is and take on the big brothers... full stop. Anything less will not suffice. Get around the table and sort it Adam Booth!

[punchers chance]

This so called contest was an embarrassment to the sport if boxing and I hope that a few people such as the hearns, Sky, Hayemaker are feeling a bit regretful about serving that up as the great event they promoted. We got a steaming pile of s**t. I bet that has turned a bucket load of casual fans off the sport for life.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I can't believe how stupid all these outraged people posted on the forum are for being so shocked and appalled.

I would expect it from ignorant casual sportsfans, who get sucked in, pay £15, don't really know what they want out of the experience, and are usually unhappy regardless of what transpires, but if actual boxing fans didn't see this coming and feel the need to vent about wasting their money more fool them.

Those who are blaming the ones who 'shelled out' are missing the point too, sadly. This country's attitude towards boxing in general directly results in the necessity of an 'angle' for every fight. So here is the 'All British showdown'. These types of fights here and there are needed to actually keep the sport in the media. Otherwise Haye defends against a Sultan Ibragimov type and noone watches. Hell, noone even watched the Ruiz fight, and that was fresh off the 'David vs Goliath' title winning effort!

A separate argument is how do people feel that boxing has been reduced to this state of affairs. Well, I feel sad. But it's nothing new.

On balance the fight probably did more good than harm. Casual fans feel cheated, but they can't blame Haye, so he now has some more exposure to get people watching the Klitschko fights. And banks a cool 3 million or whatever he earned.

[forcefraser]

Audley will never change. He looked scared to death in there.

Either that or he is just a great actor who played his stooges role to perfection in the round three betting scandal.

I`m sure at one point in round three you could see Haye look at Audley when he was laying into him as if to say "is this ok?", almost like WWF wrestling.

If Hayve was carrying him for a third round KO, he should have been more carefull with his comments.

Harrison is a joke and a fraud. He will be rememberd as the guy who got stopped with a huge snot hanging out of his nose. Quite fitting really.

[Twinkle Toes]

Ian, I think the boxing press have to take some of the blame for last night. There wasn't enough public slagging off of this match-up by the experts. Amongst themselves they would all confide that it was going to be an easy night's work for Haye but the copy they put out to the public only helped sell this sham of a contest.

The hype job was immense and in the aftermath everybody is pointing the finger at Audley. The guy got offered approximately one million quid - of course he's going to take the fight, of course he's going to claim he can win. Those who know the game should have spoken out louder for the sake of the sport.

I agree with this, and more surprising to me was the hype coming from some of the net based journalists who should have known better, and normally have a lot to say about such match ups. Ultimately some had their heads turned by the glitz and glamour of a british heavyweight fight, and others by their total bias towards Harrison

They know who they are, and so do we

[Bard of Boxrec]

Do you not think journalists are obliged to create some interest in the fight? What's wrong with them taking the line, as many did, 'Haye should win with ease but Audley might just throw a spanner in the works'?

Also, there were many writers who slagged off the promotion but conceded that this is what boxing has to do sometimes to make money. The 'sad state of affairs' angle has been spewed every time a fight like this happens. It is extremely hackneyed but always goes down well with the jaded (ie, almost everyone). Then everyone buys the fight anyway.

If Haye had been fighting a 'better opponent' (Ibragimov, Chagaev, etc) what should have been the journalists' line? Could they have drummed up any interest in the fight, bearing in mind there wasn't mass interest in Haye/Ruiz, despite the fight coming off the back of the 'David and Goliath' showdown?

[JamesH]

Last nights fight went exactly as most people had stated, Haye would finish it when he wants to. As we all know, it was a fight for the public and not boxing fans but still..... A £10 million con.

Sky: Disappointed how straight after the fight it became obvious Audley wasn't going to throw a punch. Watt seemed to come across as a 'come on, you should have known better', many of us did, but a lot people shelled out for that disgrace. Ironically it was Watt who had been praising Audley for taking the centre of the ring during the introductions - the fkn introductions!!!! I watched but thankfully didn't pay, I would be gutted had I as quite a few people I have spoken to had issues getting the broadcast and ended up watching it in the same place as I did. As for the showing half the British title fight, and spending ages having pundits (like Nelson) who didnt believe in Audley making a case for him. Hat's off to McGuigan who I felt had been most realistic about Audleys chances.

Audley: This is what he does, has always done, and will do if he fights again. I kept thinking back to round 1 versus Coleman Barrett and that had convinced me enough about this fight. After the fight Audley seemed content to have got up, and harped on about dragging Haye to the later rounds, as if he thought he could stand there without throwing for six rounds. Retirement as former Euro champ and world title challenger some how seriously over states what he actually did in the sport.

Haye: Very, very disappointed. He knew, we knew, but still... to take everyones ppv and ticket money and then admit he carried him an extra round to make even more money in bets was terrible in my opinion. Three years ago Haye was my favourite current fighter but I'm totally alienated by all the current hollywood crap. His career will be entirely defined by fighting K2.

As Ian said, the stomach found it hard to take!

[ThereByTheGrace]

A bad night for Heavyweight boxing (as if they need another one!)- the Klitschkos have been fighting nobodies for years - can't really blame Haye as if you were getting easy money to beat someone you know you can beat you take it and move on.

Sky are a disgrace - I'm just glad I stayed up late to watch some real boxing from Pac/Marg and Jones/Soto. D

[King Tubby]

This so called contest was an embarrassment to the sport if boxing and I hope that a few people such as the hearns, Sky, Hayemaker are feeling a bit regretful about serving that up as the great event they promoted. We got a steaming pile of s**t. I bet that has turned a bucket load of casual fans off the sport for life.

Not doing the sport they love any favours. I heard a journalist last night trying to justify it by saying 'You're not paying to see a fight, your paying for the experience of a big event.' Even he gave up in the end, think he knew he was adding insult to injury.

[dalcumly]

Does anyone else get as annoyed with Steve Bunce as me ?? I listened to the fight on Five Live and his loud , over the top rantings were just typical . His back tracking had to be heard to be believed when the fight ended . I was always told that empty barrels make the most noise - how true !! Oh by the way - I forgot - adhios!!

[hurlock]

had a-bum conjoured up some bottle he would of gave haye serious problem's, i think alot of fan's were hoping he would show courage & give it his all. instead he showed his feather's & has become a joke & should never show his face on the pro circuit again had he walked away he would of been an under achiever but now is a complete joke which has rusted his gold medal.

fair play to haye he done the job.

[housesecond]

Last nights fight went exactly as most people had stated,

Then how come (as I said on another thread) the boxing news poll had Audley as favourite? Its voted for by boxing fans so if most people though Haye would win it would have shown in BN.

Simple fact is Sky did a fantastic job selling it, as did Audley and as a result they've all been well rewarded. It's the public who are to blame for buying into it.

[orbtastic]

Does anyone else get as annoyed with Steve Bunce as me ?? I listened to the fight on Five Live and his loud , over the top rantings were just typical . His back tracking had to be heard to be believed when the fight ended . I was always told that empty barrels make the most noise - how true !! Oh by the way - I forgot - adhios!!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing after the fight (listened on radio on way home) from Bunce.

[JamesH]

Last nights fight went exactly as most people had stated,

Then how come (as I said on another thread) the boxing news poll had Audley as favourite? Its voted for by boxing fans so if most people though Haye would win it would have shown in BN.

Simple fact is Sky did a fantastic job selling it, as did Audley and as a result they've all been well rewarded. It's the public who are to blame for buying into it.

I don't give a toss what the BN poll said, these things are open to manipulation and just because someone buys a mag, it doesnt make them an expert, does it? If I go and buy Pro Golfer, I still won't have a clue who will win the next big tournament. I could still vote though.

Casual fans were split between 'isnt Aud a joke though?' and 'Hayes got too big for his boots'. Most people in the know thought Aud could win, if he did something he has never done before, making it incredibly unlikely. My own personal opinion was that it would be a few dull rounds before Haye corners him as he did Enzo.

The public might be to blame, but the sport suffers.

[Frank Van Der Meer]

in holland we have saying- leopard spots dont change. audley always will lose with haye.

[dondada]

Ian, I think the boxing press have to take some of the blame for last night. There wasn't enough public slagging off of this match-up by the experts. Amongst themselves they would all confide that it was going to be an easy night's work for Haye but the copy they put out to the public only helped sell this sham of a contest.

The hype job was immense and in the aftermath everybody is pointing the finger at Audley. The guy got offered approximately one million quid - of course he's going to take the fight, of course he's going to claim he can win. Those who know the game should have spoken out louder for the sake of the sport.

I watched the rugby union internationals yesterday. All three were terrific physical encounters. Even the Scotland game, where NZ were totally dominant, was a good watch and a thousand times better than the boxing. I feel short-changed and I was watching a free stream!

This is an excellent point and you're right. You saw from our predictions that almost all of us went for a quick Haye win. I said Audley would box with self-preservation in mind but I was surprised he was quite so inept.

[MightyWarrior]

It was just terrible wasn't it? I watched it in the pub, and to be fair, I was probably the only one there who thought it might be competitive, with Audley actually, you know, thowing a few punches and trying his luck.....no bloody chance of that though, if I'd know he would land one jab the whole fight.....dear oh dear. So that's what a million pound punch looks like - because that's all he threw and will presumably get paid in full.

I stopped watching Audley about 4 years ago - I missed the Sprott fights, and prizefighter, so somehow forgot just how bad he is.

And Haye scores an own goal by admitting he carried Audley and bet on the 3rd.....well done Dave, I'm sure we're all made up for you there, topping up your 6 mill payday.

Thank God for Manny Pac, WHAT a fighter and WHAT a fight. It made me (almost) forget the Haye debacle !

[orbtastic]

What did anyone make of the Greaves fight? I thought he showed a lot of disrespect to Perez, for no real reason. Is he benefitting from perhaps too much press exposure at the moment and the "cult of the journeyman"?

[dondada]

I'm with you MW - I mean, I knew Audley was bad but the sheer depth of his ineptitude surprised me. I expected him to do everything he could to survive for as long as possible and do very little in the meantime. Well, this happened, of course. But I was very surprised he didn't survive for longer. He couldn't even cover up properly.

[dondada]

Does anyone else get as annoyed with Steve Bunce as me ?? I listened to the fight on Five Live and his loud , over the top rantings were just typical . His back tracking had to be heard to be believed when the fight ended . I was always told that empty barrels make the most noise - how true !! Oh by the way - I forgot - adhios!!

I couldn't believe what I was hearing after the fight (listened on radio on way home) from Bunce.

Did you hear the Hampton who rang in saying he was a writer for 'Ringsidereport.com - the biggest boxing site in the world' and then saying that the stoppage was premature? FFS on all counts.

[MightyWarrior]

I'm with you MW - I mean, I knew Audley was bad but the sheer depth of his ineptitude surprised me. I expected him to do everything he could to survive for as long as possible and do very little in the meantime. Well, this happened, of course. But I was very surprised he didn't survive for longer. He couldn't even cover up properly.

Yep, he just seems to heap further humiliation on himself - all that training in big bear...for what exactly?! He'll have to live with that pitiful performance for years to come. If he'd at least gone down fighting, all could have been forgiven...but instead he seems headed for the great line BN came up with on the Margarito preview: The Unforgiven.