Tim Witherspoon says David Haye needs help

[Robnorton]

Interesting comments from Witherspoon who reckons Adam Booth can't teach Haye any more and that he should ask for help from another trainer if he ever gets to fight Vitali or Wlad.

http://www.brandhatton.com/VideoNews/15 ... _help.aspx

[dekker88]

i thought he'd been stabbed to death recently?

[Robnorton]

He sounds pretty alive in this interview!

[dekker88]

He sounds pretty alive in this interview!

sure he got stabbed recently....

[ed robinson]

Go on, with a knife?

[Scottrf]

No, Witherspoon!

[dekker88]

8)

[Newport Daz]

I'm not sure whether Haye does or not need a more experienced trainer, but Tim isn't in a position to critisize Adam Booth. I thought he was terrible in Clinton Woods corner. His only instruction between rounds was "relax, relax". Cinton obviously didn;t think it worked either as Tim didn't last long.

[Scottrf]

I do question after watching Haye/Groves how much Booth teaches in terms of defense. Hard to change trainer when you have been through it all together and are winning though. Tough to tell to be honest without having the experience of watching him train, but it's fair to say Booth isn't the most experienced.

[black panther]

The question has been asked "Has Haye really improved, technically, during his professional career?" Sure his conditioning has improved but I'm not sure if he has improved significantly from a technical standpoint. I tend to lean toward the viewpoint that he's gotten to where he his through his tremendous natural ability, talent and athleticism.

[Captain Hook]

Agreed..

The old phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind.

Why start mucking about with the guy's style? He is top quality and has the tools to beat anyone at heavyweight. It's not new technique he'll need to plough through the Klits, it's power and a good defence. He is already a better boxer than both of them put together IMO.

With Booth he has been successful, so he should stick with him

[dekker88]

Agreed..

The old phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind.

Why start mucking about with the guy's style? He is top quality and has the tools to beat anyone at heavyweight. It's not new technique he'll need to plough through the Klits, it's power and a good defence. He is already a better boxer than both of them put together IMO.

With Booth he has been successful, so he should stick with him

seconded.

[Scottrf]

The old phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind.

To play devil's advocate, you could say it is broke if he's getting put down by Barrett. Just because someone's winning doesn't necessarily mean all is well.

Not saying he should change trainer, but if you looked at Khan pre-Prescott you could say 'If it ain't broke..." but in hindsight Roach may have taught him not to be so gung ho.

[hurlock]

sound's like witherspoon need's a job but he aint gonna get a slice of haye's cake undermining life long friend & coach like that :!:
haye boxes how he does because he has little faith in his chin at heavy, booth dont want him infront of any heavy & shoulder rolling & riding punches to counter. they are taking advantage of haye's athletisism against the bad shaped heavies & he will make as much mullar as he can & once derailed he call it a day & work the celeb circuit guaranteed.

[Scottrf]

Don't agree, I've seen big improvements in Khan, tactically as much as anything else. He was leaving himself a lot more open and getting put down by non punchers like Limond. Now, he can dominate fights with a jab, picks his shots better to not leave himself open. Don't see him nearly shutting out Kotelnik before he had Freddie in his corner, and I'm not even someone who puts a massive emphasis on trainers. Perhaps Khan learnt his lesson and has just put in the hard work, difficult to say.

[hurlock]

haye need's himself a macho man

[Captain Hook]

The old phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind.

To play devil's advocate, you could say it is broke if he's getting put down by Barrett. Just because someone's winning doesn't necessarily mean all is well.

Not saying he should change trainer, but if you looked at Khan pre-Prescott you could say 'If it ain't broke..." but in hindsight Roach may have taught him not to be so gung ho.

That was a few seconds of one fight; he's become heavyweight champion and got up from that to hammer Barrett and beat Valuev, and Ruiz and Harrison.

If he is winning and winning well then all is fine in my opinion.

Khan is a lot younger than Haye, and isn't planning to retire in 2011. No need for him to start tinkering now, he should just keep honing what he's already got.

I agree Khan looks far better under Roach however, a lot sharper and stronger.

[Scottrf]

True, I don't think he should change trainer, just wanted to float the idea that winning doesnt necessarily mean he has the right team.

[Captain Hook]

In a lot of cases I'd agree, it's a good idea to freshen up if things are looking a little stagnant.

It worked to a degree with De La Hoya but then he started chopping and changing and people have mixed opinions on whether Mayweather Sr, for example, was the right man for the job.

Same with Hatton, was he any better without Graham? Not always the right move, but then when you're with someone day in day out you will obviously see things differently.

Lewis moving from Correa to Steward obviously worked for him, and they had mutual respect, while his old team remained at his side and were a constant source of support and vital to his preparation in and out of the ring - Shand in particular.

Naz was never quite the same away from Ingle, though that was more down to his arrogance than anything physical or technical. He needed a guy he could respect and he didn't respect Ingle in the end, and I don't really believe - after the Paul Ingle fight - he was that blown away by Suarez deep down. It took Steward sticking his head through the ropes for him to get inspired and finish that fight.

In the case of Haye, they seem to be best pals and there is mutual respect. In this instance, they should stick together, take on the Klits and then concentrate on promotion from 2012 onwards, unless David decides to carry on fighting.

[sendo]

Booth has done a lot of good work with David, especially the conditioning, the head movement and the overall patience to his work. He's a totally different fighter to his early pro fights.

[black panther]

I definitely wouldn't suggest switching trainers as Adam Booth has obviously done a very good job - Haye has only lost one fight as a novice and is a two weight world champion. Also, at this late stage he isn't going to change his style. However, in my opinion there's no harm in getting the opinion of other experienced trainers and making "tweaks" in your game that compliment your style.

Nobody is perfect and another trainer might spot/add something that Adam Booth hadn't spotted or thought of. I mean as good as Adam Booth is, I'm sure he'll be the first to admit he doesn't know everything. I don't think there are many trainers in the world who would claim that. I just believe there are still question marks surrounding Haye at Heavyweight.

He shouldn't have been getting hit and backed up by an ancient Ruiz. He shouldn't have been floored by a shot Monty Barrett. His talent considered, I feel he can perform better than that. Maybe I'm rating him too highly. But I really, really really want him to beat Wladimir, so I'd rather have the very best possible version of Haye stepping in there.

[Finn]

I'm not sure whether Haye does or not need a more experienced trainer, but Tim isn't in a position to critisize Adam Booth. I thought he was terrible in Clinton Woods corner. His only instruction between rounds was "relax, relax". Cinton obviously didn;t think it worked either as Tim didn't last long.

I think they've been doing fine, haye does the right training for his fighting style and fights in a way thats suits him. What does he need to learn to beat the klits? explosiveness, speed and power is what will beat the klits not ring tactics. If he blows them out he wis, if it goes long he looses end of.

Wlads a goner imo - i think vitali thinks its a dangerous fight for wlad too thats part of the reason he wants the fight first.

[black panther]

I'm not sure whether Haye does or not need a more experienced trainer, but Tim isn't in a position to critisize Adam Booth. I thought he was terrible in Clinton Woods corner. His only instruction between rounds was "relax, relax". Cinton obviously didn;t think it worked either as Tim didn't last long.

I think they've been doing fine, haye does the right training for his fighting style and fights in a way thats suits him. What does he need to learn to beat the klits? explosiveness, speed and power is what will beat the klits not ring tactics. If he blows them out he wis, if it goes long he looses end of.

Wlads a goner imo - i think vitali thinks its a dangerous fight for wlad too thats part of the reason he wants the fight first.

I disagree and agree to an extent! Sure speed and power alone is enough to beat Wladimir ala Sanders. But from a tactical standpoint - what if a fighter were to take away his jab? I mean he might as well call himself Wladimir "Mr.Jab" Klitschko - in some rounds he is all left hand. I think if he wasn't landing his jab on Haye after a few rounds he'd be mentally sh*tting himself as these days he's so heavily dependent on it. Also, when was the last time Haye floored someone with a left hook? Its an under-used weapon in Haye's arsenal IMO. The way he shook Valuev with it proved that it effective when utilised.

[Datsue]

I agree with Macho, & would add that IMO the biggest advantage Haye has with Booth in his corner is that Booth knows his boy inside out, takes into account his man's strengths & weaknesses & is trusted implicitly by his fighter no matter what happens between the ropes. In Haye's case I don't think that particular advantage is worth conceding, & I would also agree with the thing others have mentioned in that I don't really value these sudden changes to a superstar trainer unless it's a committed long-term thing with someone fvcking proper.

But Freddie Brown, Eddie Futch & Ray Arcel have gone, & I don't see anyone worth their weight.

Did anyone hear (between the first & second I think) Booth say to Haye vs Harrison: "Keep doing that, don't take any risks. Your only job is to terrify him..."

Didn't result in the most pleasing aesthetic experience for those watching, but I do believe that Haye's approach that night was perfect for Audley in that it made Haye's job easier. Result with the minimum risk.

But from a tactical standpoint - what if a fighter were to take away his jab? I mean he might as well call himself Wladimir "Mr.Jab" Klitschko - in some rounds he is all left hand. I think if he wasn't landing his jab on Haye after a few rounds he'd be mentally sh*tting himself as these days he's so heavily dependent on it.

Fantastic point & observation mate, but how exactly? I've been thinking about a little dude getting in on a big one & all I can see is what Steward had Evander doing in the Bowe rematch -- slip the first incoming jab, double jab-double step to get inside, hit the fvcker with a right hand & a left hook & get the fvck out of Dodge. Circle, reset (i.e. reenter the danger zone to provoke another jab. Rinse, repeat: never, ever hang around inside to let him hang on you...

[Scottrf]

Taking away Wlad's jab is a bit of a tough prospect. A fair reach advantage, he keeps his hand up and backpedals if someone does manage to get inside it. He also has the short right or ties you up if you get too close. Haye's strategy was good against Valuev but he didn't get in range that often, and Valuev has no real jab to speak of. How Haye takes a decision I'm not sure. To knock him out he will have to ship some leather on the way in, and I'm not convinced he can. But, it would be great to see W. Klitschko in with someone with speed, power, movement and who will give it a go!