David Haye O2 Areana 21st May

[wadey]

According to Boxing scene, it appears that David Haye will be fighting on the above date with a double header featuring Carl Froch.

[saturday_kid]

That would be interesting

[wadey]

The O2 Arena seems to have a free slot for that evening, so things are looking good.

[Scottrf]

I hope Froch is in the UK but surely they wont be in the same venue. Went to Helsinki for Froch but the US is a bit of a stretch. Will wait to see Haye's opponent before I get too excited.

[Glyn Leach]

Be amazed if they were both on the same show, but it would be great for the fans and the sport

[Captain Hook]

Amen to that, am torn between this and the MEN on April 16, purely for logistical reasons though...would love to get to this should it happen

[Scottrf]

Amen to that, am torn between this and the MEN on April 16, purely for logistical reasons though...would love to get to this should it happen

Could be a good year. Would be cool to head to Scotland to see Burns, but I certainly wont go for Laryea!

[Captain Hook]

No chance mate....

..if any of you get to this or plan to go to Khan send me a PM, we should all hook up for a beer.

[TheCobra]

2 rival promoters putting fighters on the same bill at a limited capacity venue (O2 is only a 20k venue). I don't think there is much chance of it. David Haye PPV surely sells by itself so why would he share with Froch?

[Poncey]

2 rival promoters putting fighters on the same bill at a limited capacity venue (O2 is only a 20k venue). I don't think there is much chance of it. David Haye PPV surely sells by itself so why would he share with Froch?

It's actually 23k, and is the joint biggest in the country. It used to be the joint biggest in Europe as well.

[Scottrf]

Yeah but I reckon a stadium would be more appropriate if they fought on the same bill.

[Glyn Leach]

2 rival promoters putting fighters on the same bill at a limited capacity venue (O2 is only a 20k venue). I don't think there is much chance of it. David Haye PPV surely sells by itself so why would he share with Froch?

Under normal circumstances, agree totally. But Mick has no TV deal with Sky, Sky want Froch on board, possibly they are suggesting this double-header to Haye? After all, whoever Haye fights that night is not going to be as attractive an opponent to the PPV buyer as Valuev or Harrison. I don't know what the PPV figures for Ruiz were, but possibly they were low enough for Haye and Adam to consider Froch's appearance might add something to the pot. But for sure, all the power is with the Haye side here, can't imagine Froch getting anything like an equal slice of the PPV pie. His gain would be in badly needed exposure. I can see how this could make sense for all concerned. As for the o2 not being big enough to stage both, disagree totally.

[Scottrf]

As for the o2 not being big enough to stage both, disagree totally.

Haye sells out/very nearly sells out the MEN by himself, and they are both only getting bigger, how could the 02 be big enough for both of them?

[wadey]

As for the o2 not being big enough to stage both, disagree totally.

Haye sells out/very nearly sells out the MEN by himself, and they are both only getting bigger, how could the 02 be big enough for both of them?

I don't think Haye v Chagaev would sell out the O2, and if Froch was fighting Andre Ware or having a rematch with Kessler it would be a different story. But a bill which includes both of them against mediocre opponents, then it makes sense.

[Scottrf]

I don't think the ticket buying audience put as much stock in the opponents as those that post on forums. I mean, Audley Harrison sold out the MEN? Chagaev (not sure if he can fight in the UK) is no worse to sell a fight against than Ruiz, which again did well. Most people look at the names on the left and Haye is massive and does loads of TV appearances, Froch is starting to break through with the public too.

[Glyn Leach]

As for the o2 not being big enough to stage both, disagree totally.

Haye sells out/very nearly sells out the MEN by himself, and they are both only getting bigger, how could the 02 be big enough for both of them?

London's a funny market Scott. Remember, Haye only sold 4,000 tickets for Barrett and had to resort to a two-for-one ticket deal. Granted, his profile is now higher. But his opponent is not likely to be anyone overly marketable. Remember, Haye's previous o2 fight to Barrett did around 18,000, 14,000 people didn't bother with Haye's next performance there - the opponent does matter in London. Froch-wise, he sells well in Nottingham but is unproven as an arena fighter in London.

Personally, I think like Bernie Rhodes, former manager of The Clash — it's better to have a smaller, packed venue and people clamoring for tickets than a half empty venue you can't give tickets away for. I think it's important not to overestimate the popularity of either fighter here. To me, a 23,000 sell out would be good business, the atmosphere would be electric. Stick it in a football stadium, maybe, maybe you could get a few thousand more in (I'm not convinced), but the night would be far less memorable because most of the seats would be empty.

[freddydoesdallas]

Haye headlining against the names mentioned so far holds no interest for me. Haye headlining with Froch on the bill against Johnson means i'll be there

[wadey]

Haye headlining against the names mentioned so far holds no interest for me. Haye headlining with Froch on the bill against Johnson means i'll be there

Exactly, you've hit the nail on the head. Let's be honest most of us look at the undercard of when a big fight is announced, before we purchase tickets as if the main fight is a stinker then potentially a good undercard could make the event worth while.

If this comes of then all questions are answered......

[Scottrf]

Thought someone would bring up Barrett, but Valuev was his coming out fight to the general public, I don't personally put too much stock in numbers before that. What about Upton Park, 35k capacity? I don't think there would be masses of empty seats. Been a few years since a really high profile boxer fought in London, maybe I'm underestimating the difference location makes. I can't see it having any trouble selling out the O2 though, whatever the opposition.

[wadey]

Thought someone would bring up Barrett, but Valuev was his coming out fight to the general public, I don't personally put too much stock in numbers before that. What about Upton Park, 35k capacity? I don't think there would be masses of empty seats. Been a few years since a really high profile boxer fought in London, maybe I'm underestimating the difference location makes. I can't see it having any trouble selling out the O2 though, whatever the opposition.

I get the point your making, and may be you would get £35k, but then ticket prices for a large part of the stadium would have to be sold at a relatively lower price due to the view you will get.

I paid £30 for a ticket to watch Mitchell v Katsidis and the view was shocking, so had to watch it on the screen they had up.

[dondada]

Perfick

[Glyn Leach]

I'm reminded of when Lennox fought Botha at that big arena in Docklands, his first British appearance since becoming undisputed champ. Loads of empty seats. Lennox alone wasn't enough to attract the punters, they looked at Botha and thought 'nah, don't think so'. Haye vs Anybody just won't work. London's a pig of a market.

[Bennyblanco]

I hope this happens. I think it could do big numbers aswell, haye and froch together hyping the fight for a few months with sky at it aswell. Just wonder if the general public will boycott it due to the whole harrison farce? Also did haye sell out the 02 for the enzo fight?

[Scottrf]

I'm not sure that people nowadays have as much concern about the opponent. Pacquiao vs Clottey sold, what, 50k in Texas? Who expected him to win? Bradley vs Alexander hasn't sold at all, people are seeming to value names over competitive matchups. I think the same applies to Haye, judging by the profile of his previous two fights which he was almost guaranteed to win. I think we are more numb to overmatched opponents than we were historically, as a rule. Maybe London is more discerning but to what extent I'm not sure, and I think it remains to be scene. Seems a lot of big UK fights are moving to Manchester.

[SteveDow]

I really hate it when boxing is on at football stadiums. Unless you pay hundreds and hundres you just don't get a great view. I'm no cheapskate by any means but about £200 a ticket is the limit that I would spend and the view you get for that in a football stadium is not great. My experience of this was when Calzaghe fought Kessler and I was not very near the ring at all and the view was poor.

I think the O2 Arena is a great venue and would definitely buy a ticket if the event was held there.