Are any Brits supporting Wlad?

[Brute]

I like Wladimir Klitschko, he stays in great shape and is an intelligent and articulate guy - Also, Mrs keithmoonhangover think he's a hunk.

But, Haye is British and I cannot for one minute comprehend a British fight fan, wanting him to get beat.

Haye is a BRITISH Heavyweight World Champion. FFS get behind him and stop hating.

Didn't I read somewhere where you said you were a kiwi?

New Zealand is like the British Isles with earthquakes.

[Giancarlo]

I like Wladimir Klitschko, he stays in great shape and is an intelligent and articulate guy - Also, Mrs keithmoonhangover think he's a hunk.

But, Haye is British and I cannot for one minute comprehend a British fight fan, wanting him to get beat.

Haye is a BRITISH Heavyweight World Champion. FFS get behind him and stop hating.

Didn't I read somewhere where you said you were a kiwi?

New Zealand is like the British Isles with earthquakes.

Cold beer though, Brute. Very cold beer.

[AlexY2K4]

I'm supporting Wlad 100%.

As others have mentioned, Wladimir strikes me as a genuinely nice guy and is, of course, a great role model for the sport. He is academic, pleasant, dignified and is a fine boxer to boot.

Haye is an obnoxious turd and as far as I can see, has behaved disgustingly towards Wlad. I hope he gets flattened, and for the record, I think it will happen.

[Glyn Leach]

[quoteCan't really argue with that - although I meant from a patriotic viewpoint rather than selling mags. Interesting points you make though.

For the record I reckon Haye sticks around for longer than he says. In his prime and too much money to be made

I'd love it if he hung around Wrists and if he wins I find it hard to imagine he won't, but people I trust seem certain he will. If he doesn't, I think he's missing a massive opportunity to become a huge world star.
On patriotism, it's odd, haven't really felt it in boxing since Nigel Benn, who was truly OUR champion - that's how I felt, anyway.
Fighters who followed him - Hatton, Froch, Khan, Haye etc - I have found myself wanting to win more through familiarity from exposure than patriotism. Also for what their success would mean to British boxing.
Oh well, so it goes. As a journalist I'm supposed to be impartial, maybe I've got that bit right!

[Chambers2]

Any Brit or neutral supporting the BIG Boring robot against the exciting British KO specialist needs their head looking at

IMO

But there is no exciting British KO specialist, he was exciting before stepping up to heavyweight, now he's no more fun to watch than Wlad.

Tell Bonin, Barrett, and Ruiz he isn't a KO specialist

Saying he's as exciting as Wlad is just flat out ridiculous

[jimlogan]

I dont see why Haye's arrogance is so off-putting to some people that they would go as far as to back Wladimir to win this fight.

Haye might be arrogant, but the majority of what he is saying is true. The Klitschko's have not done good for the heavyweight division or boxing in general, they are cherry-picking their oponents, many of which have been fat slobs and outright bums that just turn up for the payday, they do take their oponents to the cleaners in the contract negotiations. They are both extremely boring to watch, so much so that its really only avid boxing fans that can stand watching their entire fights on live tv. They do have boring personalities, sure they are nice people, but they have no appeal whatsoever.

There is a lot of truth in what Haye is saying, like it or not. He says that he is going to destroy Wlad so bad that the big Ukranian will never want to fight another fight again. I hope he does just that.

I think thats rubbish about them cherry picking there opponents,yes they've cherry picked some but so has every fighter out there!If you look at the guys Haye has fought in the heavyweight division they're hardly world beaters,Barrett,valuev,ruiz and harrison?!Cmon now.Talking of the klitschko brothers generally if you look at odlanier solis,he was a top amateur and a unbeaten fighter who was Vitalis mandatory.He could of ducked him but he didnt,you look at Wladimir,he was supposed to be fighting povetkin but he bottled it,he bashed up Eddie chambers who's a skillful fighter and if he was a complete cherry picker why would he of took the fight with Haye?!

[jimlogan]

Any Brit or neutral supporting the BIG Boring robot against the exciting British KO specialist needs their head looking at

IMO

But there is no exciting British KO specialist, he was exciting before stepping up to heavyweight, now he's no more fun to watch than Wlad.

Tell Bonin, Barrett, and Ruiz he isn't a KO specialist

Saying he's as exciting as Wlad is just flat out ridiculous

Bonin was a chump and Barrett was also knocked out by Wlad years ago.Finally regarding Ruiz, he's a relic and way past his sell by date.

[Captain Hook]

The forums are full of haters.

Haye is no more arrogant than Naz was. People wanted to see Naz get knocked out, and Khan, and Eubank. I never did.

He is a tremendous fighter. He fought the best at CW, stepped up and since then has hammered Barratt and beaten two former world champs, one of which was 7ft+ and odds on favourite on here to knock him out (Valuev).

He lost to Thompson, took it like a man and came back

He fought smart vs Valuev and when he did decide to unload he had him wobbling.

Ruiz didn't win a minute of a round, and Harrison is his own story. Fight should never have happened.

Haye is going over to Germany to take on Wlad and still gets criticised. He went over there to fight Valuev and got the same stick.

It really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

I don't agree with everything he and Booth do. I don't think he should retire and bang that drum. He should concentrate on both Klits and go down in history as one of our greatest champs, which he would be should he beat them both.

It's not because he's British, I don't really care about that...you can support a fighter from a different country. I know I do, I love watching Marquez and Hopkins and Mayweather and Manny.

It's because he will take on the best.....Enzo and Mormeck at CW..now Wlad at HW

I'm with Terry, I think he beats both Klits. He's never been out of second gear as a heavyweight.

I really hope he does not retire in October and sticks around for another two years. Even if it's to stick two fingers up to the people on here who hate him and want to see him get knocked out because he's got a big mouth.

But if those people who don't support Haye for what ever reason are 'haters', doesn't calling the Klits lifeless, robotic fighters who have feasted on tiny Europeans and fat Americans make you just as much of a 'hater', when you consider what they have achieved?

I like Haye and Wlad both are deserving of respect

How am I a hater when I said I like 'Wlad' but think he is bad for boxing?

I don't hate the guy, and I would not go out of my way to hope a UK boxer was knocked out because he's cocky.

[Captain Hook]

It's all the hype J-C he'll probably be predicting wlad next week then after the next press conference he'll be back to haye.
I've done it myself, back in my gambling days I've told everyone who will listen to bet on one fighter only to fall into the hype trap as the fight nears and convince myself the other fighter who's closer to my heart is going to win.
I've lost plenty of money doing that.
I'm thinking of having a bet on this, it's a good job I fancy Haye so I don't have to make an effin crazy change come fight night.

Are you talking about me?! It's just the 'hype'

Do me a fornicating favour pal, read my post again.

[Captain Hook]

The forums are full of haters.

Haye is no more arrogant than Naz was. People wanted to see Naz get knocked out, and Khan, and Eubank. I never did.

He is a tremendous fighter. He fought the best at CW, stepped up and since then has hammered Barratt and beaten two former world champs, one of which was 7ft+ and odds on favourite on here to knock him out (Valuev).

He lost to Thompson, took it like a man and came back

He fought smart vs Valuev and when he did decide to unload he had him wobbling.

Ruiz didn't win a minute of a round, and Harrison is his own story. Fight should never have happened.

Haye is going over to Germany to take on Wlad and still gets criticised. He went over there to fight Valuev and got the same stick.

It really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

I don't agree with everything he and Booth do. I don't think he should retire and bang that drum. He should concentrate on both Klits and go down in history as one of our greatest champs, which he would be should he beat them both.

It's not because he's British, I don't really care about that...you can support a fighter from a different country. I know I do, I love watching Marquez and Hopkins and Mayweather and Manny.

It's because he will take on the best.....Enzo and Mormeck at CW..now Wlad at HW

I'm with Terry, I think he beats both Klits. He's never been out of second gear as a heavyweight.

I really hope he does not retire in October and sticks around for another two years. Even if it's to stick two fingers up to the people on here who hate him and want to see him get knocked out because he's got a big mouth.

I don't think people should automatically be labelled as a 'hater' just because they favour Wladimir over Haye. I've never been of the opinion that there's a place for patriotism in boxing. Haye is fighting for himself, just as Wlad is. I've kept a close eye on Wlad since the olympics, I've watched him and his brother fight in Germany on several occasions and I've met him half a dozen or more times and found him to be a really decent guy. I therefore feel more affinity towards Wlad than I do Haye - who I've never met and don't really relate to due to the way he conducts himself in front of the cameras - although, for the most part, I do like Haye's in ring style. I'm certainly not a 'hater'.

I don't think people who want Wlad to win are haters, of course not, it's just their opinion.

But people who want Khan/Naz/Haye/Hatton/Calzaghe to be knocked out, no matter who the opponent, when they're posting on a British forum, makes them haters in my book.

Why else would someone come on here with just half a dozen posts to make that point?

[apophenic]

how many of us on here got into boxing because of a certain Muhammad Ali...the GREATEST of all time.

he wasn't dignified...certainly no academic....and was no role model in the classic sense of the phrase.

wlad is like the anti-ali...no charisma...no flair...nothing interesting to say and takes the ultra-cautious approach every time.

haye (outside the ring) is about the closest thing the HW division has had to another Ali...his stalking of Wlad when he first moved up to hw (which started all the 'beef' off) is straight out of Ali's playbook when he was after a shot at Liston.

said it before but i don't want the hw champion of the world to be some whiter than white (pun not intended)bland automaton....the sport doesn't want nor need that.....it needs a hw champion with edge who will bring people back to the sport...

whatever way you wanna look at it Wlad has damaged the HW division and by extension boxing during his reign with his boring ass defences, his lack of actual fighting spirit and less than stellar personality.

wlad = bad for boxing. haye = good.

[JC]

The forums are full of haters.

Haye is no more arrogant than Naz was. People wanted to see Naz get knocked out, and Khan, and Eubank. I never did.

He is a tremendous fighter. He fought the best at CW, stepped up and since then has hammered Barratt and beaten two former world champs, one of which was 7ft+ and odds on favourite on here to knock him out (Valuev).

He lost to Thompson, took it like a man and came back

He fought smart vs Valuev and when he did decide to unload he had him wobbling.

Ruiz didn't win a minute of a round, and Harrison is his own story. Fight should never have happened.

Haye is going over to Germany to take on Wlad and still gets criticised. He went over there to fight Valuev and got the same stick.

It really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

I don't agree with everything he and Booth do. I don't think he should retire and bang that drum. He should concentrate on both Klits and go down in history as one of our greatest champs, which he would be should he beat them both.

It's not because he's British, I don't really care about that...you can support a fighter from a different country. I know I do, I love watching Marquez and Hopkins and Mayweather and Manny.

It's because he will take on the best.....Enzo and Mormeck at CW..now Wlad at HW

I'm with Terry, I think he beats both Klits. He's never been out of second gear as a heavyweight.

I really hope he does not retire in October and sticks around for another two years. Even if it's to stick two fingers up to the people on here who hate him and want to see him get knocked out because he's got a big mouth.

But if those people who don't support Haye for what ever reason are 'haters', doesn't calling the Klits lifeless, robotic fighters who have feasted on tiny Europeans and fat Americans make you just as much of a 'hater', when you consider what they have achieved?

I like Haye and Wlad both are deserving of respect

How am I a hater when I said I like 'Wlad' but think he is bad for boxing?

I don't hate the guy, and I would not go out of my way to hope a UK boxer was knocked out because he's cocky.

'Hater' is not part of my usual vocabulary, I'm not 100% sure what the fornicate it means if I'm honest.

My point was that you were upset people wanting at Haye to lose due to his mouth (I'm not one of them incidentally) and then listed what he has achieved in his career in response, while at the same time dismissing the Klitschko's careers as having been just feasting on tiny Europeans and fat Americans. I'd be the first to admit that their opponents have not been a murder's row but it's what's been there for the last 10 years and I think they are deserving of respect.

Just seem like a double standard to me is all.

Peace

[stujones]

I don't think we can say Haye cleaned up the devision. There is Cunningham, Wlodarcsyk, O Neil Bell, Jones, Huck, etc etc all sniffing around with world titles or on the verges when Haye got his two world title fights at the weight.

He beat the number #1 and for my money the #3 in the devision, but in reality was only 2 fights and there were lots of very very competitive fights out there. Remember, Mormeck an aging champion had Haye in heaps of problems.

Any claims that Haye is among the greatest ever Cruiserweights or even "cleaned out" the devision is a bit like saying Leonard cleaned out the Middleweights and is among the greatest Middleweights of all time.

[lefthook82]

I would feel sick if Haye won. There is not a fighter in the world I despise more.

[freddydoesdallas]

Would like Haye to win but wouldn't be overly fussed if he lost. One reason i really want him to win is because of a few mates who don't follow the sport but everytime a Brit is involved in a big fight they always assume the foreign guy is better!

[Glyn Leach]

Genuinely surprised at the amount of posters who have expressed a dislike for Haye — not saying they're wrong to dislike him, that's their right, but just surprised they do.

[Wrists]

If he had 'gallanty' lost his last fight whilst 'taking his lumps' in a manner befitting the typical Brit he would be revered its as simple as that

[Glyn Leach]

And be given a knighthood to boot ;;-)

[Captain Hook]

But if those people who don't support Haye for what ever reason are 'haters', doesn't calling the Klits lifeless, robotic fighters who have feasted on tiny Europeans and fat Americans make you just as much of a 'hater', when you consider what they have achieved?

I like Haye and Wlad both are deserving of respect

How am I a hater when I said I like 'Wlad' but think he is bad for boxing?

I don't hate the guy, and I would not go out of my way to hope a UK boxer was knocked out because he's cocky.

'Hater' is not part of my usual vocabulary, I'm not 100% sure what the eff it means if I'm honest.

My point was that you were upset people wanting at Haye to lose due to his mouth (I'm not one of them incidentally) and then listed what he has achieved in his career in response, while at the same time dismissing the Klitschko's careers as having been just feasting on tiny Europeans and fat Americans. I'd be the first to admit that their opponents have not been a murder's row but it's what's been there for the last 10 years and I think they are deserving of respect.

Just seem like a double standard to me is all.

Peace

That's a fair point JC, and I'll take it on the chin.

Maybe it's more to do with attitude and intent.

Haye wants to fight them and is going overseas to do the business, like he did with Valuev and Mormeck...

While the K brothers - and I know they have fought outside of Germany in the past - are content to clear up the division in Germany, luring over unambitious "challengers" with half-decent pay days and carrying them for much of the fight, or the whole fight, before putting them out of their misery.

The depth of the division is not their fault, of course, but they have sat back and feasted on piss-poor opposition.

Haye has not. As I said. A lot of people on here had Valuev beating him (before and after) and Ruiz was a legit test to be fair. The Harrison debacle is unforgivable, I can't defend that.

...but in terms of excitement Haye is light years ahead of both Klits, big mouth or not.

[Andypittcov]

It's all the hype J-C he'll probably be predicting wlad next week then after the next press conference he'll be back to haye.
I've done it myself, back in my gambling days I've told everyone who will listen to bet on one fighter only to fall into the hype trap as the fight nears and convince myself the other fighter who's closer to my heart is going to win.
I've lost plenty of money doing that.
I'm thinking of having a bet on this, it's a good job I fancy Haye so I don't have to make an effin crazy change come fight night.

Are you talking about me?! It's just the 'hype'

Do me a effing favour pal, read my post again.

Your a bit confused pal. My post was over a debate myself and J-C were having over IRLangmaids post.
If I was reffering to you I'd be certain to quote you or put your name in my post

[Captain Hook]

Apologies Andy, I'm easily confused (on a Wednesday deadline)

[Wrists]

And be given a knighthood to boot ;;-)

Wasnt making reference to anyone in particular just our (Brits) like of 'gallant losers' rather than real winners.

Dont tell Rob Palmer about this thread, he'll be on in a minute calling me the 'worst poster of all time'

[Glyn Leach]

And be given a knighthood to boot ;;-)

Wasnt making reference to anyone in particular just our (Brits) like of 'gallant losers' rather than real winners.

Dont tell Rob Palmer about this thread, he'll be on in a minute calling me the 'worst poster of all time'

Ooooooh, good shout, should point out I wasn't referring to Sir Henry (God rest him) there, just the relatively recent British habit of doling out gongs to sports people

[Autobarn]

won't it be boring if wlad wins a jab and grab encounter, with manny steward begging him to go in for the kill, etc etc?

it would be refreshing if haye decapitates this infuriating champ, wlad "holdall" klutschko.

another angle is, unlike say odlanier solis, haye will actually come into the fight in shape. and unlike adamek (who challenges vitali), haye is actually big enough to challenge.

re the nationalistic angle, would it not be good for britain if haye wins essentially the sport's biggest prize?

[Glyn Leach]

re the nationalistic angle, would it not be good for britain if haye wins essentially the sport's biggest prize?

And then instantly devalues it (even further) by binning it? It'd be great for the country if he was to hang around and defend it, but winning it and ditching it would be pointless IMO. And career-wise a terrible move as this will only be the second Haye fight to be shown in America, where he has said he wants to become a film star. One win over Wlad, who no one seems to rate anyway (remember, he's very much damaged goods as far as the US market is concerned), won't make Haye the major star he seems to think he will be. A couple of defences, even if they're against Arreola and Adamek (after Vitali's trashed him), and Haye's profile would be raised tenfold in the market he wants to conquer outside boxing.