Making Haye - Elliot Worsell

[Glyn Leach]

3. Given the nature of the text, it's absolutely bound to be self-referential but at least it's admittedly so...unlike some of the worst boxing journalism out there which ridiculously foregrounds its author when no one gives a sh1t what the feck they've had for breakfast. To make it worse, some of this drivel is actually thought of as good work by many readers - which is their entitlement, of course.

[orbtastic]

I'll endeavour to finish it, it's just not really grabbing me.

I think we differ in that I genuinely like to get inside a fighter's head and read what they "think", particularly about fights - Even with fights I've never seen.

It's why I just couldn't get on with Tapia's book, it barely contained any boxing and just seemed to be him lurching from one drugs induced coma to another. There wasn't really anything to relate to, and I've done my fair share of drugs in the past. Same with Billy Walker's, it was just so dull...and written in a weird style, using words like "smashing" and "cor" like some adult version of a 1950s comic where he has a slap up fish supper and champers with a smashing dolly bird.

You should check out Klaus Kinski's autobio. It is basically ‘Met a girl, banged her, banged her mam, banged her mate, they are all whores, made a film, I was great, the film is shit and the director is a c*nt’. You’ll go back to Tapia’s tome with love in your heart!

ha yeah, didn't he come out a while ago and say his book was complete fiction and just written to basically create publicity for himself and further his "legend". Clearly he is quite bonkers but also massively talented but I seem to recall something along those lines, maybe even in My Best Fiend? I don't know for sure.

[rhino222]

well i like it, lets not forget elliot is one of us, yes he has been fortunate with his access into all areas of hayes life, i like the honesty of the read, and the realism, i like the references to the computer world etc, the forums, and the fact that haye does not flower his criticism for hayes benefit. its an honest book, and not many are!!

[Glyn Leach]

well i like it, lets not forget elliot is one of us, yes he has been fortunate with his access into all areas of hayes life, i like the honesty of the read, and the realism, i like the references to the computer world etc, the forums, and the fact that haye does not flower his criticism for hayes benefit. its an honest book, and not many are!!

That. It struck me as very real life and easy to relate to. Maybe some people expected something else, the bog standard boxing autobio, which it isn't. It's a well wrtitten story about Haye from a very good writer with a unique access and insight. I much prefer it to fighters looking back on their careers with 20-20 hindsight and making themselves the hero of every story they tell. Might not be everybody's cup of tea but it works for me.

[dbf]

I actually wanted more insight. I thought it was too similar to a typical biography and not close enough to the authors own favourite, Dark Trade.

It also only deals with David's professional boxing career and has but a passing word for Mick Carney, Billy Webster and the rest of the Fitzroy Lodge Coaches, boxers and volunteers who ultimately contributed to his journey. I appreciate Worsell wasn't about at that time, but I would like to think that Haye, has some respect for those days and the importance they played in his career. This could presumably be evidenced by the fact that his vauxhall gym is a carbon copy of the Lodge.

Maybe Haye doesn't reflect on those days and couldn't care less, or maybe there is something still bugging him about the way it ended there, the way Booth seemingly became his trainer and he left Fitzroy.

I don't know. I'm going off on one.

Something that wasn't mentioned was Haye took his shoe of in the ring straight after the fight when being interviewed by Sky but this is brushed over. Hayes behaviour is often brushed off. I think the authors affection and admiration for the fighter made it too difficult for him to give a completely honest view on things, although he did try.

Sadly, Haye isn't my generations Leonard or Jones Jr, and was never close to it. He had skill, flashy moves, ambition (lots of it) and athleticism and the chat but I think deep down he was a front-running puncher.

[EJW]

All good, guys. Thanks a lot for the comments. I knew there would be critical voices out there somewhere, but, so long as it doesn't get too catty, all is fine with me.

To be honest, I decided on the style/structure of the book, all the while knowing it would appeal to some and piss off others. It wasn't even a choice in my mind - I simply wanted to write the story I knew and had seen unfold before my eyes. If I'd taken the route of removing myself from the picture and painting Haye's back-story - while I'm sure it would have appealed to some (and rightly so) - it would have felt like I'd cheated on my unique access/position. I know Haye himself would have hated me for writing that version of events, as it would ultimately prove to be something any other journalist could research and produce on a given day. I'm sure that Haye biography (in addition to his autobio) will materialise one day, but this book - my book - is a simple story about a young writer who met a young fighter and the unlikely journey they embarked on together. That was always the story I intended to write, regardless of how it was eventually packaged and promoted. It will strike a chord with some and it will cause the eyes of others to roll. It all depends on what you're looking for, I guess.

P.S. Where can I get Klaus Kinski's book? Sounds epic.

[rhino222]

All good, guys. Thanks a lot for the comments. I knew there would be critical voices out there somewhere, but, so long as it doesn't get too catty, all is fine with me.

To be honest, I decided on the style/structure of the book, all the while knowing it would appeal to some and piss off others. It wasn't even a choice in my mind - I simply wanted to write the story I knew and had seen unfold before my eyes. If I'd taken the route of removing myself from the picture and painting Haye's back-story - while I'm sure it would have appealed to some (and rightly so) - it would have felt like I'd cheated on my unique access/position. I know Haye himself would have hated me for writing that version of events, as it would ultimately prove to be something any other journalist could research and produce on a given day. I'm sure that Haye biography (in addition to his autobio) will materialise one day, but this book - my book - is a simple story about a young writer who met a young fighter and the unlikely journey they embarked on together. That was always the story I intended to write, regardless of how it was eventually packaged and promoted. It will strike a chord with some and it will cause the eyes of others to roll. It all depends on what you're looking for, I guess.

P.S. Where can I get Klaus Kinski's book? Sounds epic.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kinski-Uncut-Au ... 0670867446

Fighting, sex, incest and films.

mmmmmm.......sounds like the words elliot used to describe a haye training camp in bournemouth!! ...

[loaded_gloves]

Having read incredible, engrossing autobiogs by real fighting men like Smokin' Joe, Raging Bull, Sugar Ray, By George, Larry Holmes Against the Odds, Ali by Hauser, Hands of Stone, Joe Louis My Life, not to mention biogs like King of the World, Papa Jack and Unforgivable Blackness, the Manassa Mauler, Rocky Marciano, Punch Lines, Blood Season, Bad Intentions, and In This Corner...................



...... I cannot imagine a book I'd like to read less than a book about David Haye. In fact, the thought of paying this snake oil salesman money makes me feel nauseous.

I'd sooner read that Amir Khan children's book, 'Boy from Bolton' or whatever it's called.