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European cruiserweight champion Alexander Gurov will delve deep into his wealth of experience this Friday night (December 16), as he hopes to successfully defend his EBU crown against London banger David Haye in Bracknell.
Gurov's manager Philippe Fondu, points to his charge's 12-year long professional career, and the 43 fights packed into it, and feels both factors will be pivotal against Haye.
"David Haye is a very good boxer, indeed," said Fondu. "He's a very fast boxer, with fast hands and feet - and he can also punch. But he doesn't have the experience Gurov has and I believe Gurov will try and make his experience tell on Friday.
"This will be Gurov's eighth European title fight - and don't forget he has also boxed twice in America for world titles. He has boxed against all styles - all kinds of boxers and punchers - and will cope with Haye's style."
A renowned fast-starter and sledgehammer puncher, Haye has iced 14 of 14 beaten foes inside schedule. Despite his reputation, however, Fondu is not taking Haye's expected fast start as a given.
"In Haye's last fight (against Vincenzo Rossitto), he didn't start very fast and took his time more, so it is hard to say whether he will make a fast start against Gurov," Fondu explained. "Whatever Haye does, I believe Gurov has the experience to cope with it.
"Gurov sparred with Haye about two years ago and he remembers David Haye very well and remembers him as a good, fast boxer. Gurov knows he is up against a good fighter, and has prepared accordingly. Gurov has also seen tapes of David's last two fights, so has been studying him and knows what to expect.
"Gurov has had seven weeks preparation, and has known about the fight for even longer, so we feel he is well prepared for this title defence."
Having not defended the European title since winning it in November 2004 against Italian Vincenzo Rossitto, Ukrainian Gurov is simply delighted to be back in a high-profile title affair. Since the Rossitto cuts win, Gurov has boxed three times in low-key contests in his homeland, and has been itching to get back defending the EBU belt he has won three times in total.
"Gurov has been struggling to defend his title because whenever he had a defence scheduled the other boxer withdrew," Fondu explained. "First he was supposed to defend against Rossitto - in the rematch - but he pulled out after the purse bids, and then it was Vincenzo Cantatore, who decided to box Johnny Nelson instead.
"Gurov is just happy to be active again now and defending his title. Going to England to defend it doesn't bother him at all. He has fought in foreign countries many times, and has been to England before, too."
Gurov's previous trips to the British Isles saw him bludgeon Trevor Small in October 1997, and then four months later get blitzed inside a round by big-banging Londoner Terry Dunstan. Noted as an exciting, bang-out or be banged-out puncher, Fondu feels Gurov has the tools at his disposal to end Haye's dreams.
"He's a strong puncher," Fondu said. "A tremendous puncher. He's won most of his fights inside the distance against decent opponents. If you compare his record to other boxers, his record shows he is a big, strong puncher - one of the best in the world.
"He's also a southpaw, and a well-schooled boxer who had a good amateur background in the Eastern bloc. So he has a lot of advantages going into this fight on Friday."
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Alexander Gurov v David Haye
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
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Lefthookhappy19
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 968
- Joined: 16 Apr 2004, 19:15
Haye was forcing his punches against Thompson, no timing at all in them. When he sits back and picks his punches, thats where his power is at. If he had have boxed Carl I think he would have won VERY easily. By the time David started to box he was totally gassed but in that little time I don't think Carl liked his jab very much.jamesmcdonnell wrote:Haye's power is indeed impressive but he's hardly an irresistable force. Bear in mind that he couldn't knock Carl Thompson out...
Thompson doesn't have a bad chin but he took a real hammering and never really looked that badly hurt at any point. Haye then blew himself out and was taken to pieces.
Haye will hopefully measure himself a bit better, but the worry is that when he cannot blow his opponent away, does he have the control and the defensive skills and tactical nous to control the fight over 12 rounds?
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Lefthookhappy19
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 16 Apr 2004, 19:15
What a load of fornicating bollocks. If anthing David Haye is taking these fights too early in his career. In his short Career he's already fought Arthur Williams, Carl Thompson, Glen Kelley and tonight Alexander Gurov.jimmy from the green wrote:I am supporting Gurov for this one. However I am seeing many similarities now between Hayes career and Audleys. Haye only picks fights he thinks are easy hence ducking out of match ups that would test him.
Haye has sparred Gurov many times and obviously thinks he can beat him easy. Also the money offered to Gurov (I think it is the region of £100, 000?) strikes of retirement payday - hand over your belt. The fact that Haye got a shot at the Euro without even fighting the British Champ shows just how much money talks in this game.
Gurov has had a lot of fights and my question is how hungry is he with a huge payday and big puncher trying to knock his head off?
Haye got his calculations wrong with Thompson - but he did not sparr him before they fought and got a nasty shock........
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jamesmcdonnell
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 12 Nov 2003, 06:11
Well, whose fault is that. It's all well and good standing there boxing at your leisure picking your spots against a human punchbag, but Haye new that he wanted to get Thompson out of there early, because most guys who don't wind up on their backside wondering why the lights are in their eyes.Lefthookhappy19 wrote:Haye was forcing his punches against Thompson, no timing at all in them. When he sits back and picks his punches, thats where his power is at. If he had have boxed Carl I think he would have won VERY easily. By the time David started to box he was totally gassed but in that little time I don't think Carl liked his jab very much.jamesmcdonnell wrote:Haye's power is indeed impressive but he's hardly an irresistable force. Bear in mind that he couldn't knock Carl Thompson out...
Thompson doesn't have a bad chin but he took a real hammering and never really looked that badly hurt at any point. Haye then blew himself out and was taken to pieces.
Haye will hopefully measure himself a bit better, but the worry is that when he cannot blow his opponent away, does he have the control and the defensive skills and tactical nous to control the fight over 12 rounds?
Carl might not have liked his jab, but he bit down, and didn't run out of gas at the age of 40.
Coulda, woulda, shoulda, big deal. Haye tried to knock him out, failed, ran out of gas and got KO'd by a 40 year old veteran who knew enough to weather the storm.
If he beats Gurov late on, which I think he may have to, I will be impressed, because Gurov is no patsy, and he's not so far gone like Kelly and Williams...
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
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- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
