How has David Haye conned he British public?

[Ruthless-RKO]

I see this everywhere now.. Mostly after Bellew screamed it at Haye after his last fight. Has he really conned us?

Did anyone expect those two fights to be competitive?

The fights weren't on PPV, so we didn't have to dish out £20 for it..

It was on Dave, a free channel, where he garnered over 3 million views.

O2 Arena was probably packed with his hardcore and casual boxing fans who probably enjoy watching him and missed him fighting..

Has he really conned the British public? Can someone explain? or tell me if I have missed anything?

I know he donated a % of his last gate to Nick Blackwell, was that a con too?

[boxingknockout]

Well I agree. He hasn't so much conned the (casual) fan as been bloody clever. Beating up 2 no hopers whose records suggested they were dangerous.... I think he's great at marketing himself.

Whereas Hearn is just a blatant liar....

[Killer Blow]

Two words: Audley Harrison

[HomicideHenry]

Haye.... in alot of ways..... consciously and unconsciously has conned the public on a number of occasions.

One can argue he "won" the heavyweight crown in a gift decision. Many have said that Holyfield "beat" Valuev more decisively than Haye did. His defenses of that title are questionable: John Ruiz (who was inactive), Audley Harrison (who had no business being in there), and of course him claiming a broken toe against Wladimir Klitschko. Then there was "retirement" talk. Then he said he'd fight Fury, backed out due to injury, resigned to fight Fury, backed out again due to "injury". "Retires". Comes back to fight a few bums (De Mori, etc) and even talks about fighting Shannon Briggs of all people. Now, here he is, in quite possibly his toughest test since Klitschko against Bellew.

Everyone is saying Tony has no shot, but if one thinks about it long and hard, Haye hasn't faced a truly credible fighter in quite a long time. Not since Klitschko (2011). And he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Oh well. I think this will be a great fight. I can't wait to see it. This is one of those "throwback" fights to a bygone era when crossover (weight class) matches were frequent. Champions against champions. Bellew may not be as fast, or as skilled, but he has more heart and more determination and toughness than given credit for. Besides, this is the fight Bellew wants. He was the one who pursued it, after all. And when men want something bad enough, they defy expectations. I wouldn't count him out.

[Rexob]

He is a business man, what does everyone really expect ?it's always been the same, it is after all professional boxing?

[SteveO]

he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Haye is not coming back down to cruiserweight.
The Haye-Bellew contest is at heavyweight. Bellew's WBC cruiserweight title is not at stake.
Bellew is the one changing weight categories not Haye.

[HomicideHenry]

he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Haye is not coming back down to cruiserweight.
The Haye-Bellew contest is at heavyweight. Bellew's WBC cruiserweight title is not at stake.
Bellew is the one changing weight categories not Haye.

Ah, I misunderstood, then.

I was under the impression that it would be a catchweight sort of contest, or cruiserweight.

Well, if that is the case..... Believe Cruiserweight limit is 210 (these days) so if he comes in at 211.... he'll maintain most of his speed and abilities, not giving up much. Hate to hear that actually. All the favoritism is in Haye's favor, then. Oh well. I'll still be rooting for Bellew. Hopefully he doesn't fall into the "Rocky Curse" (remember Tarver after Rocky Balboa?) .....

[nitro5912]

he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Haye is not coming back down to cruiserweight.
The Haye-Bellew contest is at heavyweight. Bellew's WBC cruiserweight title is not at stake.
Bellew is the one changing weight categories not Haye.

Ah, I misunderstood, then.

I was under the impression that it would be a catchweight sort of contest, or cruiserweight.

Well, if that is the case..... Believe Cruiserweight limit is 210 (these days) so if he comes in at 211.... he'll maintain most of his speed and abilities, not giving up much. Hate to hear that actually. All the favoritism is in Haye's favor, then. Oh well. I'll still be rooting for Bellew. Hopefully he doesn't fall into the "Rocky Curse" (remember Tarver after Rocky Balboa?) .....

Nope, cruiserweight is 200lbs. Boomer weighs in around 199lbs. Hate weighed in around 224lbs for Arnold and 227lbs for de mori.

He will probably come in around the 220lbs mark. I can't see boomer coming in at more than 210lbs

[Finn]

Two words: Audley Harrison

Is that a con? Haye said all along he would knock him out in 3.

[Killer Blow]

Two words: Audley Harrison

Is that a con? Haye said all along he would knock him out in 3.

Watch the fight again. It was a con.

[ALI]

I like Haye, but i dont like what he is doing since his return. For a 2 weight world champion, Mark De Mori was an absolute joke, should never have been allowed. The next fellow also, then he's trying to make a fight with old man briggs but opted for an average cruiserweight instead. I can only come to the conclusion he is after the paydays, so its hard to argue he is not trying to con people.

[dookus]

Two words: Audley Harrison

Is that a con? Haye said all along he would knock him out in 3.

Watch the fight again. It was a con.

I don't think it was a con on Audley's part - he really did look that terrified

[BitPlayer]

Is that a con? Haye said all along he would knock him out in 3.

Watch the fight again. It was a con.

I don't think it was a con on Audley's part - he really did look that terrified

But pretending he was taking a challenge was.

He recently claimed it had that fight due to public demand.

[Killer Blow]

Is that a con? Haye said all along he would knock him out in 3.

Watch the fight again. It was a con.

I don't think it was a con on Audley's part - he really did look that terrified

After saying all of this: https://youtu.be/MTpO5DF4JFM

Shameful

[Muttley]

Haye.... in alot of ways..... consciously and unconsciously has conned the public on a number of occasions.

One can argue he "won" the heavyweight crown in a gift decision. Many have said that Holyfield "beat" Valuev more decisively than Haye did. His defenses of that title are questionable: John Ruiz (who was inactive), Audley Harrison (who had no business being in there), and of course him claiming a broken toe against Wladimir Klitschko. Then there was "retirement" talk. Then he said he'd fight Fury, backed out due to injury, resigned to fight Fury, backed out again due to "injury". "Retires". Comes back to fight a few bums (De Mori, etc) and even talks about fighting Shannon Briggs of all people. Now, here he is, in quite possibly his toughest test since Klitschko against Bellew.

Everyone is saying Tony has no shot, but if one thinks about it long and hard, Haye hasn't faced a truly credible fighter in quite a long time. Not since Klitschko (2011). And he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Oh well. I think this will be a great fight. I can't wait to see it. This is one of those "throwback" fights to a bygone era when crossover (weight class) matches were frequent. Champions against champions. Bellew may not be as fast, or as skilled, but he has more heart and more determination and toughness than given credit for. Besides, this is the fight Bellew wants. He was the one who pursued it, after all. And when men want something bad enough, they defy expectations. I wouldn't count him out.

You don't work for Sky do you? Haye was right when he said he can finish the fight whenever he likes. He punches far too hard for Bellew, whose defence has more holes in than a tea strainer

[Muttley]

I like Haye, but i dont like what he is doing since his return. For a 2 weight world champion, Mark De Mori was an absolute joke, should never have been allowed. The next fellow also, then he's trying to make a fight with old man briggs but opted for an average cruiserweight instead. I can only come to the conclusion he is after the paydays, so its hard to argue he is not trying to con people.

Spot on sir. Real boxing fans will not even bother wasting their time with this but this event will still make a small fortune on ppv. When I first started working in boxing in the early ninties a very wise trainer,manager,promoter said to me once 'son, this game is full of actors' and he was absolutely right. I truly love the sport of boxing, the real grassroots stuff but what I saw yesterday at the press conference saddened me. And even worse, so called boxing experts trying to sell this a real 50/50 fight.

[TheGman]

The only person out of these two who has conned the british public is bellend,he portrays himself as a decent human being just wanting to get home safe after every fight but wants to act like a wild animal at every press coference or weigh in plus the "i would rather die in the ring than quit" remark before the stevenson fight,bellew is a con artist,who did he fight at cw to deserve the title shot?? No one thats the answer. Haye has done more for british boxing in one month than bellend has done in his whole career

[freddydoesdallas]

Has Haye conned the general public...yes. has he conned the boxing fans...no. hopefully most boxing fans cashed in on the 'dave' fights.

Have boxing promoters in general conned the British public...yes. We have very few world class boxers but they sell domestic level boxers as elite

[jamesmcdonnell]

Haye.... in alot of ways..... consciously and unconsciously has conned the public on a number of occasions.

One can argue he "won" the heavyweight crown in a gift decision. Many have said that Holyfield "beat" Valuev more decisively than Haye did. His defenses of that title are questionable: John Ruiz (who was inactive), Audley Harrison (who had no business being in there), and of course him claiming a broken toe against Wladimir Klitschko. Then there was "retirement" talk. Then he said he'd fight Fury, backed out due to injury, resigned to fight Fury, backed out again due to "injury". "Retires". Comes back to fight a few bums (De Mori, etc) and even talks about fighting Shannon Briggs of all people. Now, here he is, in quite possibly his toughest test since Klitschko against Bellew.

Everyone is saying Tony has no shot, but if one thinks about it long and hard, Haye hasn't faced a truly credible fighter in quite a long time. Not since Klitschko (2011). And he hasn't fought Cruiserweight since 2008, when he faces Bellew it'll be 9 years since. I keep thinking of Roy Jones and others who bounced up in weight, only to come down and never exactly recovered the capabilities. Even if Haye defeats Bellew, recaptures the crown, the real money is at heavyweight and he knows it. He'll return to heavyweight, and I don't believe he'll be "the same". He'll be older, slower, more wear and tear.

Oh well. I think this will be a great fight. I can't wait to see it. This is one of those "throwback" fights to a bygone era when crossover (weight class) matches were frequent. Champions against champions. Bellew may not be as fast, or as skilled, but he has more heart and more determination and toughness than given credit for. Besides, this is the fight Bellew wants. He was the one who pursued it, after all. And when men want something bad enough, they defy expectations. I wouldn't count him out.

You don't work for Sky do you? Haye was right when he said he can finish the fight whenever he likes. He punches far too hard for Bellew, whose defence has more holes in than a tea strainer

[asdfjkl]

Daffy doesn't do anything else lol.

Only absolute idiots can become fans of this guy.

[Like a Boss]

I see this everywhere now.. Mostly after Bellew screamed it at Haye after his last fight. Has he really conned us?

Did anyone expect those two fights to be competitive?

The fights weren't on PPV, so we didn't have to dish out £20 for it..

It was on Dave, a free channel, where he garnered over 3 million views.

O2 Arena was probably packed with his hardcore and casual boxing fans who probably enjoy watching him and missed him fighting..

Has he really conned the British public? Can someone explain? or tell me if I have missed anything?

I know he donated a % of his last gate to Nick Blackwell, was that a con too?