David Haye hints at retirement....

[ILikeBeer]

what were hayes most entertaining fights

mormeck and ?

I mean he smashes some people in quick fashion a few times in fights that didn't have time to be dull.

Chisora, Enzo Maccarinelli...guys like that.

I dislike Haye, and I hope he loses again in December and then goes away.

Chisora was an entertaining fight, to be fair. It wasn't a very meaningful one, and the stuff that went before it was very tiresome. But the fight itself was entertaining.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

It is such a shame how his career has gone.... and really thinking about it is just those fights he had on Dave that aggrivate the boxing community, okay and the pull outs vs Fury.

He showed great heart vs Mormeck and solved a puzzle vs Valuev (hey, if people are starting to describe Fury vs Klitchsko as a masterclass, then why not Haye vs Valuev also) - his fight / performance against Chisora is one of the most overlooked in recent times - he demolished Chisora in a fashion that nobody has done - not even Vitali.

Yet, now he seems to be a figure of hate in the boxing community - such a shame.... I can understand, but it is such a shame. Nobody said when Ricky said he would retire if he couldn't beat Schevenko to "slam the door when you go".

Such a shame that it has gone this way. He came up the right way while Audley was taking the other route. He was the Anti-Audley, the polar opposite, showing how it should be done, taking the right step ups and chances and in a way, the CAT defeat enhanced him as he took the chance, it backfired but he learnt and improved. Now he is an utter joke. I boxed for Fitzroy Lodge very briefly but trained there for 2 years while working and living in London so felt a connection due to that. But think he is an arsehole and having met him a few times, can attest that his arrogance and disregard for the fans is quite a sight to behold

I met him once and he was very accommodating. War Haye!

[Stuarty]

Bellew isn't a belt holder, but yes would have been a good addition to the tournament

My apologies. I thought of that as soon as I posted that comment! Take it he gave the WBC up? I've been a bit distant from current affairs recently man! X

He gave up the standard WBC belt, which Mairis Breidis now holds. However, according to the commentary on the Breidis fight, Bellew is WBC "champion emeritus" at cruiser (the same slightly meaningless title that Vitali Klitschko held at heavy during his long injury layoff and which justified him coming straight back into a title fight with Samuel Peter).

Samuel Peter was a total diddy! Vitali gave him an uncomfortable tanking when he came back! Awful to watch. Only out done by the Briggs doing!

[Spud]

Worked with Haye for a number of years. In my humble opinion when I was diagnosed he was a **** about it.

I am saving a good rant about Haye once I have settled back into the forum

[mullenman]

Fair play spud..

Id really like to hear it and the more detail the better..

You are a great asset to this forum, ,,

[stujones]

My comment about "such as shame" was about his boxing career / legacy. For me what he is like out side of the ring in secondary. I've heard plenty of people dislike Hatton outside of the ring...does that tarnish his legacy inside no...not for me anyway.

Seems though with Haye his attitude and recent career seems to affected his legacy. Hatton vs Shevchenko was an event. Even though it was in all likelihood always going to end bad. Public opinion was always supportive and positive...in some ways like when Hearns fought in Manchester...a chance to say goodbye and "I was there"

For me Haye is top 5 (well definitely top 10) British fighter since Naz...but his achievements seemed to be overlooked...unlike practically every other "great" British fighter.

[Spud]

Stu Jones

There is absokutely no denying Haye was/is supremely talented.

But, I would argue as much as what Haye achieved you could say he has actually not fulfilled his potential.

[jamamb]

My comment about "such as shame" was about his boxing career / legacy. For me what he is like out side of the ring in secondary. I've heard plenty of people dislike Hatton outside of the ring...does that tarnish his legacy inside no...not for me anyway.

Seems though with Haye his attitude and recent career seems to affected his legacy. Hatton vs Shevchenko was an event. Even though it was in all likelihood always going to end bad. Public opinion was always supportive and positive...in some ways like when Hearns fought in Manchester...a chance to say goodbye and "I was there"

For me Haye is top 5 (well definitely top 10) British fighter since Naz...but his achievements seemed to be overlooked...unlike practically every other "great" British fighter.

haye had loads of talent but did he really do that much to get overlooked?

would it be fair to order his record as:

valuev
chisora
mormeck
enzo
fragomeni
gurvov

is that so impressive? enzo as one of his best? no doubt very talented and became a celebrity, but for me it's always he could've done more. the hw and cw champ thing seems pretty but how much substance to his opponents? think he wouldve beaten guys like vitali and pedvetkin but never faced them.

[jamamb]

do i dare say that jamie mcdonell has a comparably strong record?

[stujones]

Stu Jones

There is absokutely no denying Haye was/is supremely talented.

But, I would argue as much as what Haye achieved you could say he has actually not fulfilled his potential.

I would agree...but I think.we could say that about many many British "greats"..why didn't Calzaghe fight Jones / Hopkins at their peak...same with Naz...retired at 28 with only one great at his peak on his resume. Did they truly fulfil their potential....

But my point was whether you think he could have been greater or not...Haye is undoubtedly a modern British great....but you don't see such a great so disrespected almost to the pint that his achievements are overshadowed....Khan perhaps but I would quite class Khan as a modern British great like Haye.

[jamamb]

khan has better wins than haye does

maidana
judah
kotelnik
alexander
maluignagii
collazo
algeiri
barrera

robbed against peterson

[stujones]

do i dare say that jamie mcdonell has a comparably strong record?

If Jamie Mcdonell can clean up at Bantam and beat universally recognised #1 in the decision then he'd have a big case. He's best belt holders and good belt holders...but not imo universally recognised #1.

[jamamb]

haye cleaned up cw by beating enzo and mormeck? thats really not all that amazing

[stujones]

khan has better wins than haye does

maidana
judah
kotelnik
alexander
maluignagii
collazo
algeiri
barrera

robbed against peterson

Haye did all he could at Cruiserweight....had he stuck around beating the Wayne Braithwaites or O Neil Bell of this world he would have got criticised for not trying heavyweight and fighting "bums" beneath him.

Khan's resume as a champion is underrated but neither he nor Mcdonell (yet) achieved everything at their weight devision. Between Enzo M and Mormeck that was also Haye "beating" the best contenders

[jamamb]

he didnt do all he could at cruiser. cunningham had ibf and would easily be in his top two cruiser wins. better than enzo. cunningham had some really good wins by then and never stopped at cruiser. even if haye beat everyone, beating everyone doesnt qualify you as a great if 'everyone' wasnt all that.

[stujones]

he didnt do all he could at cruiser. cunningham had ibf and would easily be in his top two cruiser wins. better than enzo. even if he beat everyone, beating everyone in a weak division doesnt necessarily mean better than beating some guys in a stronger division

Fair cop on Cunningham. All I would still say he was a hell of a lot closer to completing the jigsaw than khan or mcdonell were.

I know what your saying re the talent pool...but that ain't Hayes fault...Cunningham aside he did all he could. And for me fighting the best in the devision is better than 6 or 7 in the top 6 but not that number 1 guy.

People seem to be also forgetting that Haye TRIED at Heavyweight...tried and failed....so for me his potential was fulfilled...best cruiserweight of his era, good heavyweight but not the best. There is really no what could have beens....same with Hatton....but I would argue not the same for Calzaghe and Naz we still have have question marks about how either would have faced with a great in their pomp.

[Grilling Machine]

now if usyk wins the tounrmant even hayes cruiser rep will drop, cus there's another 'next best' guy.

Haye would've retired by now had he stayed at cruiser, but what if he'd beaten everyone up to Usyk? The onus would've then been on Usyk to live up to Haye's legacy, instead of the strange current situ where it feels as if Usyk's almost matched it already.

did you prefer?

The Hatton and Calzaghe era.

Froch and Haye.

Or the current AJ/Fury/Degale/Brooke Hearn clusterfuck?

Same as you — old Wembley Boots and Haye. But their early fights were on Freeview, remember. Most of Calzaghe's career was hidden from me behind PPV, and I only saw Hatton because of the Internet.

I didn't get this comment either. Tell us more!

It reads as if something in particular happened that night, but I just meant it in general. Haye was never more popular than straight after he beat Mormeck, and some of us were totally geared up to see him move on to Maccarinelli (as he did), and then Cunningham and Bell, and then anyone else. He had so many boxing fans behind him, but the lure of heavyweight acclaim was too much and he lost his best years to tactical manoeuvring for a shot at one of the bros.

Going back to what I used to like about him, some of it actually is his vanity. He hates the idea of losing teeth, suffering a broken nose, or any other disfiguring injury, and that — coupled with his love of showing off — makes him relatable to me. Most boxers don't really care about getting buss so long as they're paid, so that makes him quite unique. People call him a showbiz boxer, but he always has been! It's what I find interesting for one big reason: his power. Most guys who don't wanna get hurt fight super-negatively, but Haye was blessed with such power that his best chance of not getting hurt is by seeking the knockout. And counter-punching as he does is one of the least safe things, against popular opinion, because to make it work you have to set traps, and one mistaken prediction there can flatten you.

I'd like to see him beat Bellew at 210 and then admit that his carrying too much weight previously kept leading to injuries, so he's going back to cruiser for one last shot at its champ. If that's Usyk, I reckon he'd accommodate the biggest payday of his life. A fit Haye (hugely doubtful) still has a chance there, and what a way to walk off into the sunset if he won. It beats having a lie-down against Joshua, and if he did beat Usyk (perhaps at a 205 catchweight), a lot of us'd say that 2012 Haye would've beaten Joshua.

[ewenhay]

Good post, well put.

[Spud]

I find it hilarious how people come out with theories on David Haye.

Theres 1 & only 1 simple FACT why he is still boxing & its not because of his injuries ..

[stujones]

now if usyk wins the tounrmant even hayes cruiser rep will drop, cus there's another 'next best' guy.

Haye would've retired by now had he stayed at cruiser, but what if he'd beaten everyone up to Usyk? The onus would've then been on Usyk to live up to Haye's legacy, instead of the strange current situ where it feels as if Usyk's almost matched it already.

did you prefer?

The Hatton and Calzaghe era.

Froch and Haye.

Or the current AJ/Fury/Degale/Brooke Hearn clusterfuck?

Same as you — old Wembley Boots and Haye. But their early fights were on Freeview, remember. Most of Calzaghe's career was hidden from me behind PPV, and I only saw Hatton because of the Internet.

I didn't get this comment either. Tell us more!

It reads as if something in particular happened that night, but I just meant it in general. Haye was never more popular than straight after he beat Mormeck, and some of us were totally geared up to see him move on to Maccarinelli (as he did), and then Cunningham and Bell, and then anyone else. He had so many boxing fans behind him, but the lure of heavyweight acclaim was too much and he lost his best years to tactical manoeuvring for a shot at one of the bros.

Going back to what I used to like about him, some of it actually is his vanity. He hates the idea of losing teeth, suffering a broken nose, or any other disfiguring injury, and that — coupled with his love of showing off — makes him relatable to me. Most boxers don't really care about getting buss so long as they're paid, so that makes him quite unique. People call him a showbiz boxer, but he always has been! It's what I find interesting for one big reason: his power. Most guys who don't wanna get hurt fight super-negatively, but Haye was blessed with such power that his best chance of not getting hurt is by seeking the knockout. And counter-punching as he does is one of the least safe things, against popular opinion, because to make it work you have to set traps, and one mistaken prediction there can flatten you.

I'd like to see him beat Bellew at 210 and then admit that his carrying too much weight previously kept leading to injuries, so he's going back to cruiser for one last shot at its champ. If that's Usyk, I reckon he'd accommodate the biggest payday of his life. A fit Haye (hugely doubtful) still has a chance there, and what a way to walk off into the sunset if he won. It beats having a lie-down against Joshua, and if he did beat Usyk (perhaps at a 205 catchweight), a lot of us'd say that 2012 Haye would've beaten Joshua.

Good post and I would agree.... I must admit I've kind of developed a bit of a soft spot for Haye in more recent times mainly because he was my Dad's favourite fighter in recent times and my dad is no longer with us - so I do will him to do well for my dad. Infact the last fight I listened to with my Dad was Haye vs Bellew - we listened to it cos my Dad was on his deathbed - a special moment and will never forget my Dad's words "well like me, my boy (which is what he called Haye) is fucked".... but yes, I can remember Haye as a cruiserweight developing a nasty cut (was it against Fragomeni?) and Haye was really fixated by it at the end of the fight. If I remember, that gave Enzo a bit of a false hope that Haye had "no heart" - but despite his pretty boy looks and a couple of odd displays (namely Klitchsko and a few others particularly in his amateur days) he has always ticked the ticker box - yes has flaws, stamina, chin isn't granite etc - but no one can dispute his fighting spirit vs Mormeck, Mock and off course Bellew.

[Autobarn]

what were hayes most entertaining fights

mormeck and thompson? and mock? he was good to watch when all over the place wasnt he.

Fragomeni and Mormeck were excellent, dramatic fights. Haye overcoming bad cut vs Frago and knockdown vs Mormeck, to grind out hard KO wins.

KOs of Gurov and Maccarinelli were excellent, as he demolished legitimate top 10 cruiserweights.

Sadly Haye moved up and he never really fought like a heavyweight, no core strength and always giving up too much ground, relying on reflexes and flashy power to steal openings.

[Exoddus]

David Haye is 9-2 at heavyweight. He could be 9-3 if his body doesn't hold up. I've not read or seen anything about him in ages. As it just doesn't interest me. Someone said he's looking thinner. He bulked up way to much and looked stiff and slow before the injury even occurred. He needs to come in at least 10lbs lighter than the first fight against Bellew.

[stujones]

Watching Haye vs Bellew again and obviously with the rumours about an injury before hand. I wonder how injured he was before the fight - his legs reminded even in his "good rounds" like Mike Tyson vs Danny Williams after Tyson injured his knee - no balance, awkward movement..... and without being disrepectful to Bellew, I don't think it was the rise in the quality of opponent the did this. Haye was moving much better in his two fights on Dave. I think Haye on a punch bag would have looked awkward the night he fought Bellew.

[stujones]

what were hayes most entertaining fights

mormeck and thompson? and mock? he was good to watch when all over the place wasnt he.

Fragomeni and Mormeck were excellent, dramatic fights. Haye overcoming bad cut vs Frago and knockdown vs Mormeck, to grind out hard KO wins.

KOs of Gurov and Maccarinelli were excellent, as he demolished legitimate top 10 cruiserweights.

Sadly Haye moved up and he never really fought like a heavyweight, no core strength and always giving up too much ground, relying on reflexes and flashy power to steal openings.

Yes true - so I think Haye did "okay" as a Heavyweight with this considered. Amongst his victories he did beat some legitimate top 10 guys.... okay perhaps not top 5 guys, but I would say Valuev and Ruiz were top 10 and Barrett was close to top 10 at the time. Yes he dissapointed vs Wlad, but mainly because of the hype he created - let not forget HBO were not showing Heavyweight boxing at the time, but Haye hyped it up that they even did a Face Off show etc. However, look at it in the bigger picture, how many legitimate top 10 heavyweight did a hell of a lot worse and but on a worse display vs Wlad than Haye did. Hughie Fury is getting plaudits for a similar "effort" vs a far inferior fighter.

He was the #1 Cruiserweight in the world and a legitimate top 5 Heavyweight. That's a pretty decent career.

[Spud]

The question which everyone is avoiding - in the bigger scheme of things - whoever wins Bellew/Haye 2 what does it prove?

Without insulting either boxer - will the winner go onto beat Joshua?

Its just another great big fat pay day for both with the winner being hyped up by the journalists and the public being hoodwinked that the winner is a viable threat.