Haye: “I will fight at heavyweight”

The_Don · Post by **The_Don** » 26 Jan 2007, 06:07

http://www.frankmaloney.com/html/module ... le&sid=373

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 26 Jan 2007, 07:17

Dont think his power will be as devastating at heavy, and that small reserve of stamina will likely run out quick trying to tee off on those giants.

Think you need to be a boxer-type like JC Gomez to move up to heavy.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Jan 2007, 10:03

Evander Holyfield was a puncher at Cruiserwieght, but stepping up to heavy he found his punches didn't have the same effect, when he first stepped up he had some wars with Dokes and Stewart, and it was his conditioning and workrate that eventually got him through.
I just couldn't see Haye being able to work like that in a fight at heavy.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 26 Jan 2007, 10:24

would be interesting to see Haye dip his toe into the heavyweight pool.

Bob Foster was an absolute killer at 175lbs but up at heavy his dig was nothing like what it had been and he was summarily dismissed by Joe Frazier.

The weight difference is less for Haye but history doesnt reveal very many encouraging cases..

Post by **The Law** » 26 Jan 2007, 10:28

I think he can carry most of his power to heavyweight, because it is particularly devastating when he's in the right state of mind. Furthermore heavyweights generally fight at a slower pace and that will suit his style (eventhough he has improved his stamina as of late).

I'm not sure he can knock out a heavyweight with a solid chin (like Peter for example), but I wouldn't bet against him if he fought someone like Maskaev.

Chesney_Chambers · Post by **Chesney_Chambers** » 26 Jan 2007, 11:19

Fair play to Haye, his career doesn't seem to be meticulously (sp) planned like so many are these days and he's willing to take a risk or 2, its refreshing IMO

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 26 Jan 2007, 11:36

TerribleTerry wrote:would be interesting to see Haye dip his toe into the heavyweight pool.

Bob Foster was an absolute killer at 175lbs but up at heavy his dig was nothing like what it had been and he was summarily dismissed by Joe Frazier.

The weight difference is less for Haye but history doesnt reveal very many encouraging cases..

Yes but Frazier was only 205 lbs in his fighting prime. Haye's best weight would probably be around 210 for my money, though he will probably bulk up to 225-230. The difference is there are a lot of heavyweights who are a natural 240+ these days, with huge neck, shoulder and back musculature and the skelton to carry it, and they are I think going to be able to shrug off a lot of Haye's shots.

The trouble for haye, is that he relies on being able to hurt opponents, if he can't do that, then what? Is he going to be able to box his way to a win against a 240 lb monster? It isn't really his style.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:21

All the best to David Haye. I hope it all works out for him. I like Haye's mentality in that he wants to fight the best out there, wants to be tested and not duck fighters'.

The HW division is in dire need of someone who has a star-like quality & Haye has it. Ok, this may not help in terms of his boxing skills and achievements, but I think Haye can make some real nosie as a HW.

I know he has not fought @ HW yet, but it would be good for the game if David could become a title-holder @ HW. I think David is good for the sport. If only there were more boxers' like him - willing to be tested.

One thing that does concern me, is once he has fought @ HW, will he REALLY boil back down to 200lbs, 14st 4lbs for his title shot? I hope Haye does get his chance to fight for the Cruiserweight title.

I say let's all give the man full support.

Twinkle Toes · Post by **Twinkle Toes** » 26 Jan 2007, 12:31

If a super middleweight punch can bother him, god only knows what a heavyweights punch will do to him.

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:03

Ludicrous really imo, Haye is not even a particularly big Cruiserweight and has had durability problems against Cruiserweights, how can he possiblity compete against natural 230+ fighters??..... you can bulk up your body but you cant bulk up your chin, a dodgey chin at Cruiserweight is an accident ready to happen at Heavyweight...

Taki... · Post by **Taki...** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:07

silkov wrote:Ludicrous really imo, Haye is not even a particularly big Cruiserweight and has had durability problems against Cruiserweights, how can he possiblity compete against natural 230+ fighters??..... you can bulk up your body but you cant bulk up your chin, a dodgey chin at Cruiserweight is an accident ready to happen at Heavyweight...

I can see Haye competing at HW. Cruiser is a pretty good division whilst HW sucks arse. An in shape and motivated Haye could easily be a top 10 HW... which is also true of almost any top 10 cruiser.

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:16

Haye could make a big splash at HW. Yes a 210-220lb Haye will have the punch to stretch out many a fighter. But his speed and skill advantage should be dramatic against today Slow-mo-weights. He will have to learn to box his way to a decision against the likes of Peter because going to war with a guy like that spells disaster

Hayes chin/stamina may be better when he doesn't have to drain down to CW.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:18

He was making 190 before, so how can he be killing himself to make 200?

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:37

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:Haye could make a big splash at HW. Yes a 210-220lb Haye will have the punch to stretch out many a fighter. But his speed and skill advantage should be dramatic against today Slow-mo-weights. He will have to learn to box his way to a decision against the likes of Peter because going to war with a guy like that spells disaster

Hayes chin/stamina may be better when he doesn't have to drain down to CW.

Nope, Haye hasnt got the durability to make it at heavy, simple as that imo. The trouble with Haye is he thinks he's far better than he is and I suspect that he thinks he'll have an easier time bulking up to heavy rather than having to work to make Cruiserweight. In actual fact Haye should probably be a light-heavyweight, nothing against the guy personally but he's simply lazy... Maybe I'm wrong, I have been sometimes, but I doubt it sadly...

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 26 Jan 2007, 13:48

jamesmcdonnell wrote:He was making 190 before, so how can he be killing himself to make 200?

Muscular development, hes aging and still growing, maybe he was draining to make 190 too. The last time he actually made 190 was over 3years ago too. He's 6'2, wide and has a thick muscularity.

HE may well not have the durability to fight HWs Silkov, but it'll be interesting to see

silkov · Post by **silkov** » 26 Jan 2007, 14:14

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:He was making 190 before, so how can he be killing himself to make 200?
Muscular development, hes aging and still growing, maybe he was draining to make 190 too. The last time he actually made 190 was over 3years ago too. He's 6'2, wide and has a thick muscularity.

HE may well not have the durability to fight HWs Silkov, but it'll be interesting to see

I'm sure he'll be able to beat some heavies, but the top tier will be out of his reach... even domestically it wont be a foregone conclusion... Skelton with his size and strength could well be too much for Haye imo.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 26 Jan 2007, 14:25

Phenomenal-Nutrition wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:He was making 190 before, so how can he be killing himself to make 200?
Muscular development, hes aging and still growing, maybe he was draining to make 190 too. The last time he actually made 190 was over 3years ago too. He's 6'2, wide and has a thick muscularity.

HE may well not have the durability to fight HWs Silkov, but it'll be interesting to see

Johnny Nelson is every bit as tall and wide, and yet he was making cruiserweight well into his late 30's.

Sure, maybe Haye has to work hard to get down to cruiserweight, I'm sure Nelson will be walking around at well over 200 now he has retired, but that doesn't mean he cannot do it.

Of course, I could be talking out me arse here, and maybe David really is killing himself to make the limit, but from his physique it certainly doesn't look like it.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 26 Jan 2007, 14:57

History doesn't support that it is a good move for Haye.
Evander Holyfield is the stand out cruiser that made the move to heavy.
Orlin Norris is probably the next one, he beat some good names, but ultimatly he had to go down to cruiser to win a world title.
Juan Carlos Gomez has had a couple of decent wins up at heavy, but he was also blasted in a round by Yanqui Diaz.

The one thing all these guys have in their prime is a good workrate, they won alot of fight at heavy by being smart, moving, throwing alot of shots, none of these guys were going to heavy trying to be a puncher, which is what Haye will be looking to do.
I just can see Haye changing his style and becoming a mover and throwing alot of shots a round.

Kilburn · Post by **Kilburn** » 26 Jan 2007, 15:14

At the moment Haye is struggling with himself as much as the opponent, lugging all that extra bulk around.

How is the freedom to add a further 1-2 stone going to improve his performances? I just can't see where he is going. But that said I wouldn't ever miss a Haye fight and his old fashioned approach to his boxing career has to be admired. I'm sure he'd fight Vlad Klitschko tomorrow if offered.

caster · Post by **caster** » 26 Jan 2007, 16:23

Chesney_Chambers wrote:Fair play to Haye, his career doesn't seem to be meticulously (sp) planned like so many are these days and he's willing to take a risk or 2, its refreshing IMO

Too true Chesney!

He deserves a lot of respect!

He's not trying to pull the wool over the publics eyes.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 26 Jan 2007, 16:27

Haye certainly has teh right attitude towards facing challenges. He takes it all in his stride, often with a smirk on his face, but fair play to him for not messing around, taking record padding fights.

Its the kind of attitude that wins fans round - I for one would like to see him in the big fights he is calling for..

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 27 Jan 2007, 06:04

Who are we to say he can't do it? He has boxing skills and handspeed, can fight careful, and he IS a weight drained fighter so who knows how a move up will turn out?

I do know one thing, he can't shift between heavy & cruiser.

I keep hearing about Joe Frazier, but there are no Fraziers at the moment (quality wise).

While Warren and Macca sit on that WBO belt, at least Haye is doing something novel and interesting.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 27 Jan 2007, 06:14

viciousmaussa wrote:Who are we to say he can't do it? He has boxing skills and handspeed, can fight careful, and he IS a weight drained fighter so who knows how a move up will turn out?

I do know one thing, he can't shift between heavy & cruiser.

I keep hearing about Joe Frazier, but there are no Fraziers at the moment (quality wise).

While Warren and Macca sit on that WBO belt, at least Haye is doing something novel and interesting.

Although i don't think it would be a good move by Haye, i do support him in the way he's gone about things, and hope he proves me wrong when he moves to heavy.

charlieb · Post by **charlieb** » 27 Jan 2007, 06:22

Well he wouldn't have had to if that fecking shyster Warren hadn't have sunk the Mac fight. At least not yet.

I don't share the concern of some who don't feel Haye can hang with the super heavies, being upright and as slow as you could ask for is exactly what the doctor ordered against someone with Haye's speed and array of punches.

I would agree that he should keep well away from guys like Peter and to a much lesser extent Skelton though. Basically anyone with a sturdy enough chin and the strength to overwhelm him.

If he's well matched and kept away from fights that aren't going to motivate him I could see him getting to title contention and winning against the right champ.

Haye has the right attitude, even if he fails miserably in the long run he still deserves props for being the type of fighter this sport needs.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 27 Jan 2007, 06:42

Yep, and by taking a risk, he's making Warren - and by implication Enzo Macca - look like reluctant twats. And is there anything worst than a twat that is reluctant?