Haye-Bonin in April

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Feb 2007, 06:00

Perhaps not the opponent we wanted, but it will be an interesting experiment while Macca and Warren have their cake and stuff their faces with it re the WBO cruiser title. When Haye goes up to heavy IMO there's no coming back down. Bonin being an ex Audley victim.

From fightnews

WBC cruiserweight mandatory challenger David Haye (18-1, 17 KOs) will venture into the heavyweight division on April 27 when he meets Poland's WBC #12 Tomasz Bonin (37-1, 20 KOs) in a 12-round non-title affair. The bout will take place at London's Wembley Arena and will act as a stopgap ahead of Haye's impending WBC world title attempt at cruiserweight. "My first choice opponent was obviously Enzo Maccarinelli," said Haye. "Unless I effectively signed my life away, though, it was never a realistic possibility. So, after realising it was never going to happen, I told (promoter) Frank Maloney to get me a WBC world-ranked heavyweight opponent who could help me make a splash at heavyweight. We tried a number of options in the top 15 and Bonin was the one man willing to fight me."
Haye is unmoved by his British rivals at heavyweight.

"The British heavyweights are all involved in some interesting scraps, but where do any of them lead?" Haye asks. "They keep getting told there will be a world title shot at the end of the rainbow, but it never happens. None of them are rated high enough. I don't want to rely on the promise of a promoter to get to the top. I want to make strides by beating the necessary ranked opponents and forcing the issue.

"At cruiserweight I reached the WBC mandatory position without having even challenged for the British title. I've shown that if you aspire to reach the top of your division, there is no reason why you should exchange parts on the domestic scrap heap.

"I'm in line for a WBC cruiserweight title shot because I worked my way up the WBC rankings. I'll do exactly the same at heavyweight. There are a lot of Eastern Europeans at the top of the heavyweight pile, and I feast on Eastern Europeans for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I've never lost to one in 16 years of boxing."

So what can fight fans expect from Haye at heavyweight?

"They will see a fit, healthy and strong heavyweight who hasn't had to starve himself to make weight," says Haye. "Despite what some may think, I won't be just bulking up to heavyweight by lifting heavy weights. That won't do me any good whatsoever. I need to retain speed at heavyweight, as this will be one of my main attributes against bigger opponents. Also, just because I don't have to make weight, doesn't mean I will feast on fast food three times a day.

"I can't cut corners just because I'm boxing at heavyweight. There's a fine line between upright and smiling and flat on your back and unconscious in the heavyweight division. Everything you do at heavyweight is a risk. If Bonin hits me with the same shots Fragomeni did last November, I won't be badly cut, I'll be seeing stars. I'm aware of that."

Haye's bout with Bonin will also mark the Londoner's first appearance at the capital's legendary Wembley Arena since September 2004.

"We're hoping to have around 6,000 fans there on the night, and I can't wait," Haye says. "It was impossible for us to do another successful promotion at York Hall because the demand for tickets is just too great right now. We had to move onwards and upwards to bigger venues and Wembley Arena is just perfect.

"I'm delighted to be able to kick off my assault on the world heavyweight title in London. I'll be looking to fight in Las Vegas one day, so now is a good time to start rolling the dice and taking heavyweight gambles."

dookus · Post by **dookus** » 23 Feb 2007, 06:06

No O'Neil Bell fight then?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 23 Feb 2007, 06:10

supposed to be waiting for the Bell-Mormeck winner, but will Haye ever come back down? Soon as he gets a WBC heavy ranking IMO he stays at heavy.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 23 Feb 2007, 07:57

It seems unlikely Haye will move back down after he moves up to Heavyweight. After all when will Mormeck-Bell ever fight? Bell is seriously inactive and in trouble anyway after attacking his sparring partner.

Bonin is a reasonable test i suppose but his record is terribly inflated, how he has only lost once is beyond me. Safe matchmaking is an understatement.

glittermonkey · Post by **glittermonkey** » 23 Feb 2007, 10:07

viciousmaussa wrote:supposed to be waiting for the Bell-Mormeck winner, but will Haye ever come back down? Soon as he gets a WBC heavy ranking IMO he stays at heavy.

I think this is why Bonin could be the best possible choice. Haye doesn't need to put on much weight to be competitive against Bonin, so it keeps a move back down to cruiser as a back-up option.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 23 Feb 2007, 15:26

dookus wrote:No O'Neil Bell fight then?

My thoughts exactly! I hope Haye-Bell happens, but maybe making the weight has finally taken it's toll on David, who knows?

It will be a shame if Haye does not fight for the LHW title, having worked hard to get himself into such a position. Still, I hope he has success @ HW.

I think Haye is good for boxing and could bring excitement to a dour HW division.

states · Post by **states** » 23 Feb 2007, 17:20

It's not a bad bout, but I do see a few problems. Firstly, even though this is going to be Haye's first proper fight at heavyweight (I'm discounting the Delany bout) he's inevitably going to be judged by Audley's showing against Bonin. All well and good if Haye blasts him out of there sharpish. But what if Haye labours to a dull win? People are going to look at that, compare it to Audley's win, and then look at what Harrison (hasn't) achieved, and question Haye's future at heavyweight. Now that's not entirely fair, but it will probably still happen.

Secondly, whilst Bonin isn't a terrible choice, considering who Haye could have picked, he really isn't very good. Someone (I think it was jomothepure) posted youtube footage of Bonin's last fight, against a debutant, and a truly, truly bad one at that. Bonin got himself floored by a man who didn't have the faintest idea how to throw a punch correctly. So, WBC number 12 or not, a Haye win, no matter how impressive, is not going to be an indication of heavyweight dominance in the near future.

leforge · Post by **leforge** » 25 Feb 2007, 09:45

This is a good test for Haye imo. Also the undercard has Oakey v Oboh I notice.

Zhuge · Post by **Zhuge** » 25 Feb 2007, 21:27

I wonder if we'll get this one in the US since it's on a Friday -- it would be nice for Showtime to televise this one on their SHOBOX series.

Bard of Boxrec · Post by **Bard of Boxrec** » 26 Feb 2007, 05:58

I think Haye will blast Bonin out of there quick time. Bonin really is nothing and Audley hurt him several times. Haye clearly hits a lot harder than Audley despite the size difference and is a devastatingly accurate puncher.