Haye-Dowling: a preview

[bennie]

David Haye looks to capture his first title as a pro when he challenges for the inaugural English cruiserweight title against Lincoln's Tony Dowling tomorrow night at the York Hall. Dowling stepped in for Gary Delaney, Haye's original opponent, who was forced to withdraw earlier this week with shingles.
"It is my first professional title and that's always something to savour and look forward to," said the charismatic Haye. "I'm glad it is for the English title because that's a proper belt rather than some of these other belts.
"It's my first 10 rounder and Dowling is a good fight for me at this stage of my career. I want to be number one in Britain, that's my goal for the next few years, and fighting Tony for the English belt is the first major step in making that happen."
The unbeaten Londoner took his record to 7-0 (7) with a fourth round stoppage over the Congo's Lolenga Mock in his last fight in September, but a big to the temple sent the 23-year-old crashing to the canvas in the second and raised old questions about Haye's vulnerability stemming from amateur stoppages at the hands of Coventry's Jim Twite in the ABA's and, less shockingly, to Cuba's Odlanier Solis in the heavyweight final of the world amateur championships in Dublin in 2001. "It was just one of those things," claimed Haye of the knockdown. "He caught me with a great shot on the temple when I wasn't fully concentrating. I'd be worried if he'd dropped me with a shot to the chin but with those kinda shots to the temple, you just have to accept it as one of those things. I just don't want to make a habit of it."
And Haye showed character to survive the rocky second and floor the African with the same thumping right uppercut that so nearly won him gold against Solis (who was wobbled in the opening seconds of their world amateur final) two rounds later. Mock beat the count, but was pulled out by the referee.
Haye, incidentally, remains the only Englishman ever to reach a world amateur championship final.
So Dowling faces a daunting task tonight, even though he is far more experienced than his opponent. The 27-year-old Dowling has been nine tough rounds with Lee Swaby, the only man to beat Enzo Maccarinelli as a pro - and scored a solid win in his last fight when he outpointed Denzil Browne in a bruising - and close - six rounder at Sheffield in September. Browne was a previous British and Commonwealth title challenger.
However, Dowling lost in two rounds to Scott Lansdowne in a crack at the vacant Midlands Area cruiserweight title last year, and has also been stopped by Haye's original opponent, Garry Delaney, in six.
He brings a record of 10-5 (3) to the fight.
In terms of professional opponents, Dowling is probably a step up for Haye at this stage of the young prospect's career. That's because some of the opponents David has faced, especially in the States, have been pitiful. Even Mock was a blown-up light-heavyweight.
But, while fundamentally-sound, Tony is not the quickest cruiserweight in the world, and the Browne win two months ago remains his only fight this year. One fight in 12 months is hardly ideal preparation for a quick, talented and powerful young opponent like David Haye.
"I am a lot younger, a lot fresher, and my speed will be his undoing," said Haye of his opponent. It's probably the perfect summing up of how things will go tomorrow.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think this is a blessing in disguise for Haye, after his life or death struggle with Mock, in which the referee saved Haye from potential further embarrassment, i think Delaney could have proven a bridge too far at this stage.

Does anyone know whether Delaney really does have the shingles? I wonder whether they changed their mind about the opponent at the last minute....

Anyway, what is it with Shingles and boxers, Danny Williams always seems to cite shingles as a problem when he performs badly, does getting punched repeatedly in the face in sparring cause Shingles or something. Before anyone gives me a serious answer, I know that Shingles is a variation of the herpes virus

Personally, I feel that Haye, unless he radically changes his attitude to defensive work, will never be a genuine world champion, not even in the weakened cruiserweight division. I know people get excited over him, but carrying his left hand down by his waist in emulation of Lewis isn't going to work, if a crude bugger like Mock can catch him with a shot and put him down, there is no way in hell that

Lewis got away with it because of his very long reach, and innate sense of distance judgement, he also had better footwork than Haye, who looks very immobile in the ring to me. Lewis wasn't exactly nijinsky, but Haye is so static that he is easy to time. He might get away with it against low level opposition because of his handspeed and power, but against tough seasoned professionals, he will get his ass kicked.

I am not saying he cannot win a world title, but he needs to keep his bloody left hand up, against mock his corner were screaming at him to get his left hand up, but even after getting decked he kept it by his waist, and nearly got decapitated by an uppercut which just missed.

Haye seems a little too obsessed with looking good, rather than just winning, I hope this is a tendency he is talked out of.

[Goz]

Wayne Alexander had shingles too.

I didn't know that about Herpes.

Never seen Dowling before, I'm keen to see Haye again, for the first time since he was nearly 'Mocked' out, see if any adjustments have been made e.t.c

[bennie]

Does anyone know whether Delaney really does have the shingles? I wonder whether they changed their mind about the opponent at the last minute....

Delaney had really been struggling to make cruiserweight, and I honestly believe the very recent decision by all the governing bodies (bar the IBF) to increase the cruiser limit from 190 to 200lbs, had him throwing his hands up in exasperation and he pulled out.
The Boxing Board, like the IBF, have decided to stay at 190 (13st 8lbs).

[jamesmcdonnell]

Ain't got time to paint she shingles, ain't got time to mend the door...
ainna gonna need this house no longer........

I digress....did a bit of research, maybe atheltes in general are more susceptible, I know that heavy training of the body does deplete the immune system, which is why top flight athletes get ill a lot.

Shingles
The virus responsible for shingles and chickenpox belongs to a group of viruses called herpesviruses. This group includes the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores, fever blisters, mononucleosis, genital herpes — a sexually transmitted disease, and Epstein-Barr virus involved in infectious mononucleosis. Like the shingles-causing virus, many other herpesviruses can take refuge in the nervous system after an individual has suffered an initial infection. These viruses may remain latent for years, then travel down nerve cell fibers to cause a renewed infection.

A person who is suffering from a disease that damages the immune system, or who is taking anticancer drugs that suppress the immune system, is a prime candidate for an attack of shingles. Even among healthy individuals, temporary depression of the immune system because of stress, a cold, and even sunburn may be associated with an attack of shingles.

Most people who get shingles develop immunity to the virus and will not get the disease again, however, shingles may recur in some individuals. These cases usually involve people with declining or compromised immune systems, such as those infected with HIV or receiving chemotherapy.

[Priff]

Ain't got time to paint she shingles, ain't got time to mend the door...
ainna gonna need this house no longer........

isn't it "fix the door" ?
I digress.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yep, you're right, shame on you for knowing though.....

For those who had the misfortune of missing Shakin' Stevens, 'The Welsh Elvis' Here for your enjoyment, are the lyrics...

ah1-ah2-ah3.....


This ole house once knew my children.
This ole house once knew my life.
This ole house was home and comfort
as we lived through storm and strife.
This ole house once rang with laughter.
This ole house heard many shouts.
Now she trembles in the darkness
when the lightning walks about.

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles.
Ain't got time to fix the floor.
Ain't got time to oil the hinges,
nor to mend the window panes.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer.
I’m a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.

This ole house is gettin' shaky.
This ole house is gettin' old.
This ole house lets in the rain.
This ole house lets in the cold.
On my knees I’m gettin' shaky,
but I feel no fear or pain,
'cause I see an angel peekin'
through a broken window pane.

I ain't a-gonna need this house no longer.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles.
Ain't got time to fix the floor.
I ain't got time to oil the hinges,
nor to mend the window panes.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer.
I’m a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.

This ole house is afraid of thunder.
This ole house is afraid of storms.
This ole house just groans and trembles
when the night wind flings its arms.
This ole house is gettin' feeble.
This old house is needin' paint.
Just like me it's tuckered out,
but I’m a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.

Ain't a-gonna need this house no longer.
Ain't a-gonna need this house no more.
Ain't got time to fix the shingles.
Ain't got time to fix the floor.
I ain't got time to oil the hinges,
nor to mend the window panes.
Ain't gonna need this house no longer.
I’m a-gettin' ready to meet the saints.
I’m gettin' ready to meet the saints.

[Loftgroov]

You've got too much time on your hands James....

[jamesmcdonnell]

Boss is away!