David Haye Ringside

[john welsh]

Wlad has really grown on me,he seems so chilled and relaxed where as haye looks timid and scared at the moment..haye even made an excuse that he didn`t talk much and seemed shaky because he doesn`t have to time to think of what to say cause he`s training too much..yeah right david.

[ed robinson]

I was in Germany on Monday, the London presser on Tuesday and then obviously with Haye back stage for Ringside. My tuppence worth is that if Haye was unsettled and out of sorts then now is the time for it.

We've all seen plenty of fighters unravel mentally in the last few days, hours and minutes before the most important fight of their lives, when the enormity of it all really hits them for the first time. There are so many examples but in particular I'm thinking of Bruno, so confident before the second Tyson fight - right up until the ring walk when he kept crossing himself. Audley so determined in Big Bear and then unravelling at the final press conference and weigh-in. It's the night that really matters psychologically - how surreal was it seeing Evander Holyfield, seemingly without a care in the World, singing gospel and smiling in his dressing room before the first Tyson fight, while everyone else in there looked like they were at a funeral! Or Joe Calzaghe - all the injury problems he had before the Lacy fight, to the extent that they were seriously ready to pull out the fight, then when it mattered, he was incredible.

You're better off being anxious when you're first told you're going to be a best man at a wedding rather than not really confronting it emotionally until you step up in front of all those people. Psychologically it could even be a positive to start serious training knowing full well that you're going to be up against it. A bit of nerves is good, even anxiety at this juncture.

There are so many different ways to interpret it all from this week. If we're looking for clues into how they will actually perform then you could argue that Haye's got the right idea. Surely he has to let his fists go against Wladimir, turn it from a cold, emotionally controlled boxing match into an adrenalin draining brawl. Opponents who try and out think Wlad in the ring wait and wait for openings and get broken down by that jab. So why try and engage intellectually with Wladimir? All Haye needs to do at this stage is let Wlad know that he's coming to hurt him.

One other thing - David Haye had to wait for Wlad in the middle of that football stadium on Monday - the only two people within a hundred yards of them were the cameraman for Sky and the one for RTL. That is when Haye first refused the hand shake - Wlad then kept making a point of it for the next two days. You could say that putting out his hand like that was actually an extremely confrontational gesture from Wlad - considering all that's happened between them. I don't blame David for not taking it - what if Wlad didn't let go! Perhaps it was just Wlad being friendly or perhaps it was a ploy - putting Haye in an almost impossible situation.

[hurlock]

what drivel ed :!: haye was showing cracks v harrison until he looked like a rabbit in the headlights at the weigh in & were people could see him breathing through his big coat.

i personally think haye is better off boxing in germany in a subdued atmosphere were he'll be under less pressure.

[mkirkhope]

I was originally wanting Wlad to win and watching Ringside just re-enforced that view.

I thought Haye came across as a complete idiot and to me he actually looked like he was scared. The fact Wlad dominated the verbal exchanges when he is speaking in a foreign language says it all.

I normally try and support the British fighters but I just don't like Haye's personality one bit.

[Final round]

I can understand Haye not wanting to be in the same room , Wlad's an over confident twat, it's all mock praise for Haye , he thinks he only has to turn up to win the fight.
it's fornicating difficult to sit down and converse politely with someone you fornicating detest. Haye looked nervous and furious at the same time the hate for Wlad is plain to see.

[Counter-puncher]

Haye needs to step up.

[jamesmcdonnell]

All of this is just hype to sell the fight, I don't believe for a minute that Haye despises Wlad. He is just selling the fight so he earns more money, so that win lose or draw, he's nicely set up for life.

[the truth]

Exactley ^

[apophenic]

imo haye's approach has been perfect so far.

wlads come out for the press conferences ready to verbally mix it with haye...he's prepared himself for that.

haye has not entered into any verbal jousting...he's refused to play.

point to haye.

as long as he keeps doing the exact opposite of what wlad expects him to then haye has the upper hand. wlad is following hayes moves not the other way round.

[Crease]

Used to like Haye came over a Dickhead tonight

Think about how friendly and cheery Wlad is toward Haye and everyone. He's disarming him.

Actually, I have to disgaree gents.
When discussing this, I'nm sick of people telling me that Wladmimir Klitchsko is a gentleman and is very respectful to others. Whereas, on the other hand, David Haye is a pteulent, arrogant cokchead who likes to come across as moddy and "bad".

Personally, I prefer Haye's approach, boxing isn't among making friends-for-life.
On this occasion, it is about finding out who is the number one Heavyweight in the world today and levaing the ring triple-unified Champion.

All thjis nonsence that Wladcame out with:
"Me and my brother care about you David. We don't want to see you get hurt. We love you".
I don't want to hear that kinda craptalk.

Lets just get the fight on.

COME ON HAYE!!!

[apophenic]

"Me and my brother care about you David. We don't want to see you get hurt. We love you".

wlads playin the exact same game that haye is....tryin to gain a psychological edge.

if bora...i mean wlad has gone back to germany thinking that haye is scared then that's another point to david imo.

[mrbassie]

"Me and my brother care about you David. We don't want to see you get hurt. We love you".

wlads playin the exact same game that haye is....tryin to gain a psychological edge.

if bora...i mean wlad has gone back to germany thinking that haye is scared then that's another point to david imo.

Scared isn't the word I'd use but I do think he's a bit intimidated. Probably a bit p'd off too as Wlad has made him look a bit of a male poultry in a lot of people's eyes.

[apophenic]

"Me and my brother care about you David. We don't want to see you get hurt. We love you".

wlads playin the exact same game that haye is....tryin to gain a psychological edge.

if bora...i mean wlad has gone back to germany thinking that haye is scared then that's another point to david imo.

Scared isn't the word I'd use but I do think he's a bit intimidated. Probably a bit p'd off too as Wlad has made him look a bit of a male poultry in a lot of people's eyes.

i disagree.

but that's the game now....which persons perception becomes fact...haye's or wlad's? whose paradigm prevails and becomes the narrative going in to the fight?

tbh i love the psychological aspect..

8)

[ed robinson]

I accept it is all fascinating stuff but I still don't think it means too much yet. At the weigh-in last week Andy Scott from Sky did an interview with Prince Arron and at no stage did the fighter ever say he thought he was going to win, despite being asked outright. He looked as nervous as anything, seeing Sam Webb and Arron together it looked a bit like man and boy. He didn't crumble on the Friday though did he? I remember coming away from speaking to Gary Sykes before his fight with Andy Morris and he was the same - it seemed like he had no confidence or self belief whatsoever. Our cameraman was convinced that he's get beat. Then he produced his finest performance to date.

[Nightmare Roy]

Haye came across as a bit of a plonker, but i think really he knows he can't win a battle of words with Vlad, the guy is just far too intelligent and likeable. Also loved his Borat impression. "I like yurrr purrrse"

[stujones]

I accept it is all fascinating stuff but I still don't think it means too much yet. At the weigh-in last week Andy Scott from Sky did an interview with Prince Arron and at no stage did the fighter ever say he thought he was going to win, despite being asked outright. He looked as nervous as anything, seeing Sam Webb and Arron together it looked a bit like man and boy. He didn't crumble on the Friday though did he? I remember coming away from speaking to Gary Sykes before his fight with Andy Morris and he was the same - it seemed like he had no confidence or self belief whatsoever. Our cameraman was convinced that he's get beat. Then he produced his finest performance to date.

Thats really interesting actually Ed, I actually thought that for the first four rounds it looked like Aaron was suffering from stage fright. Hadn't got out of the blocks - that punch changed the course of the fight.

[reggaereggae]

Yes, I wouldn't read too much into the build up. As Ed suggests, an athlete's psychology is very complex and we should be careful about reading to much into one show or press conference.

I remember Iran Barkley (I think) was so adamant he would beat Toney, as was Toney that he would beat Jones.

I remember after listening to Barkley that he could not possibly let Toney win. It was after these fights that I decided I would never pay too much attention to what a fighter said in a fight build up.

We are also not around the fighter for day after day; privu to his thoughts and training regime.

Even if he were, there are plenty of examples of fighters who struggles a bit in sparring but peaked on the night.

I'm sure I remember hearing Lennox Lewis was getting a boxing lesson fron John Ruiz in sparring; but then he went on to score a most decisive win (I think it was Golota?)

Basically I think we should be wary of reading too much into the build up. I think it is a 50/50 fight.

[Darcy Delaney]

I accept it is all fascinating stuff but I still don't think it means too much yet. At the weigh-in last week Andy Scott from Sky did an interview with Prince Arron and at no stage did the fighter ever say he thought he was going to win, despite being asked outright. He looked as nervous as anything, seeing Sam Webb and Arron together it looked a bit like man and boy. He didn't crumble on the Friday though did he? I remember coming away from speaking to Gary Sykes before his fight with Andy Morris and he was the same - it seemed like he had no confidence or self belief whatsoever. Our cameraman was convinced that he's get beat. Then he produced his finest performance to date.

i remember when my brother garry boxed for the commonwealth light heavy weight title, before the fight he looked like a little boy that didn't want to fight in the dressing room, when he got in there he boxed so well and the other boxer never landed a glove on him, garry ko'd the other fighter in 2 rounds, as they say never judge a book by it's cover, all fighters are different some go into there self and some are like caged animals before a fight,

[Glyn Leach]

Garry looked the nuts that night Darcy, remember it well. A bit of nerves is no bad thing, let's you know a fighter's mind is on the job

[orbtastic]

Chiponda? He looked like he'd been shot, huge shot that put him over.

In hindsight it's fair to say he struggled to make 175, he looked dead against Magee.

[Ketchel]

What about the famous clip of an amateur Mike Tyson crying on Teddy Atlas's shoulder before sparking his opponent in 1 round in the final of the Junior Olympics.

Everyone has their insecurities before any big event in their lives but it is always down to how you cope when that big moment comes.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I accept it is all fascinating stuff but I still don't think it means too much yet. At the weigh-in last week Andy Scott from Sky did an interview with Prince Arron and at no stage did the fighter ever say he thought he was going to win, despite being asked outright. He looked as nervous as anything, seeing Sam Webb and Arron together it looked a bit like man and boy. He didn't crumble on the Friday though did he? I remember coming away from speaking to Gary Sykes before his fight with Andy Morris and he was the same - it seemed like he had no confidence or self belief whatsoever. Our cameraman was convinced that he's get beat. Then he produced his finest performance to date.

I remember Danny Williams sounding very unconvincing prior to fighting Tyson - he sounded like he'd already lost - then look at what he went and did!

Following that, I vowed to take a lot less notice to what happens at press conferences. Talk is cheap - it is what happens on the night that counts, a fighter may be riddled with doubt in the intervening weeks and days, and the minute they step through the ropes - produce the performance of their lifetime, or be supremely confident, only to lose every shred of conviction as soon as they touch gloves - there's just no way of knowing.

[ed robinson]

I'm no psychologist but I think there is often a large disparity between what a boxer has convinced himself in his consciousness and what his sub consiciousness really knows. Shane Mosley was pretty convincing on FightCamp 360 - if he was lying in the build up I don't think he knew he was.

[dbf]

Why is it that Eubank and Naz are remembered fondly for their confidence/arrogance, yet Haye gets an earful on here?

He cleaned up the Cruiserweights and moved up to win a belt, now he's trying to clean up the heavy's aswell.

I think Booth is too cute to take this fight without having seen something on Wlad.

My money's on Haye, I like the fact that he happily admits that if he took a big shot from Wlad on the chin, then he'd go down. I think he will be too fast though. People have questioned Hayes chin over the last couple of years, based on one loss years ago when both fighters took plenty of shots, Wlad's been down a hell of a lot more.

Just my opinion.

He didn't clean up the Cruiserweight devision. There was an IBF champion who was better than Enzo Mac, there were other condenters also.

Bit like saying Ray Leonard cleaned up the Middleweight devision in one fight in April, 1987.

Who was IBF champ at the time - Steve Cunningham? Was he proven to be better than Enzo Mac? He may have beaten Huck and the pole (not Adamek, the other one) but that was about it? Cunningham had been inactive at the time from memory and really I think we can say Haye did clear it up.

Its funny how FW refused to call Haye undisputed champion when he beat Enzo but when Calzaghe beat Kessler he labelled Joe a SUPER undisputed champion despite Bute holding the IBF (and yes I know that Calzaghe never lost that in the ring - but lets not forget Haye beat Mormeck who avenged a loss against undisputed champ Bell - bell was stripped of his IBF title prior to the rematch).

[JC]

I'm no psychologist but I think there is often a large disparity between what a boxer has convinced himself in his consciousness and what his sub consiciousness really knows. Shane Mosley was pretty convincing on FightCamp 360 - if he was lying in the build up I don't think he knew he was.

Audley must surely be the GOAT at pre-fight self deception.