BoxRec

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

I think Joshua though would be all wrong for Haye, too big, fast and powerful. Haye would have to get inside that reach and close him down, and at HW, that's not really his style, he punches at distance. Haye'd get hit hard and often early, and then get stopped, despite the gulf in experience.

I don't think he would be, at his best Haye was extremely good at getting in and out of range, he was also very fast and powerful and could execute a gameplan beautifully, as clopixolacuphase says in the next quote, he could be very negative (and very effective and hard to hit with it) so I certainly don't see him taking a lot of punishment.
whether he still has the reflexes, speed and sharpness to execute a gameplan like he used to is another question entirely.
A fight right now would probably be between a past his best Haye and an AJ not nearly at his and yet to prove he can reach that level. An interesting combo. One that makes the fight right now very hard to predict with so many unknowns, although I'd lean toward AJ if it happened tomorrow

clopixolacuphase wrote:Haye was always very negative fighting super heavyweights like Joshua. Even Audley he didn't jump on until he thought he could. At his best he took Wladamir the distance. If he managed to get himself back to anywhere near what he was he would at the very least give Joshua rounds. I wonder... Would the old Haye have been favorite to bang AJ out at this stage?

I think prime Haye would beat current AJ. Joshua looks quality and has a lot of physical attributes which can take him to the top, but right now, he's had zero top level experience and I suspect Haye would be too slick and a bit too wise for Anthony.

Does Haye still have it? Probably not, so the current version of both fighters, as above, i'd be swayed towards AJ as I can't see Haye coming back 100%. but you never know.

I'd also argue, AJ has still to improve and get that top level experience. If and when he does fulfil that potential, perhaps there's no version of Haye that would beat him. but he's not there yet and I don't think the AJ we see now would have been favourite against David Haye at his very best.

AJ wins in 3 round blow out

If Haye is still the same fighter as he was (doubtful) I think he takes AJ out big style. AJ hasn't got even close to the level of experience needed to deal with Haye. One lazy jab, and Haye steps in with a right hand and it's goodnight.

AJ needs to get hit, needs to get rounds in, and needs to fight someone at the right level first. I'm not saying that he hasn't got the potential, but beating Haye now, or stepping up to Haye without the correct bridging fights would end in disaster.

Have people forgot what a top level operator David Haye actually was?!

Happy Slapper wrote:If Haye is still the same fighter as he was (doubtful) I think he takes AJ out big style. AJ hasn't got even close to the level of experience needed to deal with Haye. One lazy jab, and Haye steps in with a right hand and it's goodnight.

AJ needs to get hit, needs to get rounds in, and needs to fight someone at the right level first. I'm not saying that he hasn't got the potential, but beating Haye now, or stepping up to Haye without the correct bridging fights would end in disaster.

Have people forgot what a top level operator David Haye actually was?!

Who do you advice AJ to fight next? Also, David Haye was a good cruiserweight, but not a good heavyweight, he just cherrypicked his opponends very very carefully to get a shot at the big money.

asdfjkl wrote:

Happy Slapper wrote:If Haye is still the same fighter as he was (doubtful) I think he takes AJ out big style. AJ hasn't got even close to the level of experience needed to deal with Haye. One lazy jab, and Haye steps in with a right hand and it's goodnight.

AJ needs to get hit, needs to get rounds in, and needs to fight someone at the right level first. I'm not saying that he hasn't got the potential, but beating Haye now, or stepping up to Haye without the correct bridging fights would end in disaster.

Have people forgot what a top level operator David Haye actually was?!

Who do you advice AJ to fight next? Also, David Haye was a good cruiserweight, but not a good heavyweight, he just cherrypicked his opponends very very carefully to get a shot at the big money.

I'm not going to argue that Haye was an ATG heavy. Or that he had a resume to rival Ali

but he was a solid genuine world class operator at heavyweight

The win against Valuev should not be scoffed at
He had 3 convincing stoppages against Ruiz, Chisora and Barrett, All considered fringe world class/gate keepers at the time.
These guy are not guys he was expected to struggle against, but certainly names that, at the time you measure yourself against to see if you belong in world class and the manner in which he dealt with them was resounding.
The guys he fought to get to Wlad are no different than the likes of Pulev fought to be considered no1 contender.
And certainly better than the opposition faced by Wach, Pianetta or Leipai.
Let's not even compare his route to a world against Wilder


As happy slapper said, AJ is yet to even fight anyone at the Ruiz/Barrett/Chisora level

Hearn wants Joshua Haye in 2016

Wales wants Suicide Bomber v Great White shark in 2016

Both as likely as each other of happening

Haye was on the pads with Nigel Benn video is on Facebook. He looks very heavy and slow granted he's not in camp or anything. I just feel that shoulder injury means he can never really fight on. He should stay retired, great guy outside of boxing very nice and down to earth. His ring persona was exactly that...a ring persona. Hopefully he can do some more punditry and should definitely go into coaching. He'd be a great matchup for Groves.

salaambrown wrote:Haye was on the pads with Nigel Benn video is on Facebook. He looks very heavy and slow granted he's not in camp or anything. I just feel that shoulder injury means he can never really fight on. He should stay retired, great guy outside of boxing very nice and down to earth. His ring persona was exactly that...a ring persona. Hopefully he can do some more punditry and should definitely go into coaching. He'd be a great matchup for Groves.

Yeah decent pundit. Talks well.