Thompson floors Haye in sparring

[oliverfennell]

Personally I don't read too much into stories and "leaks" from training camps, but if Harrison himself believes it's valid, let's not forget the original reason for him calling for this match and turning it into a "grudge" - that Haye got the better of HIM in sparring.

[MightyWarrior]

Haye has just denied being knocked down by Thompson in a blog on the Sky Sports website.

I think it's telling that they couldn't get Tony T to flat out deny it in their press release yesterday though. Very likely it happened, and it was likely one of Tony's mates that leaked it, as he must be quite proud he's put DH over. I've even seen it refered to as a knock out....smoke and mirrors, as ever.

[charlieb]

Haye has just denied being knocked down by Thompson in a blog on the Sky Sports website.

I think it's telling that they couldn't get Tony T to flat out deny it in their press release yesterday though. Very likely it happened, and it was likely one of Tony's mates that leaked it, as he must be quite proud he's put DH over. I've even seen it refered to as a knock out....smoke and mirrors, as ever.

I think that could go either way though, if he didn't put Haye over and got battered all the same, it's most likely not doing his ego or his profile any harm allowing the rumour to linger.

Wouldn't surprise me if he did catch Haye though, Thompson's a bloody good fighter and Haye does seem to have a rep of sparring with spiteful intent.

It's not a huge concern though, if any superheavy with a decent dig plants one on Haye we all know what'll happen.

Come fight night the nerves and reflexes will be there to keep him honest. Haye hasn't been the type to rush in and scrap since his prospect days, I don't think cutting loose in sparring and being put over translates to the actual fight in any real way... unless of course he was dropped hard or KO'd.

[Matt W]

I was chatting about this fight with someone the other day who agreed that this is over within 5. He said that if Harrison was an American that was being brought over nobody would give him a hope and that the fact that he's British and has a big mouth seems to be making people thinking it's a closer fight than it is. I agree 100% with this.

I see it like I did the Maccarinelli fight - yes whoever lands can hurt the other (although Harrison doesn't have the 1 punch power some credit him with IMO) but Haye is levels above Harrison and is far far more likely to land that shot. There aren't too many one punch KOs at this level and just don't see Audley getting one here.

[McCannW14]

Haye has just denied being knocked down by Thompson in a blog on the Sky Sports website.

I think it's telling that they couldn't get Tony T to flat out deny it in their press release yesterday though. Very likely it happened, and it was likely one of Tony's mates that leaked it, as he must be quite proud he's put DH over. I've even seen it refered to as a knock out....smoke and mirrors, as ever.

Lolenga Mock put Haye over and almost out. haye has questionable stamina, looks for the one big shot all the time.

This is a 50/50 fight.

[Final round]

A 50/50 fight??
Rip up the form book Audley's in the room.

[Jesus]

This is a 50/50 fight.

why do people keep saying that? audley has been sparked by journeymen for petes sake....i really dont think audley will be able to weather the early storm and last more then 4 rounds...people keep talking about audleys big left hand and that IF he lands it he will ko haye......but the problem is haye WILL land and we all know how audley reacts to getting hit dont we? he will go straight into survival mode for as long as the fight lasts.......50/50? i would call it 80/20 in haye's favour at best.....

[oliverfennell]

This is a 50/50 fight.

why do people keep saying that? audley has been sparked by journeymen for petes sake....i really dont think audley will be able to weather the early storm and last more then 4 rounds...people keep talking about audleys big left hand and that IF he lands it he will ko haye......but the problem is haye WILL land and we all know how audley reacts to getting hit dont we? he will go straight into survival mode for as long as the fight lasts.......50/50? i would call it 80/20 in haye's favour at best.....

Who are these journeymen (plural) Audley's been sparked by? As far as I can tell, he's only been stopped once, and that was by a former British and Commonwealth champion.

That's not to say I'm claiming it's an even fight, either - but I don't like how the "journeyman" term is arbitrarily thrown around and applied to proud boxers who come to win and are of title class.

[freddydoesdallas]

Haye has just denied being knocked down by Thompson in a blog on the Sky Sports website.

I think it's telling that they couldn't get Tony T to flat out deny it in their press release yesterday though. Very likely it happened, and it was likely one of Tony's mates that leaked it, as he must be quite proud he's put DH over. I've even seen it refered to as a knock out....smoke and mirrors, as ever.

Lolenga Mock put Haye over and almost out. haye has questionable stamina, looks for the one big shot all the time.

This is a 50/50 fight.

So if one of your mates offered to bet you £50 on this you'd have no problem accepting that price (figure not set just an example).

This is in no way an even money fight

[Jesus]

This is a 50/50 fight.

why do people keep saying that? audley has been sparked by journeymen for petes sake....i really dont think audley will be able to weather the early storm and last more then 4 rounds...people keep talking about audleys big left hand and that IF he lands it he will ko haye......but the problem is haye WILL land and we all know how audley reacts to getting hit dont we? he will go straight into survival mode for as long as the fight lasts.......50/50? i would call it 80/20 in haye's favour at best.....

Who are these journeymen (plural) Audley's been sparked by? As far as I can tell, he's only been stopped once, and that was by a former British and Commonwealth champion.

That's not to say I'm claiming it's an even fight, either - but I don't like how the "journeyman" term is arbitrarily thrown around and applied to proud boxers who come to win and are of title class.

anyone with as many losses as sprott is a journeyman in my eyes so suck it...

[knockout]

Have to say I see this as a close fight myself!!! Both men have their shortcomings both have advantages.

Haye has been ok as a heavy but he hasnt been 1986 Tyson.

Audley has fairly decent experience and has shown moments of real class.


It all depends on Audleys mindset, which is hard to predict....

Either guy has the capacity to knock out the other, Haye is faster, Audley has longer arms, slightly better gas and the "southpaw style".

I am trying to remember southpaws Hayes has fought, Jim Twite was a southpaw, thats the only one i can think of off the top of my head.

[Datsue]

Have to say I see this as a close fight myself!!! Both men have their shortcomings both have advantages.

Haye has been ok as a heavy but he hasnt been 1986 Tyson.

Audley has fairly decent experience and has shown moments of real class.


It all depends on Audleys mindset, which is hard to predict....

Either guy has the capacity to knock out the other, Haye is faster, Audley has longer arms, slightly better gas and the "southpaw style".

I am trying to remember southpaws Hayes has fought, Jim Twite was a southpaw, thats the only one i can think of off the top of my head.

I'm sure someone's already posted this, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3H1_hkRYAk

[knockout]

Thanks Datsue!! Forgot about poor Gurov!! Went down like he had been shot by a sniper!

No doubting Hayes punching power there :-)

[J]

Welcome back KO how are ya! longtime since we seen you here..! hope all is well with you.

[hurlock]

Thanks Datsue!! Forgot about poor Gurov!! Went down like he had been shot by a sniper!

No doubting Hayes punching power there :-)

dunstan done the same year's previously & he wasnt no serious banger like haye.

[hurlock]

you're pathetic, grow up and behave yourself .

you sound like my wife DD

[Wales]

This is a 50/50 fight.

why do people keep saying that? audley has been sparked by journeymen for petes sake....i really dont think audley will be able to weather the early storm and last more then 4 rounds...people keep talking about audleys big left hand and that IF he lands it he will ko haye......but the problem is haye WILL land and we all know how audley reacts to getting hit dont we? he will go straight into survival mode for as long as the fight lasts.......50/50? i would call it 80/20 in haye's favour at best.....

Didnt you say me saying the fight wasnt a 50/50 was the most ridiculous thing you've ever seen on boxrec? Or were you rreferring to the comment I was commenting on... damn thats confusing

[J]

you're pathetic, grow up and behave yourself .

you sound like my wife DD

does she have a dep voice and pair of balls in which case i could be your wife.

[WelshDevil]

Tony T talks up Haye here, says he'll beat Aud easy, But his refusal to comment on the KD pretty much confirms he put him over.

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/stor ... MP=OTC-RSS

Are you sure it was a refusal to comment? They just said that he didn't comment. They didn't even say that he was asked about it.

Yes, but the press release was obviously put out there by his employers, as a response to Audley's taunts yesterday. So you'd think he'd at least comment on the main topic of conversation, which was the knockdown.

So your guessing or reading Tony's mind? All the best to you but keep that bet on Harrison low. ;;-)

[WelshDevil]

Don't think Ellis staggered Audley per se, landed a fast couple of shots that had Audley retreating into Vietnam Vet' mode. Knockdown against Williams came from a shot to the top of the head, a la Haye's floorings, and he weathered some meaty shots against Sprott.

Both men get bad press for their chins but look at Haye swinging for his life when being stopped against Thompson, he has cojones and showed he can weather a beating.

This one is interesting because we have two men who are unfairly criticised in many ways. It created a king of double negative effect that threatened to drive boxing fans insane but they opted, instead, to jump on the Big Aud' Bang Bus.

I want both men to win, or for one or the other to lose with valour. A draw would be nice.

It was Mark Krence that staggered him from what I recall watching it live.

[Carbo]

Someone who'd spoke to Adam Booth once told me that Booth had told him that Haye had been put down several times in sparring, but that he was strange in that he'd taken some monster punches fine, and gone over from more innocuous punches.

This, along with the press statement from Thompson makes me believe that this story is absolutely true.

It also makes me think it's nothing to worry about for Haye. It's happened before and probably hasn't affected him. To be sure, it'll be a small boost to Harrison's confidence, but, as we all know, that'll shrivel up like balls on a cold day as soon as he steps in the ring.

This fight's only going one way, and that's a Haye win. I see two possible ways to this. The first is that Audley comes to fight, and he'll run in and wing punches in at him rather like Ruiz did against Roy Jones. It'll be scrappy because of this at first, but soon enough Haye'll walk Harrison onto a smooth right and Harrison will be either completely iced or he'll not have the heart Ruiz showed against Haye to get up and come back. Or, Harrison will go into his shell and try to box, in which case it could be a duller fight with Harrison's southpaw style, but eventually, Haye'll find a way through.

Haye is vulnerable in the chin, but he'll be harder to find than Harrison thinks, as his head movement is very good, and he's actually quite skilled at judging the range and staying just out of the way of jabs.

Harrison isn't exactly Oliver McCall in the chin department and Haye hits much, much harder than Michael Sprott.

[Asterix]

I'm sure someone's already posted this, but...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3H1_hkRYAk

That reminds me how good Haye's 1-2 is. Very nice, thanks.