Haye-Dowling: a preview
Posted: 13 Nov 2003, 09:08
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.
"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.
