BoxRec

ENGLISH cruiserweight champion David Haye puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on Lincoln’s Lee Swaby at Reading’s Rivermead Leisure Centre on Friday February 20.
The 10-rounder, which is being promoted by Evans-Waterman and Dennis Hobson, will be televised on the BBC.
Haye, who has won all his eight pro fights to date, has been widely tipped for the top. But he nearly suffered a shock defeat on his last appearance at Rivermead in September when he was knocked down by hard-hitting Lolenga Mock before recording a controversial fourth-round stoppage.
He looked much more convincing when he blasted out Tony Dowling in the first round in November to win the inaugural English title.
But Swaby, who inflicted the only defeat on current WBU cruiserweight champion Enzo Maccarinelli, says: "David Haye is in for a terrible shock when we fight.
"I can tell he’s looking beyond this fight and sees me as a stepping-stone but I will smash him all over the ring.
"After he loses I just hope he doesn’t try and use his inexperience as an excuse because he’s the one shooting his mouth off as if he’s already beat me and he’ll pay for that.
"When I knock him out he best keep his mouth shut."

Anyone else really looking forward to this one?

I cant wait for this and although I expect Haye to come through it ,I envision a tough fight which will test both fighters.

HH

As respected as Swaby appears to be, Haye really needs to deal with him fairly easily if a world class future is to really happen.

Haye KO2 Swaby...

I am looking forward to it and have been thinking about it a lot.

At first I thought that Swaby could give him problems.

But now I think Haye will have too much of everyting and spark him early.

I certainly hope he does because my impression of Swaby is that whilst he is talented, he thinks he is much better than he actually is, and has got a big mouth.

Haye KO3.

Don't be surprised if Swaby stands up well to Haye early on.

This fight was a natural, I'm so glad it's on.

I like Swaby. He thinks he's Naz, but can back it up a bit.

This should be a great fight, hope I can get to this one. Clash of the egos here, both men think they are special.

"When I knock him out he best keep his mouth shut," is the quote of the year so far for me.

I dont think it will last longer than 4-5 rounds but will be tough moments while it does.

Hayes power will be the telling factor here.


HH

i would like to think Swaby is clever and experienced enough to cope with the early on slaught and take Haye into the later rounds where he can start asking some questions...

remember most of Swabys fights have been late notice... for this one he has had a long time to prepare...

my only fear is that Swaby with all his upper body movement and low hands swings right into one of Hayes bombs

I can't wait for this fight, wouldn't suprise me too much to see the overconfident Haye get sparked.

Great interview with Swaby at secondsout, sounds well up for this one..

http://www.secondsout.com/uk/news_56266.asp

Bennie, I wouldn't call Mock hard hitting (maybe Haye would)

I see this as the perfect opponent for Haye, somebody who he is not going to blow away in 2 rounds (Swaby hasn't been stopped since 1998) and he is a good name to have on your record, especially if you are 9 fight pro. I hope Haye is going to use his noggin and not take as many risks as he did in the Mock fight as I am sure Swaby will have seen this fight a number of times. I hope he boxes him and if the KO comes it comes, but I don't think he should go looking for it (see Enzo Maccarinelli).

Chambers wrote:Bennie, I wouldn't call Mock hard hitting (maybe Haye would)

I see this as the perfect opponent for Haye, somebody who he is not going to blow away in 2 rounds (Swaby hasn't been stopped since 1998) and he is a good name to have on your record, especially if you are 9 fight pro. I hope Haye is going to use his noggin and not take as many risks as he did in the Mock fight as I am sure Swaby will have seen this fight a number of times. I hope he boxes him and if the KO comes it comes, but I don't think he should go looking for it (see Enzo Maccarinelli).

Good post.

Lets get it right (to steal a line from Bunce) Lee Swaby is a tough as old boots, hard pro.
He will test Haye plenty and if Haye has been dazzled by the bright lights of the Playboy Mansion, or is busy looking for a highlight reel KO, Swaby is the man to bring him down to earth with a Mock-style bump.

I remember seeing Swaby fight as a kickboxer in the early 90s - he used to come to the ring carrying a butcher's knife and was just as plucky/stoney faced as he is in boxing.

Can't wait for the fight.

TerribleTerry wrote:Lets get it right (to steal a line from Bunce) Lee Swaby is a tough as old boots, hard pro.
He will test Haye plenty and if Haye has been dazzled by the bright lights of the Playboy Mansion, or is busy looking for a highlight reel KO, Swaby is the man to bring him down to earth with a Mock-style bump.

I remember seeing Swaby fight as a kickboxer in the early 90s - he used to come to the ring carrying a butcher's knife and was just as plucky/stoney faced as he is in boxing.

Can't wait for the fight.

wasnt he Muay thai world champ???? fought pele reid once i believe??

knockout wrote:

TerribleTerry wrote:Lets get it right (to steal a line from Bunce) Lee Swaby is a tough as old boots, hard pro.
He will test Haye plenty and if Haye has been dazzled by the bright lights of the Playboy Mansion, or is busy looking for a highlight reel KO, Swaby is the man to bring him down to earth with a Mock-style bump.

I remember seeing Swaby fight as a kickboxer in the early 90s - he used to come to the ring carrying a butcher's knife and was just as plucky/stoney faced as he is in boxing.

Can't wait for the fight.

wasnt he Muay thai world champ???? fought pele reid once i believe??

Not entirely sure - he is from Lincoln and I saw him fight Neil Kelly from Birmingham, who is an excellent full contact fighter. Kelly beat him on a narrow decision (it was Kickboxing, not Muay Thai) but contends to this day that Swaby was one tough SOB.

I would imagine he competed against Pele at some stage but don't know any details..

Well done to both guys, I'm sure with Enzo currently holding some kind of title - but also the fans acclaim following his KO over Scott, that fight would have been a natural for Swaby and one that was more financially rewarding. Surely, it wouldn't have been difficult to make either.

Instead he's elected to fight for the English title, against obviously a very risky opponent, with great skills. If Swaby loses, he might be back at square 1 - and would a rematch with Enzo sound so tempting.

As for Haye, his attitude and his courage with his opponents continue to impress me, he's only just been in the business over a year and now he fighting one of the more dangerous fighters in this country, and at a good time in the devision.

Audley should be taking note of the appreciation us fans have of Haye.

If haye lans that wppercut early, it could be a quick night for all. Its good to see Haye fighting the best in the country instead of beating up 2nd rate imports....the cruiserwieghts are looking fun at the moment with Hobson, Haye,Enzo,Thomson,Nelson...some goodfights down the line