BoxRec

I see his point about the merry go round. The reason though is allegedly is top dog in the UK but holds no weight whatsoever on the world stage, yet expects his stable of heavies to be able to beat each other, leapfrog all the contenders in the world top 10 and get a title fight.

Still, Hayes heavyweight go will be very interesting.

Is he still fighting Mormeck?

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"Despite the entertainment generated by Britain’s top heavyweights in recent years, David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye feels the merry-go-round attitude of British heavyweights is ultimately damaging. Set to step up to the heavyweight division on April 27 against Poland’s Tomasz Bonin, Haye believes the key to success is found further afield. “I’m targeting the world heavyweight title not the British heavyweight title,” the 26-year-old stresses. “I’m not moving up to heavyweight to fight all my domestic rivals and end up going absolutely nowhere..

“My next opponent, Bonin, is rated higher than all the British heavyweights with the World Boxing Council (WBC), and that is one of the reasons why I am boxing him.”

British contenders Matt Skelton, Michael Sprott, Danny Williams and Audley Harrison have all served up some intriguing heavyweight clashes in recent times. They have also often met each other more than once. Haye insists the rivalries have moved none of the heavyweights anywhere fast.

“If I were to beat someone like Skelton or Sprott, the win would then be followed by a rematch,” Haye says. “Then you’re looking at a rivalry. Then you’d have to defend the British title against the next challenger – and then they’d want a rematch. It just doesn’t get you anywhere. I’d be constantly going round in circles.”

Haye adds: “I’m 26 years of age and feel I am approaching my prime. I don’t want to waste my best years against domestic opponents. Frank Bruno and Nigel Benn never bothered with the British title, and they didn’t do too badly, did they?”

Nevertheless, Haye does consider himself Britain’s biggest hope in the heavyweight division when he eventually settles into the weight-class full-time.

“I’m definitely Britain’s best heavyweight,” Haye says. “By taking on world-class opponents instead of domestic rivals, I’ll prove that I’m the best. I’m going to be bringing speed and explosive power these heavyweights have never seen before – it’s the stuff of nightmares.

“Ruslan Chagaev beat Nicolay Valuev the other day despite being eleven inches shorter than him and 90 pounds lighter. He did it with speed, intelligence and skills. These big, plodding heavyweights better get used to it.”

Haye’s attempt to disarm the heavyweight division begins at London’s Wembley Arena on April 27. His opponent, Tomasz Bonin, is not to be underestimated, however.

“Bonin’s a very dangerous fighter,” Haye, 18-1 (17 KOs), admits. “He’ll be the biggest and hardest-punching fighter I’ve ever faced. He’ll also be the first heavyweight to taste ‘The Hayemaker’. I’ll assure you he won’t be the last, either.”

For details on how to purchase tickets for Haye-Bonin at London’s Wembley Arena, please call 07885728330."

Fair enough maybe 2 years ago but Skelton, Williams, Sprott and Harrison are all looking distinctly shopworn. Of all Sprott has had the most seriouse fights at european level.

I think he would be a fool not to fight for the Cruzer title though, he isn't known in the states and that would at least raise his profile assuming he thinks he can win it. I hope he doesn't announce in the ring after the fight he is moving up perminantly!

I wish Haye would stop going on about Bonin as though he is World class. Bonin would lose to all of Britain's top heavyweights.

He said he was higher ranked, not world class, which is true.

He doesn't really deserve that rankin look at who he has beat the biggest name on his record was a loss to harrison, the rest make Harrison's choice of opponents look daring

Yes true, to call Bonin's resume poor, would be an insult to paupers.

I think Bonin is perfect first fight at heavy for Haye and anyone suggesting he coul dhave aimed higher is deluded.

It is intriguing, potentially competitive and tactically chosen.

Come one, picking your way through the WBC rankings is the path of choice for non-SN fighters.

Witter, Eastman, Haye...

I've no problem with him as an opponent for Haye, who do people expect him to face in his first fight, Sam Peter?

Considering he's stitting on a shot a Mormeck, I wouldn't have been surprized if he'd gone for someone more down the journeyman route. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying Bonin is good but any kind of risky fight at this stage would have been a pretty dumb move.

I dont really see the point of this fight if Haye is still going to go back down to Cruiser... also it could make it harder for him to go back down as well if he puts a fair amount of bulk on for this fight... my suspicion is that Haye has no plans to fight Mormick in the future and if he wins well in this fight he may well just stay at heavyweight....

There aren't any making time fights which Haye could take at Cruzer which he wouldn't blow away and be critisised so he mite aswell take on a hevy I think is the logic. I have no problem with the opponent (if its good enough for harrison's 16th fight as a professional HW ist good enough for Haye's first) I just don't get the ranking.

I wish Haye luck for the simple reason he apparently wants a challenge. He may be overconfident in his power at heavy, and perhaps he'll lower his sights if he can't knock the big guys down, but I see a desire in him to achieve something.

I respect Froch for the same reasons. Britain could do with a few more impassioned boxers.

I'm not anti Haye but the moment he said "I guarantee I'll fight a top ten level Heavyweight" I said 'no chance in hell.'
Then predictably they wheel out Thomaz Bonin under the justification he is rated by the WBC. Yeah because alphabet ranking mean something. We all got a sharp reminder of that when the WBO allowed Bobby Gunn to get slaughtered.
Bonin has not beaten anyone of note and looks tailor made for David to look good. Also notice he isn't much of a puncher. I mean Audley was willing to go toe to toe with him.
The fact is David is still to beat a fighter outwith Gurov, who was notoriously chinny, who is in any shape or fashion world class.
If he goes in with Mormeck it would be a massive jump in class.

Some interesting points here.

Bonin isn't bad and I agree with the poster who said maybe they were expecting an trifle eaiser fight for his heavyweight debut and especially with him sitting on a WBC Cruiserweight shot (which he still is adamant is on his agenda---- which is great news BTW).

I also agree with most of what David Payne has written especially that "tactically chosen" bit. I don't think Bonin will be particularly competitive.... he will have ambition, but he doesn't have a punch... isn't fast and doesn't do anything great.

Sure it will look impressive if Haye sparks Bonin and Audley only got a controvesial late stoppage, but Haye is quite possible a bigger puncher than Aud, certainly crisper cleaner and faster.

I think it was a threat on here once called something likes "Worlds worst boxer" and it was a you tube link of a fighter vs Bonin.... yes the opponent was inept, but it also showed that Bonin wasn't that much cop either and it showed Harrison up indirectly also.

Main thing is though, Bonin is slow and cannot punch.... I cannot see how he will trouble Haye... if Haye cannot stop him he now has the experience to put on a Lasse Johansson esque performance and win on points.

No probs from me with Bonin as a Heavyweight debut opponent.

WayoftheCass wrote:I'm not anti Haye but the moment he said "I guarantee I'll fight a top ten level Heavyweight" I said 'no chance in hell.'
Then predictably they wheel out Thomaz Bonin under the justification he is rated by the WBC. Yeah because alphabet ranking mean something. We all got a sharp reminder of that when the WBO allowed Bobby Gunn to get slaughtered.
Bonin has not beaten anyone of note and looks tailor made for David to look good. Also notice he isn't much of a puncher. I mean Audley was willing to go toe to toe with him.
The fact is David is still to beat a fighter outwith Gurov, who was notoriously chinny, who is in any shape or fashion world class.
If he goes in with Mormeck it would be a massive jump in class.

Exactly, I'm still not convinced that Haye wants to get in there with Mormeck...

Yea, a lot of us are saying that on the other Haye thread. I bet Haye saw Mormecks figth with Bell and really went off the idea.

If you can move & dig a bit your better off trying to roll the dice potshot a Dominic Guinn and Monte Barrett into an alphabet title fight with a slow lump.


Mormeck is a beast!!

When you look at Haye-Frago (stocky brawler) it's natural to assume that Mormeck would knock seven bells of shit out of him. Haye looks physically wrong to tackle Mormeck, especially with David fighting out of a squat and giving height away.

Mormeck was affected by the heat and the low blow. He's a classy brawler but seems not to have much tractical sense (brawling with BELL of all people) and these wars will take a lot out of him. Also his schedule has been very poor.

Haye is definitely better than he was for Thompson. Macca also is an improving, heavy hitting big man. Mormeck won't be around at the top level much longer and we'll see plenty more fading.

We see Glen Johnson tired after 8 or 9 rounds but he can still hurl the punches. Mormeck can barely hold up his body weight over the last 1/3.

At least he cant against Bell/he knew thanks to open scoring he was ahead and took it easy. Either/or.

Macca is not improving. He leans in and eats punches. Mormeck is not to be confused with short old fat Dominguez or Hobson.

Macca is blown aways.

Haye is.... well see above discussion.

Goz wrote:No probs from me with Bonin as a Heavyweight debut opponent.

I agree. Consider the opposition so called prospects like Chapman and Greenberg have been fighting... Bonin is far from bad.

Final Fight wrote:When you look at Haye-Frago (stocky brawler) it's natural to assume that Mormeck would knock seven bells of shit out of him. Haye looks physically wrong to tackle Mormeck, especially with David fighting out of a squat and giving height away.

Mormeck was affected by the heat and the low blow. He's a classy brawler but seems not to have much tractical sense (brawling with BELL of all people) and these wars will take a lot out of him. Also his schedule has been very poor.

Haye is definitely better than he was for Thompson. Macca also is an improving, heavy hitting big man. Mormeck won't be around at the top level much longer and we'll see plenty more fading.

We see Glen Johnson tired after 8 or 9 rounds but he can still hurl the punches. Mormeck can barely hold up his body weight over the last 1/3.

Well we still havent seen Haye go 12 fast rounds with a world class fighter without getting koed... Mormeck would be too tough and durable for Haye...

Taki... wrote:

Goz wrote:No probs from me with Bonin as a Heavyweight debut opponent.

I agree. Consider the opposition so called prospects like Chapman and Greenberg have been fighting... Bonin is far from bad.

Thats fair enough if the limit of David's ambition is to be better than those two who I think are pretty poor by the way. Indeed why not make a fight with these two as at least it would have the '0' having to go factor attached.
Bonin has beaten absolutely zip in his career and is just there to provide cannon fodder. Haye claims he's ready to take on the world but we're still waiting for a competitive matchup and not a hand picked opponent.
He has guys like Mormeck, Macca, Bell, Huck, Drews, the Pole (not even going to try and spell it) , Cunningham etc at Cruiserweight. Even domestically there is Williams, Harrison, Greenberg, Skelton, Sprott and Gammer as well as Virches, Samil-Sam, Platov, Sidorenko, Jirov and Liakovich at Euro level and McCall, Byrd, Rahman, Toney, Moorer, Holyfield, Minto, Ruiz, Barret and Guinn at highly rated but beatable world name level but instead we're getting Thomaz Bonin a guy who is famous for getting stopped by Audley Harrison who is generally regarded by most on this board to be an impostor as a world level fighter. Who's next Richel Hersisea?
Haye came out and claimed he'd be challenging a top ten rated Heavyweight and that he only wanted challenges and he end up being matched with, by his own admission, a Heavyweight version of Fragommeni (who had not even remote world class qualifications).
Like I said before outside of Gurov Haye is still to beat a world level fighter. His 3 Euro title challengers were struggling to make it into the top 20 in Europe.
The more I think about this one the more convinced I am that its another predictable hand picked opponent for another precious British prospect who talks of world titles yet isn't even being matched with fringe contenders.
If Haye smokes Bonin what does it prove? Absolutely nothing. We know he can punch and that he's a natural Heavyweight already. We still don't know if he's any good.

Its when Haye takes a decent punch at heavyweight that we'll get some answers... the truth is he hasnt really taken a decent shot from a puncher since the Thompson fight...

It's not a matter of if but when he next get's iced. Why doesn't fight Hobson who he has avoided plenty or even Scott Gammer. He is a cherry picker fighter who will fiddle and fart his way to the top before getting exposed in spectacular fashion. His TV ratings and crowds have been crap and that means Sky won't push the boat out when it matters most to get him a real fight.

He'll end up shagging form a living in Miami which at least he is training for now!

Well, as far as I am aware, he has a title shot lined up. Why exactly would he be fighting the likes of Hobson when he's got a cruiserweight title shot.

Personally, I think he's taking an totally uneccessary risk fighting at heavyweight. Even a poor heavyweight like Bonin could prove to be just too big and too strong for him.