BoxRec

by British Boxing
Jun 13th 2007


World Boxing Council (WBC) number one-ranked contender David ‘The Hayemaker' Haye has responded to claims made by promoter allegedly in his weekly News Of The World column by insisting, “I don't need Warren and Enzo - they need me!”

The 26-year-old Haye – currently preparing for a late summer showdown with division number one Jean-Marc Mormeck – has once again incurred the wrath of Warren in his Sunday column. This time the accusations centre on Haye rejecting a Warren offer for the Londoner to box domestic rival Enzo Maccarinelli on July 21.

Warren said: “I've offered David Haye a career high purse to box Swansea's Enzo Maccarinelli on July 21 in Cardiff. I've not asked for options, so it's a straightforward choice for Haye – does he want this fight or not?”

Always one for a challenge, Haye didn't take long to respond.

“Everyone knows who I'm boxing in my next fight,” the former European champion began. “I'm fighting the undisputed number one fighter in the division (Mormeck) for the universally-recognised number one spot at cruiserweight. I assume Warren knows this, and I'm also fairly certain that is the reason why he has suddenly got so brave in calling me out and offering me the kind of deal he point blank refused five months ago.”

Haye added: “I want to be recognised as the best cruiserweight in the world, and I will accomplish this by winning my next fight. Why then would I throw that chance down the drain and lose my WBC ranking in the process, just to knock out an over-hyped and over-protected fighter (Maccarinelli) whose best win was against former British journeyman Mark Hobson?”

In the aforementioned article, Warren stated his offer to Haye would mark a career-high payday for the Bermondsey puncher. It is a claim that Haye insists is simply not the case.

“Warren's offer was definitely not the highest payday in my career,” ‘The Hayemaker' responded. “In fact, his offer to me was pretty much a carbon copy of the offer we made to Enzo for the April fight. Which, let's not forget, was an offer Warren turned down and described as ‘disgusting'.”

Ultimately, Haye is left scratching his head as to why Warren has suddenly grown so keen on a fight he appeared to be very cool on only a few months ago.

“I'm not sure why Warren would perform such a massive u-turn,” Haye said. “After all, I'm sure I read that Maccarinelli is supposed to be fighting either Steve Cunningham or Wayne Braithwaite on that July 21 date. Is that incorrect?

“Also, Warren has regularly claimed I can no longer make cruiserweight. He believes I'll never fight again at that weight. If that's the case, why is he taking the risk?

“Then again, maybe it has something to do with all the rumours of television contractual problems that are circulating. After all, desperate times require desperate measures. Warren probably needs a fight like Haye versus Maccarinelli more now than ever. It's a fight terrestrial television would love.”

Having been messed about in the past, Haye continues to question the motives behind Warren's plans for Maccarinelli.

“Even if Braithwaite is the next opponent – as has been rumoured – Enzo would basically be fighting a guy who was battered from pillar to post by the man I'm boxing next (Mormeck). And yet Maccarinelli and I are supposed to be on level terms. Braithwaite is meant to be a step-up for Maccarinelli even though Braithwaite has recently suffered two brutal defeats and been exposed at the top level.”

Haye continued: “If Enzo had any balls whatsoever he would turn down Braithwaite and demand a fight with Guillermo Jones – the man who stopped Braithwaite a couple of fights ago. I know Guillermo is available and ready to go, as we have contacted his people about possible sparring for my next fight. He's apparently desperate for work right now and will travel anywhere for it."

Having seen his own stock soar following an explosive win at heavyweight, Haye is now prepared to leave Warren and Maccarinelli in the dust. He predicts entirely contrasting futures for both he and the Welshman.

“Enzo will now probably fight a washed up and undisciplined Braithwaite and knock him out early,” said Haye. “Warren will call him the second coming of Muhammad Ali, Enzo will say he's being avoided by everyone, and the pair will continue with their ways.

”Maybe I'm wrong, though. Maybe they will finally give Bobby Gunn the rematch he and the world have been craving since their first epic encounter. In the meantime, I'll be boxing the best cruiserweight in the world and hopefully winning some green and gold strap.

“So the real question is – is it me who needs allegedly and Enzo Maccarinelli or do they need me? I'll let everyone decide that one for themselves.”

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test. I wonder what haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France?

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test when he snogged Nelson for 12 rounds.

I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Jones done Braithwaite so on his theory, how would you all feel if Enzo called out an old and rusty Carl Thompson, just like he did? Can't remember what happened there, can we?

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test when he snogged Nelson for 12 rounds.

I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Jones done Braithwaite so on his theory, how would you all feel if Enzo called out an old and rusty Carl Thompson, just like he did? Can't remember what happened there, can we?

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test when he snogged Nelson for 12 rounds.

I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Jones done Braithwaite so on his theory, how would you all feel if Enzo called out an old and rusty Carl Thompson, just like he did? Can't remember what happened there, can we?

Terry D wrote:

boxingchat wrote:I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Erm, fight the world number one and do his best to become a proper world Champion.

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test when he snogged Nelson for 12 rounds.

I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Jones done Braithwaite so on his theory, how would you all feel if Enzo called out an old and rusty Carl Thompson, just like he did? Can't remember what happened there, can we?

PompeyScot wrote:

boxingchat wrote:Guillermo Jones is banned in the UK for failing a drugs test when he snogged Nelson for 12 rounds.

I wonder what Haye will do if his Promoter fails to win the purse offers and he ends up in France facing a King fighter for less money than he was offered to face Macca?

Jones done Braithwaite so on his theory, how would you all feel if Enzo called out an old and rusty Carl Thompson, just like he did? Can't remember what happened there, can we?

You have to laugh at this, every time boxingchat posts his postings seem to get more and more bizarre and, to be honest, jut adds to the farce which SN seems to be becoming.

What will Haye do if he ends up in France? Errrr, as mentioned, maybe fight him in France? Haye comes over, both in words and actions (note that one mate, actions) that he's willing to put himself through difficult tests and wants to prove himself a quality fighter, not just a money grabbing machine. I mean, god forbid he wouldn't want to fight the fighter seen as the main man at the weight, even if is abroad. I know that fighting abroad is an alien concept to boxingchat and SN, but it does exist.

As for Haye and Thompson, credit to Haye for going for that fight, he learnt a hell of a lot from it and gained a lot of respect with that one fight, something which has helped him progress as a fighter. As mentioned above, if Enzo had taken the same fight and lose he would have got the same respect, but he's more willing to fight a blown up light middleweight when he's supposed to be a 'champion'. Now, you tell me, who do you think has the more respect amongst boxing fans in general?

So, to add to the above comments, let's see you come out of Frank's lap and engage brain and mouth in the same process for once and answer some of the questions posed in the postings above?

“Warren will call him the second coming of Muhammad Ali."

”Maybe they will finally give Bobby Gunn the rematch he and the world have been craving since their first epic encounter."

Maybe I'm wrong, though. Maybe they will finally give Bobby Gunn the rematch he and the world have been craving since their first epic encounter