BoxRec

Mac's beaten to the punchJan 25 2008




By Richard Cawley


IT'S the big question that all boxing fans are asking - who punches harder out of David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli?

And the South London Press has tracked down one man who can settle any arguments - journeyman fighter Tony Booth.

The Hull boxer is the only common opponent on the records of Haye and Maccarinelli other than Garry Delaney, who is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for murder.

And Booth, pictured below, who has had an amazing 162 fights in a professional career which started in 1990, reckons that Bermondsey's Haye is the bigger hitter.

"David punches the harder of the two," said Booth. "And I can't see the fight going the distance.

"Enzo hasn't fought anyone who has tested his chin.


"I am a betting man and I would go for David to win inside the first three rounds or Enzo to force a stoppage in the seventh, eighth or ninth."


Booth was actually Haye's first opponent when the exFitzroy Lodge amateur made his professional debut in


December 2002, being stopped in the second round.


He fared slightly better in the first of his two meetings with current WBO king Maccarinelli, losing a four-round points verdict in April 2002.


But the Welshman won in more decisive fashion the next time they stepped into the ring four months later, halting him in the second.


"The first time I fought Maccarinelli he had a lot of supporters there booing me and it got me motivated,"said Booth.


"But there was no atmosphere in the second fight - it was right at the end of the show after the main event had finished, so I pretty much took a dive.


"When I fought David I got called up at short notice and was full of cold. He broke my nose in the first round and my corner eventually pulled me out.


"David looked a good fighter.I remember he had a photo of when I fought Ralf Rocchigiani in Berlin while he was still a schoolboy. I fight a lot of the promising fighters and they often have no respect for you but David and Enzo were not like that. They are both smashing kids so it's a shame someone has got to lose. They have different styles and it could come down to who lands their big punch first.


"With Enzo you know he will be in his gym in Wales working hard but David has a bit more of a playboy image.


"They should be given a lot of credit for fighting each other - it should be about taking on the best and that's what they are both doing. Someone like


Amir Khan hasn't fought anybody world class and people are going over the top about him after just 10 or 11 fights."


One surprise revelation from Booth, whose record stands at 50 wins and 103 defeats,is that neither Haye or Maccarinelli rank as the most hurtful hitter he has stepped into the ring with.


"The hardest puncher has to be Dean Francis," said Booth. "And I've sparred with Nigel Benn and Joe Calzaghe. I only did body sparring with Prince Naseem Hamed and when he hit you, despite only being nine stone,you could feel it."


To book tickets for HayeMaccarinelli call seetickets on 0870 060 3794 or visit http://www.allegedlyfrankwarren.tv


http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/02 ... _page.html

Chris Eubank said in private that the best British supermiddleweight he was ever in the ring with, was Dean Francis.

Al Savani wrote:Chris Eubank said in private that the best British supermiddleweight he was ever in the ring with, was Dean Francis.

When and where was this?

(I've heard that as well btw)

Seems to me Booth is full of excuses.

Interesting artical I think that journymen boxers probably have the best ideas of what a fighter will do in future.

I don't know why everyone is writing haye off in the second half of the fight when 2 of his last 3 were against top level fighters and were won by a KO in the later rounds where as of Enzo's last 3 2 have come inside the first 4 rounds against below par opponents.

Macca's power seems to have increased in the last few yrs, he's hitting mega-hard more lately and looks so strong at the weight now, to me it looks like Macca hits a little heavier and Haye a little faster..

I'm not seeing this great power from Macc, it wasn't noticable against Braithwaite in particular and not hard to look awesome against low level fighters.

Greg Nicholas wrote:Macca's power seems to have increased in the last few yrs, he's hitting mega-hard more lately and looks so strong at the weight now, to me it looks like Macca hits a little heavier and Haye a little faster..

I agree!


I think Hayes punches are quite a bit slower than EM.

I hope Haye knocks him out early because I do not think Haye will be hat effective in the later rounds - he slows too much, having said that - it will only take 1 good shot to put Enzo away, imo.

DG. wrote:

Greg Nicholas wrote:Macca's power seems to have increased in the last few yrs, he's hitting mega-hard more lately and looks so strong at the weight now, to me it looks like Macca hits a little heavier and Haye a little faster..

I agree!


I think Hayes punches are quite a bit slower than EM.

I hope Haye knocks him out early because I do not think Haye will be hat effective in the later rounds - he slows too much, having said that - it will only take 1 good shot to put Enzo away, imo.

Why would someone who beat the world champion in the 7th round and Frag in the 9th be any less efective than someone who in 2 of his last 3 has finnished in the first 4.

josh fg wrote:

DG. wrote:

Greg Nicholas wrote:Macca's power seems to have increased in the last few yrs, he's hitting mega-hard more lately and looks so strong at the weight now, to me it looks like Macca hits a little heavier and Haye a little faster..

I agree!


I think Hayes punches are quite a bit slower than EM.

I hope Haye knocks him out early because I do not think Haye will be hat effective in the later rounds - he slows too much, having said that - it will only take 1 good shot to put Enzo away, imo.

Why would someone who beat the world champion in the 7th round and Frag in the 9th be any less efective than someone who in 2 of his last 3 has finnished in the first 4.

Reason being, Mormeck and Frag are shorter armed and less power than Macc.

Enzos punches are quicker than those you mentioned and he carries it into the later rounds.

I dont think it matters who hits the hardest - They both have awesome punching power and either one is capable of KOing the other - Its all about different styles, fitness, who lands the big shots first and who can take the punches best - Hayes defense is very questionable and Macca will exploit it - Both fighters have come a long way and improved with every fight - For me Macca has the slightly better chance if he can survive the early Haye onslaught - Maccas unbelievable fitness level will beat Haye in the later rounds unless Haye lands big earlier in the fight - Haye will definately start fast and try to dominate, and Enzo will counter in the early rounds - Most people dont think it will go the distance and with two big punchers there is every chance it wont.

booth the only common opponent other than delaney.
what about ismail abdoul?

WildWaylon wrote:I dont think it matters who hits the hardest - They both have awesome punching power and either one is capable of KOing the other - Its all about different styles, fitness, who lands the big shots first and who can take the punches best - Hayes defense is very questionable and Macca will exploit it - Both fighters have come a long way and improved with every fight - For me Macca has the slightly better chance if he can survive the early Haye onslaught - Maccas unbelievable fitness level will beat Haye in the later rounds unless Haye lands big earlier in the fight - Haye will definately start fast and try to dominate, and Enzo will counter in the early rounds - Most people dont think it will go the distance and with two big punchers there is every chance it wont.

Good post, Waylon. My prediction is Haye in 4, but I'll expand that to Haye early or Macca late. Josh points out that Haye has recently won fights late and Macca early, but the diiference this time will be that Macca could be caught cold early as a result of Haye's speed or, as you point out, Macca's superb conditioning will be telling in the second half, particularly against a weight-drained Haye. Whatever happens, I'm really looking forward to this one.

chesh wrote:

WildWaylon wrote:I dont think it matters who hits the hardest - They both have awesome punching power and either one is capable of KOing the other - Its all about different styles, fitness, who lands the big shots first and who can take the punches best - Hayes defense is very questionable and Macca will exploit it - Both fighters have come a long way and improved with every fight - For me Macca has the slightly better chance if he can survive the early Haye onslaught - Maccas unbelievable fitness level will beat Haye in the later rounds unless Haye lands big earlier in the fight - Haye will definately start fast and try to dominate, and Enzo will counter in the early rounds - Most people dont think it will go the distance and with two big punchers there is every chance it wont.

Good post, Waylon. My prediction is Haye in 4, but I'll expand that to Haye early or Macca late. Josh points out that Haye has recently won fights late and Macca early, but the diiference this time will be that Macca could be caught cold early as a result of Haye's speed or, as you point out, Macca's superb conditioning will be telling in the second half, particularly against a weight-drained Haye. Whatever happens, I'm really looking forward to this one.

At the back of the Calzaghe Gym are a flight of steps which they use as part of their training program - Enzo flys up and down them, a great way to help get you into shape for a fight - I could see you and I going up and down a couple of times and stopping for a fag break LOL.

I can believe that Haye hits harder than Macc, simply because he has KO'd better opponents.

Yes, Macc can bang; but when he is feasting on the likes of Bobby Gunn, it's difficult to gauge just how hard he really hits.

I could have KO'd Bobby Gunn with a feather duster; that's how good he was!!!

Greg Nicholas wrote:Macca's power seems to have increased in the last few yrs, he's hitting mega-hard more lately and looks so strong at the weight now, to me it looks like Macca hits a little heavier and Haye a little faster..

You may very well be right, but why is it then that people say speed is power? Surely, if we were to go by this thinking, Haye being the faster hitter, then he would also hit harder because of being the faster puncher?

For me, Haye's speed will be the telling difference. Haye showed character coming back against Mormeck. I know we cannot say for sure, but if it was Maccarinelli instead of Haye who went down like that against Mormeck, would Enzo have been able to recover, & come back to win?

Haye all the way for me. The it's time to put the heat on the HW division. No way Haye fights at 200lbs after this fight.

Anyone have any updates on Haye's training, preparation, etc?

yeah id like to know how hayes prep is going. its obvious he hits hardly than maccarinelli. can you see enzo knocking out fragomeni? can you hell. also, macc couldnt hurt delaney to the head and haye took him out with one shot.

Thought this was going to be a thread about ADAM, not Tony, Booth's claim...

WildWaylon wrote:

chesh wrote:

WildWaylon wrote:I dont think it matters who hits the hardest - They both have awesome punching power and either one is capable of KOing the other - Its all about different styles, fitness, who lands the big shots first and who can take the punches best - Hayes defense is very questionable and Macca will exploit it - Both fighters have come a long way and improved with every fight - For me Macca has the slightly better chance if he can survive the early Haye onslaught - Maccas unbelievable fitness level will beat Haye in the later rounds unless Haye lands big earlier in the fight - Haye will definately start fast and try to dominate, and Enzo will counter in the early rounds - Most people dont think it will go the distance and with two big punchers there is every chance it wont.

Good post, Waylon. My prediction is Haye in 4, but I'll expand that to Haye early or Macca late. Josh points out that Haye has recently won fights late and Macca early, but the diiference this time will be that Macca could be caught cold early as a result of Haye's speed or, as you point out, Macca's superb conditioning will be telling in the second half, particularly against a weight-drained Haye. Whatever happens, I'm really looking forward to this one.

At the back of the Calzaghe Gym are a flight of steps which they use as part of their training program - Enzo flys up and down them, a great way to help get you into shape for a fight - I could see you and I going up and down a couple of times and stopping for a fag break LOL.

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic/9c30Z ... 3Ig=_l.jpg

The proof is in the pudding in my eye's, Haye clearly hits harder. Haye has a better knockout percentage against a better calibre of opposition. Not only that nut when Haye knocks out his opponents it's normally with one big shot and it's a proper knockout. Enzo wear his opponents down more and finsihes them with an accumulation of shots. Braithwaite and Hobson (first time around) were also able to take his shots for the full twelve rounds. Would they have been able to take the same shots from Haye? Not a chance in my opinion.

STP wrote:

Al Savani wrote:Chris Eubank said in private that the best British supermiddleweight he was ever in the ring with, was Dean Francis.

When and where was this?

(I've heard that as well btw)

what better than benn, joe cal, steve collins et al.....

just another eubank publicity quote

Francis would definitely have gone on to hold a world title belt if not for the shoulder -he had the talent and the connections. I can see why Booth thinks he was the hardest hitter, as his technique was by far the best out of the guys he mentioned.

DG. wrote:

josh fg wrote:

DG. wrote: I agree!


I think Hayes punches are quite a bit slower than EM.

I hope Haye knocks him out early because I do not think Haye will be hat effective in the later rounds - he slows too much, having said that - it will only take 1 good shot to put Enzo away, imo.

Why would someone who beat the world champion in the 7th round and Frag in the 9th be any less efective than someone who in 2 of his last 3 has finnished in the first 4.

Reason being, Mormeck and Frag are shorter armed and less power than Macc.

Enzos punches are quicker than those you mentioned and he carries it into the later rounds.

I don't think that Enzo has ever had to sustain pressure against a fighter with the power of Haye, indeed he hasn't fought a fighter with that power, however Frag was pressuring throughout in a manner which I don't believe Mac is capable of in a 2 sided fight, and Haye is better for me now than he was in that fight.

On a completely seperate issue - did Gary Delaney go down for his recent troubles... sorry to bring it up but I've completely forgotton what happend there.

Or was I dreaming that he was in potential bother?

stujones wrote:On a completely seperate issue - did Gary Delaney go down for his recent troubles... sorry to bring it up but I've completely forgotton what happend there.

Or was I dreaming that he was in potential bother?

He went down for murder think he KOed someone in a pub fight, I remember Jodie Marsh talking about him doing that a lot when they were going out out in the clubs.