Is/Was David Haye overated???

I still think he can beat any heavyweight today not named Klitschko with ease. He made some bad career choices, he should have fought a few top ten HW fighters like Adamek, Chagev, and a Yank before stepping up to a Klitschko. Instead he saw the opportunity to make a quick buck with the Audley fight (with Sky's pushing to be fair), and that just pissed everyone off and made everyone want to see him fight a Klitschko right away.

He also fought the wrong Klitschko. Wlad is too good at what he does to fight for a small low activity fighter like Haye to beat. Vitali is more agressive and Haye may actually be able to make that work to his advantage.

 

His cruiserweight career is near faultless. He was the antithesis of a protected fighter. Taking a tough route to the title and beating a still hungry genuine champion after being put on his arse. Not sure there's ever been a harder hitting cruiser. Nor one more exciting. Reckon he is near top 5 in division's history.

As heavyweight he lost his hunger after Valuev money. He was overrated by British boxing journalists thereafter. Now maybe underrated by majority of fans but purely a fact of talking himself up to a point where a mediocre performance couldn't be respected.

 

Strongly disagree there. Haye was the proven world class 200lber. Enzo was a decent hitter, but an unknown quality. Haye was a warm favourite, although most figured it would go more than two rounds...

As for Haye being overrated...

He is very good at selling himself, and his product has with the exception of his last fight, lived up to the hype.

Hopefully he is going to stick to his word, and do the smart thing and retire, but if he does not and fights for arguments sake Vitali, he has the chance of redemption.

 

Few Crusierweights or blown up Light Heayweights who have fought at the weight who I would rate above Haye off the top of my head.....................


Evander Holyfield
Dwight Quai Muhammed
James Toney
Fabrice Tiozzo
Virgil Hill
Steve Cunnigham
Immanu Mayfield
Vasil Jirov
Carl Thompson
Chris Eubank

 

In the Diaz fight I like the little feint before the looping right hook, which sets up the combo for the first KD. Opened Diaz right up. The finish is just clinical, body shots to keep him where he needed to be and then the uppercut to finish.

Froch was just chilling, must have known he was behind on the cards but kept cool and didn't allow Taylor to tie him up, a couple of tie ups and a wasted punch or two and he'd have lost.

Marquez vs Katsidis was a really good finish, some of those long lefts and uppercuts were really damaging.... great stoppage by Bayless.

 

Top 3 above him, but Eubank!!!

 

atsch oh well at least Enzo not on that list

 

There are plenty of cruisers or big light heavies that I'd favour to beat Haye, most definitely.

Virgil Hill is one, Chris Byrd another.

 

No more threads on Haye please.

He is a waste of breath.

Just a bluffer - who took the money and run.

Best forgotten -

 

Quite funny in regards to the Thompson defeat.

People are ok to say Lennox beat Vitali - fair and square.

But make excuse for Haye losing to Thompson - like he run out of steam - as if that makes any difference.

Thompson beat him - and was a better fighter than Haye - with a better legacy.

 

Haye had been a pro for less than 2 years when he fought Thompson. Do you judge Lewis' career by his loss to McCall? Or Pacquiao by his early defeats.

 

:rofl:rofl:rofl

:good

 

also though - the flip side is - Thompson was a 40 year old over the hill.