David Haye, Giant Slayer?

On June 20th we will see whether or not David Haye will live up to the ppv name of 'David & Goliath', as the former Cruiserweight champion of the world will take on the best big man since Lennox in Wladimir Klitschko. This got me to thinking of past fights in boxing's vast history, where little men went up against big men. So here it is people, my collection of little men, trying their damndest to be the best little big men in the world!

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After Dempsey knocked out 6'6" 240 pound Jess Willard in four rounds, and knocked out Luis Firpo, the press of the day went ballistic donning the Manassa Mauler as none other than 'Jack The Giant Killer, Slayer of Ogres'

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Joe Louis was just a prospect at the time, and soon he would knock out Max Baer, but on this night however, he faced 'The Ambling Alp' Primo Carnera, who stood over 6'5" and weighed 270 pounds of sheer muscle. Louis knocked out the former worlds champion in the 6th round in what was a bloody mess of a fight.

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On the other end of the spectrum, however, the good little man, sometimes ends up on the canvas, against the good big man. Jess Willard went on to kayo Jack Johnson in the 26th round of a scheduled 45.

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In more recent years, however, the Klitschko's have proven themselves to be the dominate heavyweights of the post-Lewis era. This picture, though during Lewis' reign, is of Vitali Klitschko against now Cruiserweight contender and former WBO HW champion Herbie Hide. Hide was the favorite in the bets, but was knocked out in the 2nd round.

Alot of people have compared Haye's chances against Wladimir, the same as what Hide's proved to be, that the 'Hayemaker' will lose by KO early against the 6'7" 245 pound Wladimir Klitschko. Some say this is an unfair comparison as Vitali fights a rougher style than his brother, and that Hide fought a different style than Haye, so lets look at some other bouts where little men fought big men.

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Probably the man more comparable to David Haye is this man, Bob Foster, who was the undisputed Light Heavweight champion, who made the move to Heavyweight despite few tune ups. In the second round Frazier knocked Foster out, despite Murray Woroner's NCR-315 computer saying Foster would win by kayo in the 6th.

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Michael Moorer, being a former WBO Light Heavyweight champ, made the move to Heavyweight and defeated this 6'10" opponent Mike White, before taking on Holyfield for the HW title. White had previously won a decision over Buster Douglas, so he wasnt no easy opponent. Moorer won an easy decision over the man called 'The Giant', knocking him down in the 1st, 7th, and 10th rounds.

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More recently, Chagaev is to rematch Valuev again, but here we see the much smaller man easily getting inside the 7' 328 pound behemoth's reach without much difficulty. His style, that of Dempsey's, shows that bigger men are often ill-equipped when an opponent gets inside their reach.


My question to you fans is, will Haye be among the great little men who beat good big men? Or will he fall to the wayside and be easily dispatched of? I'll end this thread with a quote from Victor Hugo, noted writer:

"A little man against a big man, and chances are in favour of the little one. The cat has the best of it with a dog. Goliaths are always vanquished by Davids."

 

Joe Louis wasnt a small man either, but he looked like a midget compared to 6'7" 250 pound Buddy Baer, whom mind you, Louis defeated twice, once by DQ in the 7th, and by KO in the 1st at the rematch.

Take a look at Louis-Carnera, the Brown Bomber was outweighed 65 pounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYp_OqrKhfc




Enjoy! :goodBtw, I am not saying Louis would beat Wlad, or Haye will beat Wlad, etc so please dont take this as anything as such. Is it just me, or did Carnera move pretty good for a man 270 pounds?