Why does everyone keep moaning about Haye not proving himself at heavyweight?

All Jonny Nelson said was that he might consider coming out of retirement to fight Haye-that was after the Enzo fight so no way was that happening when Haye already had his sights set on moving up to HW long before to the Maccarinelli fight

 

Agreed, he was top dog by a long way. I'm just saying you can't change definitions just for one guy, regardless of what journalists think. That has been the standard definition for decades.

I'm not really bothered he's getting a title shot, it happens. I actually think he would have been better served getting a few fights under his belt for his own benefit rather than ours, rather than gunning for the Klits. Luckily he's got Valuev now which is ideal.

 

I think a lot of the criticism that he 'hasn't earned it' is due to the fact he bascially made the fights by shooting his mouth off

Nothing new there, it was good enough for Ali

However then appearing to back out of both fights has rubbed salt in the wounds of his critics


I'm behind Haye, and I think he had good reason not to go through with either fight against the Klits, but I can fully understand how he's picked up a lot of critics too

 

Yep. He could definitely have done with growing into the weight and working his way through a few good gatekeepers, like Holyfield did.

I suppose Haye is at greater risk of losing explosively than Holyfield was.

 

I agree that Haye should have had a few more fights - there has been ample opportunity in 17 months to have beaten a few half decent guys rather than just the one.

I guess the two scenarios though (he and Evander) are different. Holyfield was stepping foot into a heavyweight division that was seriously hot. Tyson was blasting everyone away, there were a fair few good fringe contenders etc - and he also wasn't considered an accident waiting to happen.

Haye, on the other hand, has been put on his ass by a non-punching 168lb'er, by Mormeck, and also (depending on your view) by Barrett. He and his trainer are honest enough to admit that if someone cracks him, he will go.

He is aided in this instance by scattergun alphabet bodies even more corrupt than 20 years ago and by the serious lack of top quality heavies. Could you really say that based upon his accomplishments at cruiser and the win over Barrett + his potential, that there is anyone, other than Povetkin, more deserving of a shot at a title?

Ruiz - no.
Arreola - not really.
Chambers - hmmm..... has a loss to Povetkin.
Gomez - lost to Klitschko.
Chagaev - failed to show against Wlad.

 

It's similar to the PBF JMM situation regarding Pacman as well.

 

I think it makes him better to watch. He knows that he will go if he cops one, so will stick one on the other guy.

Kill or be killed puncher >>>>>>>>>> Solid chinned, huggy bear Ruiz

 

The difference between Haye and most of the fighters mentioned in the OP is that those fighters stepped up and fought for the title. Haye is just hanging around, not fighting and waiting the the title shot to come to him.

I've nothing against Haye and hope he cleans up the HW division but there is a difference between how Oscar, Mosely etc have gone about i thinkggs.