Barrett was green s hell and had a glass jaw then, his punch resistance went up along with his age. Anyway, Lewis smashed to pieces the best Klit, so it's all insignificant anyway.
The version of Barrett Solis fought was one year older but a couple lbs lighter and seemed to be in better shape at weight-in. To argue Barrett was more shot now than one year ago is absolutely ludicrous. If anything, this Barrett was as good or bad as the one Haye fought Haye had the advantage of his home crowd in the UK to beat Barrett who fought on enemy turf. Haye didn't look too good with his sloppy defense and awkward balance. Not the most elegant victory but a win is a win. Solis went to the enemy's backyard and TKOd Barret right in front of him home city within 2 rounds.
If you had any clue about boxing then you'd know that "punch resistance" can't be trained nor does it change much with age. It is largely genetic and stays as it is. If you got a glass chin at 18 you got one at 38. If you got a granite chin at 20 you got one at 40.
:roll: When Wlad fought Barret, nine years ago, Barret was 29, prime and had only lost a split decision before. When Haye got him he was already very shot, I mean if you get knocked out by Cliff Couser in two rounds you career is over anyway you look at it and Haye still needed five rounds to finish him, while kissing the canvas in the process. I mean that an obese, out of shape Solis appears to be still better than Haye is not quite as shocking as that.
Why was he weight drained? Maybe Solis just did a more elegant job of disposing of Barrett who was in at LEAST the same shape as against Haye. Fact is fact. Is it so hard to admit that?
SO a shot, ruined, weight drained Barrett, is a coup for Solis now? jesus, what was a prime hungry conditioned HW Barrett to Cruiserweight Haye then? Try keep a perspective of things atsch
I think this win of Solis kind of puts the so-called "domination of a top Heavyweight by Haye" (as the Barrett fight was sold to us by British tabloids) into the right light. The perspective is that Haye was able to talk himself into a shot at the WBA HW belt after beating a journeyman at HW and Solis has nothing so far. This doesn't take anything away from Haye, he just looks a little less stellar than the hype wants to make us believe. I remain skeptical but my hat will be off to him if he puts on a dominant performance over Valuev (not necessarily a KO, just clearly winning most of the rounds does it for me). Then I accept him as a legit HW.
Danny Willams turned up to prize fighter in decent shape. Shape means nothing if your done. 1 year ago Baker v Williams would have be a Williams KO in 1. I'm not saying Barrett was any better against Haye just its not a scientific comparison that can be made, he did this quicker better etc etc does not work.
You can never do any comparison scientifically in boxing. This doesn't mean Haye is a bum. It means (to me) Haye has a lot to prove still before the entire boxing community will accept him as a legit top HW fighter.
I want to see the shock on Haye's face when he either doesn't land or Valuev doesn't budge at his punches. Valuev stalks Haye, Haye Ko'ed by a Valuev jab. A Haye win would be a huge achievment, but i cannot see him doing it.
The tabloids are not respresentative of boxing fans. I dont think any boxing fan would say they thought Barrett was anything other than a journeyman at that time. (Cant remember but wasnt he second or third choice behind Johnson who didnt fancy it) I also would not argue that Haye does not deserve a title shot in the scense he's worked for it. However unlike most of the heavyweight division he does bring excitment and interest and i'd rather see him fight Valuev than Ruiz!
The nearest comparison would be when Evander moved up from cruiserweight where he actually fought several times to reach title contention, Haye has pretty much talked his way into contention, then feigned injury to get out of the fight he knew he had no chance in. He wanted the Klitschko with the suspect chin (puncher's chance) or the lumbering giant (speed advantage), but seemingly no part of Vitali. Hmmmm.
Has it? Based on what? An old featherweight, MAB, and the light punching Kotelnik not being able to knock him out?