Only 24 fights European CW champion Won linear CW title in champs hometown Unified against domestic challenger (Enzo Mac) Beat the tallest, heaviest HW titleholder of all time in the champs adopted backyard Only the 2nd CW champion to win a HW title :smoke
World am silver medal n all. Bounced back from humiliating defeat. copied Lewis in that he kept fighting ridiculously hard opposition, relative to experience, early on (which all excellent amateurs should do when they turn pro, frankly - otherwise they're regressing). He'll beat VK as well, mark my words. More worried about him getting inside Wlad's disciplined, superb jab.
If Haye retired today he would have had a more successful career than 99% of boxers ever. Unfortunately a lot of people don't respect this. In terms of peoples perception of him, Haye seems to be one of the only boxers i know were many people have either disregarded or forgotten his past accomplishments when he moved up in weight. Before the Valuev fight many people were saying 'what the **** has Haye ever done?'. Not what has he ever done at HW, but what has he ever done in his career. It would be like when Pacquioa moved up to 140+ to face DLH and Hatton and people were saying, 'Whos this? Whats he ever done?' Anyway, i think Haye has done brilliant so far in his career and he has the potential to do even more. :thumbsup
Yes. He does need some exposure in the States, though. Whether we like it or not, it's true: the US is the mecca of boxing, for example success there being a reason you get into the HoF. More objectively, he's beat two champs (one genuine, the other more of an extraordinarily odd proposition) in their backyards (sort of for Valuev). Who the hell else can say that in world boxing right now?
People are talking about him thats the important thing. Yanks will watch him just to see him lose and I think they'll be suprised in his next fight if its Ruiz because he'll knock him out.
For me one more big win over VK or ummm VK and he surpasses Hatton and Calzaghe. Every credit he talks the talk and walks the walks. If he wins the Linear heavy-title then unquestionably he's one of the best brits of all time.
:shock: Big statement there. It's not something I have actually considered at this stage, but I'd guess he won't be all that far off. Both have a lot of filler on their record..... and took a while to get their passports out.
If he beat both Klits he's possibly the greatest Brit of all-time up there with Bob Fitz. Certainly the greatest modern and post-war fighter. That's a pretty amazing possibility in so few fights.
He's done very good and he's still in his 20's. Haye is for real.Altough I don't really fancy him with Wlad he impressed me with Valuev.
what will mark him out is the level of ambition comprised with the quality of opposition, and added to the amount of fights he's had - that's a significant achievement. Who else compares?
I don't think even beating those two will make him greater then Lewis. Lewis had the silly losses (avenged emphatically) but he was consitent and h2h wipes the floor with David. That said second place is no disgrace!
The consistency and longevity of Lewis is the only thing in his favour though. On a pure p4p list Haye gets extra kudos for being linear cruiser and heavy champion, he'd also arguably have 2 better wins than any of Lewis's wins if he beat the Klits decisively.