Hey guys. I operate pretty much outside of the Haye-Klitschko drama since I have no real affinity for either fighter. Haye has decent fundamentals, is athletically gifted, explosive, and aggressive. Wlad is a master out-fighter who boxes in a very skilled fashion and has good timing & accuracy. I don't hate or love either one, and I haven't watched more than a handful of fights between the two. So from your perspectives, what are the 5 best fights that showcase their skills, their will to compete, and the most recent and relevant application of their styles as they will appear on the night they fight? I'd be pissed at myself if I couldn't manage to get myself hyped for a big fight like this one simply because I haven't bothered all that much with the heavyweight division of recent years.
I've only watched about 10 of Wlad's fights so I'll leave his top five to someone else, but with Haye it's probably the following: 1. Mormeck. Went to the guy's back yard, got knocked down in the 4th then recovered to knock Mormeck out in the 7th to become lineal cruiserweight champion 2. Fragomeni. Hard fight against a ****ing hard little fighter. Haye was cut in I think the 7th for the first time in his career and looked a bit shaken. Rallied in the 8th then knocked him out in the 9th. 3. Valuev. Again went to his opponent's (adopted) back yard and won to become WBA heavyweight champ. Not great to watch but a masterclass in tactical boxing. 4. There are then about 5 or 6 fights which could be 4 and 5 on the list. I'd probably go for the 2nd round knockout of Maccarinelli at 4 because with that win he became the undisputed cruiserweight champion in most people's eyes, then maybe the dismantleing of Ruiz at 5. His wins over Hurov, Kelly, Bonin and Barrett are also good exmples of his power/explosiveness.
1. Wlad vs Sam Peter 1 2. Wlad vs Calvin Brock 3. Wlad vs Eliseo Castillo 4. Wlad vs Ray Austin 5. Wlad vs Ray Mercer
Wlad 1.) Byrd II 2.) Chagaev 3.) McCline 4.) Chambers 5.) Mercer (yeah Mercer was shot but damn Wlad kicked his ass!!!) Honorable mention TKO 2 Derric Jefferson Haye 1.) Ruiz 2.) Enzo Macc 3.) Mormeck 4.) Barrett 5.) Valuev honorable mention KO 1 Gurov
Haye 1.) Ruiz 40 years old grandpa 2.) Enzo Macc paper champion glass chin 3.) Mormeck shoot to pieces,in his next fight he struggled against vinny maddalone 4.) Barrett- no comment 5.) Valuev this fight was disgrace for boxing, controversial victory and here we go people believing he is "savior of the heavyweight division" he better save it and retire
:hey OK, maybe that was a bit tonge in cheek but you've got to give him a bit of credit for going over to Germany and winning the title.
Do you agree that Haye is the best fighter Wlad has ever fought? And if not, who do you think is better?
Admitted Hayes talented but... He's weak always. One accurate semi-power punch from Wlad and Haye gets wobbled, then gets finished Haye's "one big punch" at HW so so overrated and Wladimir is much better, smarter fighter than Wladdy from Peter I, Sanders/Brewster fiths
David Haye 01 - Jean-Marc Mormeck (WBA,WBC) in Paris 02 - Enzo Maccarinelli (WBO) 03 - Nicolai Valuev (WBA) in Germany 04 - Giacobbe Fragomeni (WBC eliminator) 05 - Tomasz Bonin (the heavyweight fight people overlook, Haye destroyed him in round 1)
gregy741, PolishPummler, are you capable of discussing Haye as a boxer or does that the fact that you don't like him cloud your thinking completely? I'm not trying to be a smart arse, that's a serious question.