Anthony Bellew v David Deron Haye - 17th December

I think you’re overthinking it...

Fact of the matter is that besides the Wlad fight pretty much
all of Haye’s fights have been entertaining and pretty much all of those fights have delivered a knock out. I think that’s why he has fans...it’s an entertainment business...

The man’s got to make a living...his achievements at cruiserweight we’re his legacy, winning a wba world heavyweight title is an achievement (even if it didn’t make him the best heavyweight in the world at the time).

I wish he’d tested himself more in his prime but other than Klitschko (who he fought) the division wasn’t exactly full of potential fights at the time, so it makes sense to chase the £££s. And he wanted to fight Vitali too, remember.

I don’t think he’s the best heavyweight in the world, but he’s achieved far more than 99% of British boxers, he’s ecviting to watch, explosive and powerful and lives the life keeping himself in shape.

 

I like them both, wouldn’t say I was a fan as such but I love the drama, the trash talking etc. I like Tony Bellew. I think he’s terribly underrated but at the same time I don’t think he’s an elite level fighter either. I like David Haye, he’s a great trash talker and ‘was’ an elite level cruiserweight. I think he’s blagging everyone that he’s back up there and he’s fully fit but at the same time, I would do (and have done) the same. I’ve talked myself into positions in my line of work secretly knowing i wasn’t ready for it, but doing it for the dosh.

Can’t wait for this!!!

 

Well I respect that as a genuinely held opinion but I disagree on a few points.

I didn't find the Valuev or Audley fights any more entertaining/explosive than the Wlad fight. I thought the Barrett and Ruiz fights were not much above average showings against dull has-beens . DeMori and Gjerjaj were terrible knock over jobs. His only real exciting entertaining win at heavyweight is the Chisora fight. I believe he has fans because of his big mouth, partly, which is ironic because he's failed badly a few times to back up his words. Although, I guess it could just come down to a matter of personal taste. Some fans might consider more of his fights as entertainments.

He's not exactly in great shape, is he? Unless you're talking about looking good on the beach or something, but as a boxer he's clearly not been in good condition for a long time. That's not his fault, but he's choosing to fight on in this state and has to be judged as he is, not as he'd like to be.

 

That's fair enough.

 

Losing to Bellew again would probably be a better thing for Haye.
If he wins he's just setting himself up for a horrible beating, a devastating KO loss or an embarrassing quit job later on down the line. Possibly at the hands of AJ.

 

But we seem to be talking about different things here, I didn’t say the fights were boxing at its finest. Barrett was entertaining while it lasted, though a sloppy performance. Valuev was exciting because of the tension and anticipation element for me. Audley was a farce, but he got the KO. The Ruiz fight had some exciting moments, though it was one sided. He’s an explosive counter puncher who more often than not delivers knockdowns and knockouts.

Would you say Mike Tyson wasn’t an exciting fighter? He had some dull fights, fought some cans, was outclassed by the 2 best opponents he faced and carried on too long and lost to bums...by no means am I saying Haye compares to the enigma that was mike Tyson in the 80s and 90s...

He lasted 11 rounds with one leg and was still throwing, so I wouldn’t say he was out of shape in that respect.

I get where you’re coming from, and in particular the audley fight was a farce, but why fight someone better for less money? And besides Wlad it’s not like there were many opponents he could be berated for not fighting...Povetkin might’ve been fun but he’s not exactly an elite heavyweight.

On the whole he’s a fun fighter to watch and more often than not the big fights end up being chess matches and disappointing...look at mayweather pacquiao...

 

Here's Eddie Hearn selling the fight in full on "Apples and Pears" mode.

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Listen to him selling the Sunday night angle, telling punters they can go out all day Sunday, stay out all night and grab a bagel on the way to work Monday !
**** that !

 

Hearn certainly has elite skills as a salesman.

 

I really want both these morons to lose.I hate them,both will be getting close to 4m in winnings.Haye deserves **** all,Bellew maybe a quarter.The trash talk will have to begin again to sell this,theirs no title on the line,no impact on the world scene,both are not in their usual weight class,one is permanently injured whenever he engages in physical activity.The other, just makes you hate watching boxing because of his disgusting style.Jesus,and Its box office,which is only for fights which you cant make without,are you seriously saying we cant make this **** fight without ppv, are we letting Sky off the hook,flood that ****** Adam Smith's twitter,to wipe that smug face of his.

 

I agree with you on the styles point.

Bellew's style is dreadful, he looks dreadful, there's nothing to like.

Haye is a cripple and looks like he's stuck in mud. I never rated his style much anyway. Even at his best he could never combine a good defensive game with a good offensive game, he was either one way or the other. And while he had some good occasional accurate single counter punches, he often resorted to flapping wildly when he strung a few punches together or had an opponent hurt. Never really a great finisher. And that's a prime Haye we won't even see.

But others here did seem to consider the first fight an attractive entertaining spectacle. I can't see it myself, but each to their own.

 

Yeah, my first thought was: he sounds like someone who has never had to work a normal job in his whole life.

 

He knows what he is saying,dont underestimate his ability as a salesman.What he is trying to do is innovate and making sure the Saturday Box office setup dosent go stale.Putting it on the Sunday will give it a refresh and make it seems like its new,funky and fresh.I hope the ppv fails badly,Security will have their hands full on,Seeing whats happened in London and Las vegas today.I would be sceptical about a event like this but hopefully nothing like that happens.Saturday at Goodison Park or Anfield,i think would be better suited to a event like this,very suprised Bellew didnt push for it.