Bruce Woodcock v David Haye

I think he managed a couple before turning his back and becoming a Publican - he was completely disillutioned with Boxing at the end .

 

I never got round to reading woodcocks book "two fists and a fortune", do you know if it is any good?

 

his book is excellent, he's a real humble man and his book is staight in about his boxing career, nothing dubious nor hype or excitable. Just straight to the point his career and his feelings through it!

somewhat detached and matter of fact, But a fighter as far as I'm concerned worthy of continued praise and others who were in the mix too.

 

Thanks for that!:good I shall look out for a copy.

 

Haye, too much speed and power.....

 

My grandad used to sometimes drink at Woodcock's pub in Doncaster and was quite friendly with him after he'd retired. I vaguely remember meeting him as a young kid and he seemed a nice fella; very quietly spoken and down to earth.

My grandad - whose opinions on boxing I always respected massively - always said he thought that Bruce would've turned out better had he been born elsewhere with access to better training and better management. He used to train in shocking conditions upstairs in a barn that was built at the back of a pub named The Plough in a village near Doncaster. As has already been said, he was moved too far too quickly by Solomons and was mainly in the game to earn money for his family and kids despite having no great love for it. South Yorkshire was a desperately poor area in those days.

Whatever Woodcock's limitations, he did have a world class right hand. I met Brian Blessed, a very good amateur himself, at a Q & A evening at my local village theatre a few years back. He knew Woodcock well and apparently had a few conversations with Joe Louis about him. Said that Joe admired Woodcock and told him he thought Bruce hit hard enough to spark anyone with his right hand. And that he could have done more if he'd been trained and managed better, which ties in well with what's already been said.

Anyway, **** Haye, whether he would've beaten Woodcock or not. Bruce was a far classier bloke out of the ring at least.

 

haye easily

 

Bruce Woodcock PSN6

(Porn Star Name.)

 

Joe Baski - no shame in that loss...
Lee Savold - one even (oddly both were winning the one they lost(?), and Savold has an excellent record among his fellow Top HWs), so that's a credible opponent...

Lee Oma - a good win, some say suspicious though, who knows(?)...
Stefan Olek - Europes second best HW, so a good Fringe Contender...
Tami Mauriello - Bruce was leading till he got caught...
Jack London - BIG like Baski, but past it and 2cd tear...
Jack Gardner - end of Career loss, Gardner a Fringe Contender...

Freddie Mills - a L-HW cum HW, but a worthy tough opponent for sure...
Gus Lesnevich - a L-HW too, but one of the best...
Bert Gilroy - MW cum L-HW, skilled operator, beat twice, first in suspicious stoppage, blow out 2cnd time round though...

and a handful of other British HWs...

so all in NOT Bad, with most wins by KO stoppage, so I don't think Haye walks it at all, and could just as easily see himself on the lossing end. Woodcock could box & hit, but could be stopped too, but who can't went caught right...

 

Woodcock would have at least a puncher's chance. He was build like a tank. I didn't realise quite how swift he was -

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh6jYFQqxw0[/ame]

He seems to leave himself less off-balance than Haye as well, so he'd be the one with the greater number of countering opportunities. I'd still make Haye the favourite, but not by much.

 

Have enjoyed reading posts like this and the comments of the likes of choklab & unforgiven.

I don't know who would win out of Haye & Woodcock but I have FAR more respectr for Woodcock as a man and a boxer.

Personally I think Haye now just uses boxing, boxes just enough to keep himself in the celebrity limelight, so he can go on crap programmes like "I'm A Celebrity" (please!!!) and keep his nam high profile.

Haye has crossed over to wider public recognition in the UK, but that's because he knows how to market himself and cosmetically looks the part, I was talking to my ex the other day and she said she had seen Haye on "I'm A Celebrity", her first comment was "what an arse"...or maybe she was talking about me, not Haye's behind???

 

Terrific post.

 

Lewis aside, I can't think of a single British heavyweight I'd pick to beat haye in a fight.

 

I'd back Bruno clearly and maybe Bugner when on song.

Was Henry Akinwande British or African? Either way he beats Haye as well imo.

Haye isn't that good and British heavyweights aren't that bad.