Classic forrums take on the Haye vs Valuev fight

He might have lost the decision *this* time around if one of the judges cared to give a slow fight to the champion. I thought Haye won, but it was close, and Valuev had the belt. So sure, Valuev in 2005-2006 might have won just as this version might have on any given night.

I think that if Valuev was clearly winning rounds Haye would fight more aggressively and take more risks, but eh.

I miss pride in boxers.

 

Yes they do mean ****. A fight is scored on three main criteria. Effective agressiveness, ring generalship and defense. Where the grey area in this fight is what some consider ring generalship and effective aggressiveness. As much as Valuev didnt land much, Haye didnt throw much either. If a guy is chasing another guy around the ring for 12 rounds and not getting hit by much, he is the ring general as far as Im concerned. Valuev wasnt just chasing either, he was throwing punches. Haye definitely landed more power shots, but with so few thrown in a round, I couldnt give him a lot of rounds. Some of the rounds were so bad, I just gave them to Valuev for moving forward.
The Holyfield fight was somewhat similar, but Holyfield was scoring and counter punching way more than Haye, so it appeared he was the ring general and controlling the tempo of the fight by boxing and moving. In the Haye fight, it appeared Haye was just throwing punches just enough to keep Valuev off of him.
I also factor in the fact that Valuev was the champion. Did Haye do enough in certain rounds to actually win them and take the champions belt? Like I said, some of the rounds were so poor, I gave them to Valuev for being the aggressor and also being the champ. I dont know how Haye could call himself champion or not be completely embarrassed with a performance like that one. In reality the fight should have been scored a draw or a Valuev win, because there is no way a challenger wins the title with a performance like that.

 

Boring as fack.

Well Haye said he would do the business, but before he even supposedly broke his hand he was skirting around the ring like an dancer.

That's not how you should win a heavyweight title. I reckon Valuev probably won on a greater work ethic. Haye fought very negatively in general.

 

Imo all fights in which neither fighter deserves to be the winner or which is too close to tell should be made no contests.

 

Boxer B is the challenger. Boxer B landed nothing at will, he threw sporatic and very limited amounts of punches. You cant be the ring general throwing 5 punches per round. You call that slick defense, I call it running. It was just a garbage performance. I dont really care what anyone thinks of the fight, Haye should be ashamed of himself to perform like that after talking the monumental loads of crap he talked before the fight. I dont see how anyone could lift their hands and parade around the ring calling themselves a heavyweight champion after a fight like that. He didnt even attempt to make it fight, he ran from start to finish.
Anyone who thinks that was a performance deserving of a change of title is the one who is mentally ill, regardless of the official outcome.

 

I watched it in a bar but i was paying a bit of attention, i had it even, 6 rounds each, i was thinking to give the last round by 2 points getting caught up in the bias, but i don't do that so it was a draw for me.

 

I actually had two rounds that I put a star next to meaning they could have gone to Haye causing a draw, but I just didnt feel he did enough to win the title either way. A draw would have been probably the best outcome really. Haye would have disappeared and noone would have gotten credit for that horrible fight.

 

Amen! There is no excuse in scoring this for Valuev!

 

****ing ay' right, mate.

It was like Dempsey Willard II, a total whitewash. Pass me some kidney pie.

 

All the Brits chiming into this thread, how many of you were not actually drinking heavily while watching the fight?

Crickets....

 

I agree i had it 6-6 i just don't think Haye did quite enough to take the title. Would it sound odd to say although i scored it a draw Haye was the better fighter on the night?

Just think if Haye beats Valuev then Dirrell beats Froch

:thumbsup

 

I know what you mean.

BTW I had Dirrel beating Froch.

 

Yeah i know what you mean definitely, when i was watching it i thought he was going to lose to be honest and i wouldn't have complained, likewise though, you could just say that he outboxed Valuev for the title, looking back. Whatever the outcome i would have just forgotten about the fight and accpeted it as right, like you said, awful fight.