David Haye blog

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I’m back in Cyprus now. The ticking over period and pre-fight media appointments are over. The hard stuff begins now – six weeks from fight night on November 15. The talking stops and the training begins. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]My opponent on November 15 is American contender Monte ‘Two Gunz’ Barrett. He holds a record of 34-6 (20 KO) and has beaten a host of recognised heavyweight prospects and contenders. He’s the kind of guy who is beaten by the best in the division but manages to upset those that aren’t going to ever become world champions. All things considered, this is a perfect measuring stick for how I will eventually do as a heavyweight. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Will I demolish Barrett with the same ease Klitschko did? Or will I be exposed the same way men like Dominic Guinn and Owen Beck were by Barrett? It’s an exciting test for me and one I can’t wait to sit. Everybody is wondering what will happen the first time I’m nailed clean by a heavyweight punch and on November 15 there is a good chance we’ll find out what happens. I’ve been put down by cruiserweights in the past. Lolenga Mock, a natural super-middleweight, sent me on ***** Street. It’s only natural that these questions are raised. Barrett will have seen me put down. No doubt he’ll fancy his chances of not only putting me down, but also putting me to sleep. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Barrett is a fast heavyweight and a solid puncher. He’s not one of the ‘fat slobs’ I called out from the beginning of this heavyweight assault. We’ve found the fittest, trimmest and hungriest heavyweight in the world in Monte Barrett. I know how much of a test this is. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The two of us first came head-to-head yesterday at a press conference in London. Barrett had flown over from New York to be there and looked relaxed and confident in front of the British media. There was a great turn out from the British press and they seemed keen to get to know more about the man known as ‘Two Gunz’. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]He gave them some great quotes about how he was going to do this and that to me, and Monte seemed genuinely confident of his chances. I guess in his mind I’m just a pumped up cruiserweight used to fighting guys who weigh only 14 stone 4-pounds (the cruiserweight limit). Barrett has been in with 7-foot giants like Nicolay Valuev and big punchers like Klitschko and Hasim Rahman. Barrett has nothing to fear from me and that’s what makes this such an intriguing fight. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It’s important that people understand why I took this fight. I’m not picking Barrett because he’s an easy touch or quick route to Klitschko. I know he isn’t. I watched tapes of Barrett a couple of weeks back and decided instantly I wanted a piece of him. Even though I was warned of - and saw for myself - Barrett’s dangers and his hunger, it was a fight that instantly appealed to me. I knew it would be exciting. I knew he could talk and do some hyping up of his own. I knew it could turn into a marquee fight – something that gets people talking. I also knew it was the kind of fight I had to be able to win if I ever had any serious dreams of fighting Klitschko. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Beating a load of bums will not prepare me properly for Klitschko, nor will it give me an idea of just how successful I can be with the big boys. A fight with Monte Barrett will do that. If I beat Barrett on November 15, boxing fans – especially those in the US – will start to realise I’m for real and that I pose a legitimate threat to Klitschko’s belts. If I don’t manage to beat Barrett, then how was I ever supposed to beat Klitschko? [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I know I have to be at my best to beat a guy like Barrett. I’ll probably have to be even better than I was when I beat Enzo Maccarinelli and Jean-Marc Mormeck. I’ll need to be faster, stronger, hit harder and be even more explosive. With six weeks to go, I feel fitter than I’ve ever felt before. A lot of boxers say stuff like that before a fight, but I truly mean it. I haven’t even got into the hard training yet and I feel physically fit in every possible way. I could fight next weekend without a problem. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]I will now spend the next five weeks training in the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus (T.R.N.C) before returning to England just before the fight. The last time Barrett boxed in London – over eight years ago now – he was knocked out by Klitschko in seven rounds. He hopes to have a better time on November 15, but it’s important my London fans and my punches ensure he remembers the demons of July 2000 – the night he got bashed up Klitschko.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It’s time for London boxing fans to stand up and be counted. Aside from my fight with Maccarinelli in March, there haven’t been too many big-time boxing events in the capital in recent years. While places like Manchester and Cardiff have staged some of the biggest boxing events of the past few years, it’s important us Londoners don’t get left behind and really show some love for the sport on November 15. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Millwall boys are playing Stockport County during the day and I’ll be unleashing my Hayemaker in the evening. It’s a perfect opportunity for a Millwall double. Back in March we managed to do the double over Enzo Maccarinelli. Millwall beat Enzo’s team Swansea 2-1 and then I knocked out Maccarinelli in two rounds.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]If we can pack out The O2 on November 15 and make this place a fortress during my run at world heavyweight title glory, there’s every chance Klitschko vs. Haye in South London could become a reality one day. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Monte Barrett will have other ideas, I’m sure. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]If my fans – the undisputed best in the world – can rally behind me on November 15 at The O2, I’m sure together we’ll prove that one Hayemaker always conquers ‘Two Gunz’.[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]David D. Haye[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]AKA The Hayemaker.[/FONT]




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