Haye by the punch. I know that Dokes had, as they said at the time, the "fastest hands since Ali." But If Coetzee could catch him, than Hate could catch him. Nor do I see that Dokes had the power to trouble Haye's oft malgned chin.
Dokes could take this by blazing Haye in a second round stoppage.But he needs to be on point to do this, which means not coked up.
Coetzee was stronger and way better then Haye. And he had a chin. Dokes did have the power. he was a good puncher. Haye has a glass chin and gets rocked constantly
You know, why, I'm none too sure about this one, Butt. Interesting match-up. I may not trust Haye's chin much against a real puncher, nor his stamina, but I trust his feet, his speed and his power, and that might do it here. I don't know.
Dokes was never much of bomber in his first career. It wasn't until his reincarnation in the late 80's that experts credited him for setting down on his punches and putting some weight behind his shots, whereas he was more of a boxer early on... He did have some sting to his game though, as a few of his earlier opponents discovered, but I don't know if it was enough to be made much of here...... Dokes had the style and handspeed to give David some problems, but I also think that he'd have to be on his game and drug free to take a win. The Dokes who slugged it out with Evander Holyfield in 1989, might have scored a KO on that evening, as I'm not sure that Haye could deal with that kind of adversity the way the real deal did.
Haye has not proven he could fight against a real competent guy....I will have to go with Dokes right now
Dokes, in prime form, would eat him alive. This is a nightmare match-up for Haye. Dokes was one of that very fastest heavies who ever lived, and was a legit heavy, to boot. Also, his skills were well-honed and learned having been garnered via sparring and apprenticeship from the supposed golden era of the HW division that preceded him. Haye way out of his depth in this one. Better he stick to getting gift decisions against SNV.
I am British, and I think Haye as a rule does not get kudos. But prime against prime? Dynamite blows up Haye, nine times out of ten.
I know it's an old post and my mate Magoo hasn't been on in months but Dokes was considered quite powerful latter first career, particularly after stopping Weaver, however premature. He was flatfooted and throwing big punches for almost all of their 15 round rematch too. At one stage i think he won the Feather Fists of the year award but he'd come pretty quickly to being a solid hitter.
Dokes accomplished more, fought a lot of big names, thus it's easier to assess him. Based on the known strengths of Dokes, and the yet-to-be-proven abilities of Haye, I'd have to go with Dokes.