Wlad was hurt/stunned enough to hold on for quite a while. Where you not watching when that happened?
I haven't seen any of the press conference yet, but I was kinda hoping Vitali would get up and mock him mercilessly, saying after Adamek he'd finish the job and KTFO Haye if Haye has the guts before he retires. That would have been fun to see. Wouldn't take too much away from Wlad if he said "you fought my brother like a little girl, but I'm willing to give you another crack at a Klitschko.
This fight was mainly a big hit because of all the delusional UK fans and their corresponding irritated US/Euro counterparts. Think all of those delusions have been erased. Besides, the match was already almost impossible to pull off and now Wlad has no legacy reason at all to make it so he'll demand a ridiculous split, as he should rightfully get.
No thank you. Wlad dominated the fight and I had it like most 118-110. Wlad is just too big and skilled for him and Haye can't knock him out with one punch as we clearly saw. Wlad's ability to cut off the ring (not chase) and maintain distance is unreal for a hw. Because of that Haye will never be successful against him. Haye is counterpuncher and that style isn't going to beat this wlad. You need pressure, power, defense, workrate and durability to have a real chance. Or a super hw with a great skillset like Lewis. Overall, Wlad was too passive with his offense for my liking but his defense was outstanding. Solid but not great performance. Picks up another ABC belt and good defense. Who Necks?!? Well, I'd prefer in order: 1-Povetkin (won't happen-bottler) 2-Helenius 3-Boytsov 4-Chirsora if he beats Fury 5-Arreola (only if he beats someone decent though) 6-Roy Jones (dudes a hater) :yep 7-Haye rematch
I agree with the OP. Haye's performance was good enough to deserve a rematch, given that there is no one else out there who is likely to do better. Haye was connecting with impressive accuracy. He just wasn't throwing enough. He caught Wlad a few times, but obviously not enough. I think a rematch would be very interesting. Unfinished business for Wlad (getting the KO) while Haye needs to be more aggressive and get to that chin. If Haye's injury talk is legit then that makes a rematch a little more interesting. I also thought it was a pretty clean fight except for Haye's antics with falling down, and some holding by Wlad in the 12th. As boring as some people found it I thought the battle at range was pretty exciting and would like to see another bout. Really extraordinary performance by Wladimir. His punch output and footwork were flat-out awesome.
Agree on all points. I think Haye's slickness and ablity to NOT gass and still hurt Wlad late rose him to a distinction noone else in Wlad's last dozen or so fights has been able to do. Who else has been this hard to hit for Wlad, and whom else, besides the first Peter fight, has has Wlad hurt enough to hold on like that for that long?