Where would Haye rank all time - in a British, and a World sense if... He beats Barrett, then Wlad, and retires. He Unifies at heavy by beating Barrett, Wlad, and Valuev - retires. He becomes undisputed HW champ by beating Barret, Wlad, Valuev, and Vitali...then retires. *I appreciate it's perhaps unlikely that he will beat Wlad, or Vit' - but just presuming he did*
Where would Haye rank all time - in a British, and a World sense if... He loses to Barrett, and retires. This content is protected He just beats Monty Barrett This content is protected He beats Barrett, then Wlad, and retires. This content is protected He Unifies at heavy by beating Barret, Wlad, and Valuev - retires. This content is protected He becomes undisputed HW champ by beating Barret, Wlad, Valuev, and Vitali...then retires. This content is protected
I see your point, but Haye has only about 3 or 4 fights left, and that is the way his career could go. Just interested in how high he would be viewed should he win those 3 or 4 fights.
Cheers. Top 50 aye - not bad. There are question marks about how good Wlad, and Vitali actually are... so I thought perhaps it would also affect how much kudos he would get from beating them. I too can't see him beating them though - but it would be some feat.
Could even be a case for being higher. As a guy that started off at cruiserweight it is always a bigger and rarer achivement to topple heavies, especially guys of that size; Valuev, and the Klitschko's. It sort of makes up for none of them having true great resumes themselves. Holyfield is held very highly quite rightly, and this is the main reason. If he was just a career heavy with that heavy resume it would probably be lower end of a top 100.
My problem with ranking Haye even as a top all time great cruiser is longevity at the weight itself. He basically was the champion for two fights and then he has basically retired from that particular weight. Even if he amassed the victories that you have said, he would only have been a heavyweight for 3 years max. Having said that he would be Britains second greatest heavyweight. But all time British fighter......i wouldnt like to say.
British or all-time? I can't see the case for ranking him top 15, that's pretty ridiculous. Also, how can he be ranked lower if he beats Vitali aswell?
I think someones messing with you! Truth is that Haye cannot get very high up the ATG's no matter how well he does as there just aren't the credible opponents out there that he'd need. Only beating Vitali would give him good credentials as he's the only current fighter to have proved anything against real top notch opponents - and that was only once and he lost the fight. The best heavyweight in history could emerge tomorrow but he'd never be able to prove it as things are now.
The thing is, is that I remember people saying pretty much the same thing (at the time) during Tyson, and later lewis' reign (that the divisions were weak).
British he would have to go number 2. all time top 20. if he was to beat those 4 guys by KO, top 10 off all time without a doubt. In my opinion by KO Bonin in round 1 he has already done more as a heavyweight than harrison and skelton.
And it was. Why do you think Tyson does not make most sensible top 10 heavy lists? His resume isn't that hot. We can speculate as to what a great H2H fighter he was, and I believe he was, but unfortunately it mostly comes down to resume.
pretty much the figure i had in my head when i saw the thread, haye could well beat many heavyweights past and present, but the sheer size of wlad and vit would be too much for haye.
Sure, and when Tyson first emerged I still think it was weak, only really starting to warm up after he went to prison and Bowe, Lewis and Holy appeared. Also for the early part of Lewis's reign it was a bit empty. But there was still a few good periods some decent fighters around who would be wide favourites against anyone other that the Klit's if they were here today. Actually a few heavies are still dragging on from Lewis' time, so if it was weak then what does that make it now that the same guys are still here as has-beens? I'm sure a few more fighters will appear in the next few years but don't forget that Haye has stated that he wants to retire at 30.