I really did not have a lot of background about Haye, and watching the fight, I thought it would be one of his early KO wins. But Thompson weathered the storm and landed enough counters to turn the tide in his favor. Nevertheless, I can see that he really does possess massive power. And his bombs away style makes for exciting fights. However, I noticed that he was completely open when launching an attack and he expends a lot of energy that he runs out of fuel. Stamina can be improved, but my question is, has Haye since also improved his defense? I mean, he's with the big boys now. One mistake can be fatal. He can't just plod forward trying to KO a guy like that. Nothing against Haye, in fact I began to like him even if the fight I got to see was a loss. But let's be real here, today's heavyweights are truly gargantuans and the guys that sit on top can surely hit. If Haye is to win, he greatly needs to keep those hands up.
Hey, poor defense, lack of stamina , and the inability to pace ones self can get you murdered in any division. Try wading in against Manny Pacquio like Haye did against Thompson. Lots of guys who can punch get spoiled by their own success. Look at George Foreman, killing everyone until he runs into Ali and Jimmy Young. But Haye learned from his mistakes, is in better condition , paces himself better, and is all around more skillfull. Sure he'll never be Willie Pep, but just because the Heavyweights are a bunch of huge lummoxes doesn't make them any more dangerous for Haye than a accurate punching guy like Mormeck. Haye'll do just fine. Any division that an obese middleweight can invade succesfully (until he got too fat to move), won't be all that hard to excell in.
Thompson was half of Haye's career ago. The lessons that he learnt from that fight are far more relevant than what happened during it.
Don't worry, Haye's power is so good at cruiserweight that he don't have to worry about anything else like defense, stanima, throwing straight punches (non-"Hayemakers") at Heavyweight.
To beat Klitschko you need either a proper chin or a proper defense. Haye has none of them, so he will fail.
The thompson fight just goes to show how much he has improved as a fighter since, he paces himself better, picks his shots, works the job and body, and his stamina has improved aswell (his stamina didnt look to bad in the mormeck fight.) His defence isnt great, although the fact that he doesnt rush for the ko has improved his chances of not being tagged as often, but still i feel this is his weakness. His chin is weak, but certainly not glass, the Thompson fight showed his chin isnt glass, he gasssed himself out and thats the only reason he was stopped. But up at heavyweight he will face much bigger punchers, slower but bigger, and a weak cruiserweight chin will not hold up obviously, but will the fact he will no longer be weight drained help his chin? I dont think it will but we will find out soon enough. Haye has got people talking about the heavyweight division again, and i for one am excited.
Go watch Thompson-Rothman for another lesson in Carl's ability to absorb heavy punishment before rallying to win by knockout.
