Funny I've thought of Wilder as someone who would probably beat old, slow, reconstructed Haye, but nowhere near as proven as him prime for prime. Then I actually took a minute to think about their resumes. Not including cruiser, Wilder has him beat. Hayes best 4 hw wins( and really only four worth noting) are 1. Old Valuev. Best opponent he beat, even though it was a mostly unimpressive majority decision win. 2. Prime Chisora, beat overall win for him 3. Kinda shot Ruiz. Good name and performance, faded but still credible fighter 4 Barret. Fringish contender who kd'd Haye. Compare to Wilder: 1. Bermaine Stiverne. Not as good a name as Valuev but an easier win. Slight edge Haye. 2. Duhaupas. Slight edge Haye for Chisora win 3 Scott. Much better than old Ruiz, solid edge Wilder. 4. Spilzka. Slight edge Wilder. Then you've also got Molina and shot Arreola, where with Haye you have??? Audrey?(Wilder also beat him) So, strange as it is to realize, on raw hw resume, Wilder is more proven.
Haye hardly had a HW career. He pulled out more times as he actually fought before his comeback, and sadly that isn't even an exaggeration. Also "slightly" shot Ruiz is way too much praise the version Haye fought. Wilder's opponents haven't been up to par for a HW belt holder, but it is a steady group of top 20/30 guys and Stiverne.
This is a fair assessment. Haye's choice of two comeback opponents points to a HW fighter who is on the con, and doesn't believe in himself to mix it at the elite level.
Haye is all hype. Your assessment of his resume is largely correct. On top of that, he hasn't even fought anyone half decent in 4 years.
I have, several times. Haye never received any counts, and Barrett got deducted a point for hitting an opponent who had slipped.
A biased referee doesn't hide the knockdown. Officially Dirrell was never down against Abraham, Maravilla only once against Murray and Bradley not down against Provo while unable to get up.
