By Geno McGahee, RingsideReport.com
In the 1990s, boxing was good for the heavyweights and for the fans. Lennox Lewis would come along and clean it out and when there were no other worthy challengers, he retired and left a gap. The gap has been filled by the Klitschko Brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.
Vitali actually had the chance to square off against Lewis in 2003. It was a good fight that Lewis was beginning to win when Vitali suffered a serious cut and fell victim to a TKO stoppage in the sixth round. The courageous performance made Vitali the champ when Lewis retired. The WBC quickly placed him into a title match with Corrie Sanders, a fight he won via TKO in 8. He would vacate the title, retire, and then come back and reclaim it from an uninspired and fat Sam Peter.
Vitali has a record of 39-2, 37 KO’s, a 90% KO rate, and fights regularly, but he has not captured the imagination of the American public. It’s a combination of things. One, the opposition is weak. Vitali benefits and is also hurt by the current crop of heavyweights. Secondly, Vitali fights in a safety first style, controlling the fight and battering his opponents until they quit or collapse. Americans were accustomed to Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield…guys like that, that would go in there and go to war, but Vitali presents something different. It’s similar to the style that Lennox Lewis brought, but Lewis seemed to have more of a heart for ring wars.
The younger brother, Wladimir, has a record of 54-3, 48 KO’s, has an 84% KO rate, and fights regularly. He has also not brought in the masses from the states. His last title fight against the capable Eddie Chambers wasn’t even picked up by HBO, which is basically the home for the Klitschko brothers.
A big part of the reason why the Klitschkos are not as popular as they would be in a competitive division is that nobody thinks that they can lose. They don’t leave anything to chance. They work from the distance, and eventually their power shots will land and end the fight. Sultan Ibragimov, the former WBO Champ, that lost his title to Wlad via UD, wanted to fight but he was so much smaller and wasn’t allowed inside. That is the storyline with many of the Klitschko opponents.
The contenders nowadays lack charisma and with the networks not broadcasting any fights, they enter the ring as unknowns and leave the ring as the same. Tony Thompson, Calvin Brock, Eddie Chambers, Kevin Johnson, Sultan Ibragimov, and Chris Arreola have not inspired the fans and did not put up any effort in the ring to stimulate interest. They didn’t have the charisma or the fighting heart to go after the champions, but there is one man that apparently does.
The WBA Heavyweight Champion, David “Hayemaker” Haye, 24-1, 22 KO’s, ruled the cruiserweight division and then made his way up to the heavyweights, taking out Monte Barrett and earning a crack at the gigantic champion at the time, Nikolay Valuev. Although most were disappointed with the performance of Haye, he did come away with a win and put forth an effective game plan. He moved and did enough to win the title. Valuev is a tough opponent for anyone because of his size and courage and Haye was able to use skill and ring smarts to overcome that.
Recently, Haye took on former 2-Time Champion John Ruiz. Ruiz was 3-3 in his last six fights going into the fight with Haye but could have easily been 6-0 and many contend that he was robbed clearly against Valuev and Ruslan Chagaev. Whether he was or wasn’t, Ruiz was only stopped once in 1996 against David Tua. He altered his style and became a puzzle that most could not solve. Ruiz is a gritty brawler that was a very live dog in the Haye fight…but we found out a lot about the British Champion in his first defense.
Very early in the first round, a one-two put Ruiz on the floor and in serious trouble. Over anxious, Haye fouled Ruiz, hitting him with a rabbit punch. Haye’s excitement may cost him, especially if he gets Wlad into trouble. The last thing that he would want would be to lose an opportunity to stop one of the Klitschkos because of a foul.
Haye would stop Ruiz in nine rounds and that has sent a message. Haye is charismatic, quick, and hits very hard. He has gotten under the skin of both Wlad and Vitali with his antics, including presenting artwork with Haye holding both severed heads of the Klitschko brothers.
Prior to his defense against Tony Thompson, Wladimir was confronted by Haye and told that he was fighting nobodies. Wlad agreed to fight Haye but the Brit would pull out due to promotional problems. Haye would then come close to signing with Vitali but would pull out as well and take on Valuev as well.
The point of all of this is to psychological warfare and it worked. Both brothers seem irritated with Haye, especially Vitali. Another part of the reason why the fights fell apart in the first place was the rumored demands of the Klitschkos. With the WBA belt around his waist, Haye has more bargaining power. It is something that both brothers want in the family and now it’s just a question of which one will go for it.
The frontrunner now is Wladimir. It makes more sense for Haye. Wlad has some weaknesses that could be capitalized on and the public would see it as a risky fight. Rumor has it that they will be fighting in the fall, should they be able to seal the deal. Wlad may be forced to face Alexander Povetkin first, a good heavyweight under the guidance of Teddy Atlas, but he is expected to get through that outing. If Haye becomes a reality, there is a chance of step aside money for Team Povetkin to make the fight possible with the winner being forced to face him in their next fight.
David Haye is what this division needs. He’s charismatic, quick, and hits hard with both hands. He has the style and power to possibly upset the Klitschko brothers and reshape the division. The win against Ruiz reinforced what many thought when he moved up to heavyweight. Haye may go on to rule the division.
Source: ringsidereport.com
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Senin, 19 April 2010
Jumat, 16 April 2010
Wladimir Klitschko: “Haye bitched out twice from me and my brother” -- Eastside Boxing
By Geoffrey Ciani, Eastside Boxing
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured exclusive interviews with reigning IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Hall of Fame boxer Carmen Basilio, and reigning WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Highlighting this week’s episode was the exclusive interview with Wladimir Klitschko, who recently stopped American contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers by twelfth round knockout. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On his performance against “Fast” Eddie Chambers:
“I feel great about my last performance and there was another title defense and Eddie Chambers is actually much better than people think. He was a great contender, he was very fast. His nickname is “Fast Eddie” and he was really fast. I should say that eventually I did make the final shot that was very important to win this fight by KO. I think that Eddie Chambers was really just trying to survive actually in the late rounds and as we in the heavyweight division say, ‘You have to pay attention every second of the fight because only one punch can make the final decision and the fight’s going to be over very fast’ so that was exactly what happened in the fight with Eddie and I hope he’s doing well. I think that he’s probably going to beat any other contender in the division because of his amazing boxing skills.”
On Emanuel Steward urging him to go for the knockout in the later rounds of the Chambers fight:
“We saw also one week before my fight with Pacquiao, he was running after a guy for twelve rounds and he couldn’t really finish him because if a person doesn’t want to get knocked out, you can chase him forever. In the last two rounds, actually the last three rounds—the 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds—I was really trying to catch Eddie and I couldn’t. When Emanuel was in the corner raising his voice and saying, ‘Come on! Do it!’, I was actually arguing with him. I said, ‘Dude, I will try! You know, just relax. Don’t push me too much, relax. I know what I’m doing. I’m trying.’ In the last two rounds, the 11th and 12th, I was really chasing Eddie and eventually stopped him in the 12th..”
His views on trainer Emanuel Steward:
“I also recently talked to Emanuel, and I said, ‘Emanuel, something is amazing about your professional courier. You took Lennox Lewis, as an example, at his worst and you brought him to his best. The same thing is kind of happening with me. We started to work when I lost, and then we actually got the titles and got the Ring Magazine championship getting back the respect from my opponents that I lost in ’04.’ It is amazing to see what Emanuel is able to do and what a coach he is. I think he is a genius in the ring. He is a genius in the ring, and I definitely enjoy to work with him because it’s great work. It’s not just the relationship between an athlete and a coach like between a dog and the owner of a dog. You’re just getting commands and you do what your coach is telling you to do. That’s going to not work with me and Emanuel, so we’re creative. We respect the experiences that each of us has inside and outside of the ring and it’s just such enjoyable work.”
Regarding his next fight:
“Hopefully David Haye is going to be my next opponent. We’re working on this right now. In boxing there’s a lot of things in negotiations with the promoters and to find a site to get the deal first, so hopefully we’ll get David Haye as another unification fight. That’s the only the title, the WBA title that David Haye has, the Klitschko brothers don’t have. So we have all of the titles but the WBA. So I’m looking forward to getting David Haye in the ring and fight him, and I wish and I hope that this year it is going to happen.”
His views on David Haye as a fighter:
“David Haye says a lot about the Klitschkos being boring. Have you seen his fight with Nicolay Valuev? It was twelve rounds, it was decision win, but he was scared to death and I don’t understand why you can be scared to death from Nicolay Valuev. It’s actually absurd for saying it, but this man is a giant. I mean, he’s huge and in certain ways a freak show, and he’s as slow as an elephant. David Haye was just dancing around and trying not to be hit and winning the fight on points.”
Regarding Haye’s victory over John Ruiz:
“So with John Ruiz, I have to give respect to John Ruiz because it was like another title shot, and he had really a lot of title shots, but it was his ninth loss—let’s face it. But David Haye did well, he won the fight. I am very thankful to David that he won the fight because I would be very upset if he had lost the fight, and now we can talk about our fight. He bitched out twice from me and from my brother Vitali, and I think he owes it to the fans to get in the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers and fight—and not just speak and show the cartoons with decapitated bodies and blood and whatever else he presents himself as a clown. I think he owes it to the fans that he has to fight one of the Klitschko brothers. Not to talk, let’s make it and not bitch out again.”
His views on the upcoming mega fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Well, to be honest with you I would love to see Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. I would love to see that fight. I know I’m not really answering your question, but I think that fight would be really exciting. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Who’s going to win in this fight between Mayweather and Mosley? I think, yeah, well…each of them could lose or could win. Am I really excited about this fight? It could be a good fight, but Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a better fight.”
***
Andre Berto
We also had the chance to speak with Andre Berto fresh off his title defense against Carlos Quintana. Here are some excerpts from what Berto had to say:
Regarding his eighth round stoppage over Carlos Quintana:
“I feel I was alright. I was a little rusty. I had to get in a groove a little bit and actually I injured my arm in like the second round. In the second round I injured my arm so I was pretty much fighting with one arm. My overall performance was just okay.”
On whether he was surprised he was able to knock Quintana out:
“No, because I thought I had the power to do it. He’s a crafty guy, like a lot of people seem to forget, he’s a crafty southpaw and those are always the worst ones to fight. He also has a win over Paul Williams, so I knew he was going to be crafty but I knew if I was able to land a few solid punches on him that he was going to notice it and I was going to be able to slow him down.”
On the decision to pull out of his January fight with Sugar Shane Mosley:
“You know, it was a tough situation with the decision that I made. I mean it was for a good reason. I lost a few family members in the earthquake.”
Regarding how he thinks he would have done against Sugar Shane Mosley:
“Oh, I think I would have done good. I mean, you had seen the other night it wasn’t my best performance, because like I said, I was a little rusty, but my speed and my power and me just imposing that type of pace early on in the ring. I was just going to get stronger as the rounds continue to go and I it probably would have caused a little problem for Shane—to have somebody in there just as fast as he is, just as strong as he is, but young and to continue bringing that pace. I think the fight was going to be a little difficult for him.”
His views on the upcoming May 1 clash between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Realistically, I think Floyd is going to outpoint him. I see that at the beginning of the fight, Shane Mosley is going to be there and he’s going to impose his will, he’s going to impose his strength and the speed, but I think after a couple of rounds Floyd will pretty much figure him out once Shane slows down a little. That’s when Floyd is really going to get into his rhythm and start picking him apart a little bit and just do what he does and come out with the victory.”
Regarding who he would prefer to fight, Mosley or Mayweather:
“Oh man, it doesn’t matter, either one of them. I mean Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, or (Manny) Pacquiao, you know it would just be an honor to be in the ring with those guys. These guys are future Hall of Famers. I grew up at the gym watching these guys and mimicking a lot of these guys, so I’d be honored just to be in the same ring with them so it doesn’t matter at all.”
On how he believes he would match-up with Manny Pacquiao:
“I believe it would be a very entertaining fight because, unlike with Joshua Clottey and a lot of people, I would definitely let my hands go. It’s definitely going to be an entertaining fight. I mean have the hand speed, I have the power, and as the action gets turned up I get turned up. I think that’s the thing with Manny Pacquiao that a lot of people really just don’t understand. Manny Pacquiao has a lot of energy, he has really great legs, but then again, you have to fight fire with fire. He lacks defense. He’s easy to hit, but he sets a pace that’s a little too much for his opponents and he’s incredibly strong, also, so he always tend to outwork and outpunch his opponents, but if I get in the position I know it will be an entertaining fight because I know I’ll be able to touch him whenever I wanted to touch him and get in there with some power and I think it will be able to stop a lot of that jumping around and stuff. It would be an entertaining fight.”
***
To read the entire transcript of the Carmen Basilio interview please CLICK HERE
If you missed last week’s special edition of On the Ropes, be sure to tune in and listen now!
***
Join the On the Ropes Mailing List!
If you want to keep up with the latest OTR news, why not join our mailing list? You can sign up by sending an email to ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com with the subject heading “SIGN ME UP!”
Be sure to tune in!
***
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http://www.ontheropesboxingradio.com
To contact Geoffrey Ciani or Jenna J:
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To read more by Ciani or Jenna please visit The Mushroom Mag:
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Source: eastsideboxing.com
This week’s edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio featured exclusive interviews with reigning IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Hall of Fame boxer Carmen Basilio, and reigning WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. Highlighting this week’s episode was the exclusive interview with Wladimir Klitschko, who recently stopped American contender “Fast” Eddie Chambers by twelfth round knockout. Here are some excerpts from that interview:
On his performance against “Fast” Eddie Chambers:
“I feel great about my last performance and there was another title defense and Eddie Chambers is actually much better than people think. He was a great contender, he was very fast. His nickname is “Fast Eddie” and he was really fast. I should say that eventually I did make the final shot that was very important to win this fight by KO. I think that Eddie Chambers was really just trying to survive actually in the late rounds and as we in the heavyweight division say, ‘You have to pay attention every second of the fight because only one punch can make the final decision and the fight’s going to be over very fast’ so that was exactly what happened in the fight with Eddie and I hope he’s doing well. I think that he’s probably going to beat any other contender in the division because of his amazing boxing skills.”
On Emanuel Steward urging him to go for the knockout in the later rounds of the Chambers fight:
“We saw also one week before my fight with Pacquiao, he was running after a guy for twelve rounds and he couldn’t really finish him because if a person doesn’t want to get knocked out, you can chase him forever. In the last two rounds, actually the last three rounds—the 10th, 11th, and 12th rounds—I was really trying to catch Eddie and I couldn’t. When Emanuel was in the corner raising his voice and saying, ‘Come on! Do it!’, I was actually arguing with him. I said, ‘Dude, I will try! You know, just relax. Don’t push me too much, relax. I know what I’m doing. I’m trying.’ In the last two rounds, the 11th and 12th, I was really chasing Eddie and eventually stopped him in the 12th..”
His views on trainer Emanuel Steward:
“I also recently talked to Emanuel, and I said, ‘Emanuel, something is amazing about your professional courier. You took Lennox Lewis, as an example, at his worst and you brought him to his best. The same thing is kind of happening with me. We started to work when I lost, and then we actually got the titles and got the Ring Magazine championship getting back the respect from my opponents that I lost in ’04.’ It is amazing to see what Emanuel is able to do and what a coach he is. I think he is a genius in the ring. He is a genius in the ring, and I definitely enjoy to work with him because it’s great work. It’s not just the relationship between an athlete and a coach like between a dog and the owner of a dog. You’re just getting commands and you do what your coach is telling you to do. That’s going to not work with me and Emanuel, so we’re creative. We respect the experiences that each of us has inside and outside of the ring and it’s just such enjoyable work.”
Regarding his next fight:
“Hopefully David Haye is going to be my next opponent. We’re working on this right now. In boxing there’s a lot of things in negotiations with the promoters and to find a site to get the deal first, so hopefully we’ll get David Haye as another unification fight. That’s the only the title, the WBA title that David Haye has, the Klitschko brothers don’t have. So we have all of the titles but the WBA. So I’m looking forward to getting David Haye in the ring and fight him, and I wish and I hope that this year it is going to happen.”
His views on David Haye as a fighter:
“David Haye says a lot about the Klitschkos being boring. Have you seen his fight with Nicolay Valuev? It was twelve rounds, it was decision win, but he was scared to death and I don’t understand why you can be scared to death from Nicolay Valuev. It’s actually absurd for saying it, but this man is a giant. I mean, he’s huge and in certain ways a freak show, and he’s as slow as an elephant. David Haye was just dancing around and trying not to be hit and winning the fight on points.”
Regarding Haye’s victory over John Ruiz:
“So with John Ruiz, I have to give respect to John Ruiz because it was like another title shot, and he had really a lot of title shots, but it was his ninth loss—let’s face it. But David Haye did well, he won the fight. I am very thankful to David that he won the fight because I would be very upset if he had lost the fight, and now we can talk about our fight. He bitched out twice from me and from my brother Vitali, and I think he owes it to the fans to get in the ring with one of the Klitschko brothers and fight—and not just speak and show the cartoons with decapitated bodies and blood and whatever else he presents himself as a clown. I think he owes it to the fans that he has to fight one of the Klitschko brothers. Not to talk, let’s make it and not bitch out again.”
His views on the upcoming mega fight between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Well, to be honest with you I would love to see Floyd Mayweather against Manny Pacquiao. I would love to see that fight. I know I’m not really answering your question, but I think that fight would be really exciting. That’s what I’m looking forward to. Who’s going to win in this fight between Mayweather and Mosley? I think, yeah, well…each of them could lose or could win. Am I really excited about this fight? It could be a good fight, but Pacquiao-Mayweather could be a better fight.”
***
Andre Berto
We also had the chance to speak with Andre Berto fresh off his title defense against Carlos Quintana. Here are some excerpts from what Berto had to say:
Regarding his eighth round stoppage over Carlos Quintana:
“I feel I was alright. I was a little rusty. I had to get in a groove a little bit and actually I injured my arm in like the second round. In the second round I injured my arm so I was pretty much fighting with one arm. My overall performance was just okay.”
On whether he was surprised he was able to knock Quintana out:
“No, because I thought I had the power to do it. He’s a crafty guy, like a lot of people seem to forget, he’s a crafty southpaw and those are always the worst ones to fight. He also has a win over Paul Williams, so I knew he was going to be crafty but I knew if I was able to land a few solid punches on him that he was going to notice it and I was going to be able to slow him down.”
On the decision to pull out of his January fight with Sugar Shane Mosley:
“You know, it was a tough situation with the decision that I made. I mean it was for a good reason. I lost a few family members in the earthquake.”
Regarding how he thinks he would have done against Sugar Shane Mosley:
“Oh, I think I would have done good. I mean, you had seen the other night it wasn’t my best performance, because like I said, I was a little rusty, but my speed and my power and me just imposing that type of pace early on in the ring. I was just going to get stronger as the rounds continue to go and I it probably would have caused a little problem for Shane—to have somebody in there just as fast as he is, just as strong as he is, but young and to continue bringing that pace. I think the fight was going to be a little difficult for him.”
His views on the upcoming May 1 clash between Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather:
“Realistically, I think Floyd is going to outpoint him. I see that at the beginning of the fight, Shane Mosley is going to be there and he’s going to impose his will, he’s going to impose his strength and the speed, but I think after a couple of rounds Floyd will pretty much figure him out once Shane slows down a little. That’s when Floyd is really going to get into his rhythm and start picking him apart a little bit and just do what he does and come out with the victory.”
Regarding who he would prefer to fight, Mosley or Mayweather:
“Oh man, it doesn’t matter, either one of them. I mean Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, or (Manny) Pacquiao, you know it would just be an honor to be in the ring with those guys. These guys are future Hall of Famers. I grew up at the gym watching these guys and mimicking a lot of these guys, so I’d be honored just to be in the same ring with them so it doesn’t matter at all.”
On how he believes he would match-up with Manny Pacquiao:
“I believe it would be a very entertaining fight because, unlike with Joshua Clottey and a lot of people, I would definitely let my hands go. It’s definitely going to be an entertaining fight. I mean have the hand speed, I have the power, and as the action gets turned up I get turned up. I think that’s the thing with Manny Pacquiao that a lot of people really just don’t understand. Manny Pacquiao has a lot of energy, he has really great legs, but then again, you have to fight fire with fire. He lacks defense. He’s easy to hit, but he sets a pace that’s a little too much for his opponents and he’s incredibly strong, also, so he always tend to outwork and outpunch his opponents, but if I get in the position I know it will be an entertaining fight because I know I’ll be able to touch him whenever I wanted to touch him and get in there with some power and I think it will be able to stop a lot of that jumping around and stuff. It would be an entertaining fight.”
***
To read the entire transcript of the Carmen Basilio interview please CLICK HERE
If you missed last week’s special edition of On the Ropes, be sure to tune in and listen now!
***
Join the On the Ropes Mailing List!
If you want to keep up with the latest OTR news, why not join our mailing list? You can sign up by sending an email to ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com with the subject heading “SIGN ME UP!”
Be sure to tune in!
***
For more information about On the Ropes Boxing Radio please visit our website:
http://www.ontheropesboxingradio.com
To contact Geoffrey Ciani or Jenna J:
ontheropes@eastsideboxing.com
To read more by Ciani or Jenna please visit The Mushroom Mag:
http//www.eatthemushroom.com/mag
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Heavyweight Excitement: No longer an Oxymoron? -- Ringside Report
By Jeff Stoyanoff, RingsideReport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…
Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
When David Haye stopped John Ruiz on April 3rd in Manchester it was both expected and an upset. Most observers expected Haye to win the fight, but quite a few also figured that the experienced and cagey Ruiz would make it a most competitive fight. That Haye won was expected. That Haye dominated Ruiz and became the first man in over a decade to earn a stoppage against him? That can accurately be characterized as somewhat of an upset.
Naturally, with the spectacular nature of Haye’s win there will be the all too predictable suggestion that Ruiz was old and shot or perhaps simply overrated as a top fighter. Ruiz has never been blessed with fantastic gifts in the ring. He is not extraordinarily fast nor does he have tremendous power. Yet, Ruiz is an intelligent fighter, an excellent tactician, and he knows how to use those qualities in the ring. If there is a legacy to the career of John Ruiz it is that he was possessed of a special ability to be competitive in fights; a level of competitiveness that belied his natural gifts. For one of the rarest and most glaring times in a long and distinguished career, John Ruiz was overmatched in a fight and David Haye deserves all the credit in the world for that.
Yet, now the conversation will turn to David Haye and the brothers Klitschko. Haye has already made no bones about the fact that he can’t wait to get either (and eventually both) of them in the ring. And, for their part, the Klitschkos seem pretty keen on the idea as well. While it may be wrong to dismiss Haye’s win over Ruiz as merely what should have taken place, it would also be wrong to overlook the fact that either Klitschko is anything less than a giant step up for Haye. And speaking of giants…Images of Valuev
We certainly got a glimpse of how dangerous it can be to follow David Haye around in the ring. In fact, we got that glimpse about fifteen seconds into the fight when John Ruiz was caught flat footed by a lightning fast right hand from Haye and was promptly deposited on the canvas. It was a shocking display of just how talented Haye can be. From that point on, Haye demonstrated repeated flashes of brilliance as he methodically, yet inexorably dismantled Ruiz over nine one sided rounds. Ruiz gamely continued to take the fight to Haye and was not without some offensive success, but ultimately the speed mismatch was too much to overcome. However, one must wonder if the same active and utterly destructive Haye that decimated Ruiz would be the one that shows up for either Klitschko. The genesis of this question lay not in the conjecture of a potential matchup, but in the certitude of history. Haye often looked befuddled in his fight with former WBA Champion, Nikolay Valuev.
In the first six rounds of the Haye-Valuev fight, Haye threw only 84 punches. The fact of the matter is, Haye was clearly unsure of how to proceed against the taller and longer Valuev. Both Klitschko brothers are far more in line with Valuev than Ruiz in terms of a matchup of styles. It is undoubtedly true that Haye won against Valuev and even staggered him badly in the twelfth and final round. On the other hand, it is also true that both Klitschkos are better fighters than Valuev and present a much greater challenge both offensively and defensively as potential opponents for Haye.
So, David Haye will probably be considered a rightful underdog when he eventually squares off with Wlad or Vitali. The ring records and fighting styles will dictate that. However, this is still a hugely exciting and intriguing potential matchup. There is something in this potential bout that differs greatly from the previous fights involving either Kltischko. David Haye is not just good, he is live; he has something. He has speed, he has power, and he has a big mouth…
The Talking Game
The Klitschko’s are avid chess players; and it shows. They are both cerebral tacticians in and out of the ring. In the ring, both are remarkably disciplined as they patiently set up their opponent before often brutally taking them out sometime in the mid to later stages of a fight. Quite often, the end comes quite awhile after the competitive aspects of the fight have long since been decided. In other words, they don’t feel any urgency to finish a guy as soon as they sense their advantage. Why rush in and run into a checkmate? Or, in boxing parlance, run into a huge shot that can turn a fight. Recently, nobody has been able to avoid their inevitable doom in a match with the Klitschko’s as both of them seem to come out set up their shots and eventually destroy their often beleaguered opponent; the disciplined attack wreaking havoc on overmatched fighters.
But, David Haye is going about things in a different way. Haye has already angered both Klitschkos. The talking seems to be a ploy designed to enrage them and throw them off their deliberate yet devastating game. In a recent interview, Freddie Roach said that the feud between Pacquiao and Mayweather wasn’t simply hype and that Pacquiao really does hate Mayweather. However, Roach quickly cautioned that he needed to steer Manny away from that because fighting angry would severely undermine his chances for success in that fight. Pacquiao being angry would be exactly what Mayweather would want as it would greatly increase the chances that Pacquiao would make mistakes in the ring.
David Haye would no doubt love for the Klitschkos to be angry and make those same mistakes. Haye is the smaller man. He needs the Klitschkos to take chances. He needs them to want to fight not simply box. Haye can’t afford for them to be too disciplined. For all his talent, Haye struggled at times to get going against Valuev and that doesn’t bode well when a Klitschko is throwing punches at you. But, if that discipline slips; if the opponent reaches just a little; leans in and fights a little less tall; opens himself up too early, perhaps the explosive talent of Haye can produce the seismic upset.
The Valero Effect
Much is made of the loss David Haye suffered to Carl Thompson. While it is true that Haye was in fact knocked out in the fight, the loss nevertheless occurred nearly six years ago. Haye is a different fighter now; a decidedly better fighter. Similarly, much is made of perceived defensive lapses by Haye, specifically a tendency to have his hands down even while in the punching range of his opponents. Admittedly, the lack of discipline can get him in some trouble. Haye has been down in two of his last five fights. However, fighters are certainly aware of who they are fighting in the ring on a given night.
A rudimentary search on youtube will yield several rounds against different opponents in the career of Edwin Valero. In the video, Valero is often wild on his punches, his hands are often down, he is regularly squared up to his opponent, and he is routinely off balance. In short, based on those rounds, Valero’s vaunted record to that point looked like a strong case of padding; a case of a talented, but thoroughly undisciplined fighter feasting on inferior opposition. Then, Valero took on Antonio Demarco. Demarco, another rising star, presented a more formidable challenge. Somewhat surprisingly, Valero fought extraordinarily well demonstrating an as yet unseen level of fundamental discipline as he systematically took apart a solid young fighter in Demarco. Valero undoubtedly knew of Demarco’s acumen in the ring and he had an innate understanding of what he could not afford to do in the ring that night. Valero had it in him all along. He just brought it out when he needed it. Despite Haye’s bluster, it seems inconceivable that he would not recognize the abilities of the Klitschkos. Haye will be sharp; he can’t afford not to be. Unfortunately for either brother, they will almost certainly be getting the best version of David Haye they could possibly meet.
Beyond the Wins and Losses
In the end, it really doesn’t matter what happens in a fight between one of the Klitschkos and Haye. The result is secondary because the significance of this fight lay not in the result so much as in the perception of the fans. People are going to wonder just how Haye might fare. They will wonder if the movement will be problematic. There will be a curiosity about how the brothers will deal with the speed and power. And, curiosity will abound about just how much damage Haye can do with his awkward, darting style.
Much has been made of the lack of talent in the heavyweight division. Last year, most of the writers on this site for instance couldn’t even nominate a heavyweight fight of the year. Are the Klitschko’s overrated because they fight in such a weak division? Or, is it that the Klitschko’s are underrated in an all time sense as they have the misfortune of dominating what is only apparently a weak division? Those are hard questions to answer definitively, but, beyond the questions of talent and the dearth of quality fights, what is missing most of all in the heavyweight division in recent years, is wonder.
Haye’s scintillating performance may not prove to be the opening salvo in an ascent that will eventually take him passed the Kltischko’s and to the top of the division, but it doesn’t necessarily have to. The most exciting thing about Haye’s performance is that any boxing fan has to be just a little bit curious. Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, Ruslan Chagaev, Kevin Johnson, Ray Austin, Tony Thompson, Sam Peter, and really every Klitschko opponent in the past several years, they all have had a similar feel. They have all been good, solid fighters who earned their chance and deserve our respect. But, none of them made us wonder. The reality is, one way or another they were simply not capable of beating the Klitschko’s and we all knew it. But, Haye is a little bit different. Maybe it’s the speed, or maybe it’s just the brash talking, but the energy he brings is different. There remains ample reason to think he may be in over his head when he steps in against either Wlad or Vitali. But, with the speed and the style and the ego, he does bring one more thing that none of the others could, excitement. One can’t help but wonder and it’s been awhile since we could say that.
Source: ringsidereport.com
Rabu, 14 April 2010
Tomasz Adamek Mulls 'Tragedy' Against Chris Arreola -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
A week prior to November's 12th-round, knockout of former three-time world champion, Miguel Cotto, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king,Manny Pacquiao, delivered food as part of disaster relief in his native Manila, Philippines during a murderous typhoon.
Last Saturday, Haitian-American, WBC welterweight titlist, Andre Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., scored an eighth-round knockout of southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico.
Berto did so with a heavy heart in a clash that ended an 11-month ring absence during which eight of Berto's family members were killed in the mid-January earthquake that rocked Haiti, and during which Berto made several trips to provide everything from financial support to burying the dead.
On Saturday, April 24, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif., the nearly 6-foot-2, Polish-born former light heavyweight (175 pounds) and cruiser weight (200 pounds) champion, Tomasz Adamek, of Jersey City, will be facing similar adversity when he takes on 6-foot-4, heavyweight contender, Chris Arreola, who, weighed 263 pounds for his last fight and represents the largest man the 33-year-old Adamek has ever fought.
And Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) will be doing so while thinking about the 96 passengers and crew who died in Saturday's plane crash in Russia near Smolensk, including Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and several political, military and religious leaders.
"Team Adamek is dedicating this fight to all of the people who died there and to their families. This was a tragedy which has never, ever happened in the history of the world. We basically lost the president, the First Lady. There's nobody there. It's a big void. How those people will be replaced, I have no idea. Just the outpouring of grief and sympathy," said Adamek, during a conference call that included Arreola on Wednesday.
"Today, just to see the coffin of the president, you have to stay in a line which is about five miles long. This is what is happening right now in Poland," said Adamek, who has won nine straight fights with six knockouts during the run. "This is a great tragedy on a personal and political level. Every Pole is feeling the grief, and every Pole is touched, because we don't know how we're going to rebuild it."
Adamek debuted in boxing's largest division with October's fifth-round knockout of former world heavyweight title contender, Andrew Golota (41-8-1, 33 KOs), whom Adamek dropped in the first, and, fifth rounds, despite being out-weighed, 214-to-256.
In his second heavyweight bout in February, Adamek earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over former U.S. Olympian, Jason Estrada, who out-weighted Adamek, 237-to-220.5.
But the 28-year-old Arreola (28-1, 25 knockouts) weighed a career-high, 263-pounds for his last bout, which was which was December's fourth-round knockout of Brian Minto (34-3, 21 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in his career by Arreola.
Nicknamed, "The Nightmare," Arreola's victory helped him to bounce back from September's 10th-round knockout loss to WBC king, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) heading into the clash with Adamek, who is dedicating the fight to those who died in the airplane crash.
"I was invited to have breakfast with President Kaczynski [to happen in May,] who died in the accident, and it was supposed to happen just after the fight with Chris," said Adamek, whose match with Golota, a native of Warsaw, Poland, who lives in Chicago, took place in Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland, before a large crowd there.
"I know that the president was as big fan of boxing. A bigger fan than he was of soccer. So this is the one person that I will never ever get to see. I have a very deep faith, and I am strong because of this faith," said Adamek. "I understood what happened, and I am grieving, but I can seperate my personal feelings and draw from my religious experiences and strength to not be distracted before this fight. I am very motivated."
Adamek has not lost a fight since February of 2007, when he was dethroned as WBC, light heavyweight champion via unanimous decision against Chad Dawson.
"The light heavyweight championship was a nightmare, no pun intended. Being that I had to lose 15-and-20 pounds every time, I was basically exhausted all of the time," said Adamek.
"So I couldn't wait to get out of the light heavyweight division and start doing something as a cruiser weight," said Adamek. "And I decided to fight the best at that weight from the beginning. I fought Steve Cunningham, who was the No. 1 boxer and I beat him in my first really tough cruiser weight fight."
Adamek won the IBF cruiser weight belt by split-decision over Steve Cunningham in December of 2008, and defending it twice before facing Golota.
"The Bible said that David won versus Goliath. So the size in the ring will not matter. It never mattered to me. I draw my inspiration from God. I won two titles in two different divisions. Nobody thought I could win those, and I want a third one," said Adamek.
"So in this case, the size of Chris Arreola, whether he's 6-8, 6-9, 6-5, it really makes no difference," said Adamek. "Because you're winning the fight, and this is what I strongly believe, with what's in your heart, and not the size of your body. This is a natural progression for me to be a heavyweight, and I've believed that from the beginning. I realize how tough Chris Arreola is, but the tougher it is, the better I am."
Arreola, however, believes that his size and experience will be too much for Adamek.
"Honestly, I don't think that Adamek's going to come and try to fight me the way that he's fought in the light heavyweight division and in the cruiser weight division. If he didn't come to fight against Estrada, then there's no way that he's going to come and try to fight me, because Estrada can't pop a grape," said Arreola.
"If he comes to fight me, then he's going to get knocked out. Personally, I'm hoping that he comes to fight, but you know I don't expect him to fight the way that he used to fight," said Arreola.
"Do I hope that it's going to be an exciting fight? Yes, on my part, I'm going to give my all to make it an exciting fight," said Arreola. "As far as quickness, I don't care about his quickness. People don't think that I'm quick, so there are some stuff that I might have to show people in this fight."
Arreola caused a stir by saying that he considered Adamek to be a "medicated heavyweight" until later clarifying that he did not mean that Adamek had used steroids to increase his strength and weight.
"I consider Adamek to be a cruiser weight who doesn't have to cut down. To me, he's a medicated heavyweight. As far as him being a full-blown heavyweight, I don't believe that he is. I believe that he's a blown up cruiser weight. After this, he's going to have to go back to cruiser weight. My job in this fight is to show him that he doesn't belong in the heavyweight division," said Arreola.
"Tomasz Adamek was saying that David versus Goliath type of crap, but I just don't care about that. I'm there to fight," said Arreola. "I'm not there to preach the Bible. I don't care. I'm there to fight, and I'm a fighter, and that's what I do. The main thing about this camp is that everything's moving along and everything is a lot easier than it used to be."
Arreola said that he believes that he will have to chase Adamek before cornering him and finishing him.
"Tomasz Adamek is a proven champion, and my respect goes out to him in that sense. But one thing is that I know that he's going to run away from me, and I know that I'm going to have to try to cut the ring off," said Arreola.
"And once I get him against the ropes, I'm going to have to bang away -- bang his arms, bang his body, and do whatever I have to do," said Arreola. "I just think that losing to Vitali Klitschko, that fight should have been mine. I feel like I have a lot to prove. But Tomasz is no Vitali Klitschko. Vitali was big and rangy and he knew how to run, but eventually, I'm going to catch up to him, and then, it's going to be over."
But Adamek said that he will out box Arreola.
"My strategy in a fight is to move around and not get hit," said Adamek. "But believe me, Chris Arreola will get hit."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
A week prior to November's 12th-round, knockout of former three-time world champion, Miguel Cotto, WBO welterweight (147 pounds) king,Manny Pacquiao, delivered food as part of disaster relief in his native Manila, Philippines during a murderous typhoon.
Last Saturday, Haitian-American, WBC welterweight titlist, Andre Berto, of Winter Haven, Fla., scored an eighth-round knockout of southpaw former world champion, Carlos Quintana, of Puerto Rico.
Berto did so with a heavy heart in a clash that ended an 11-month ring absence during which eight of Berto's family members were killed in the mid-January earthquake that rocked Haiti, and during which Berto made several trips to provide everything from financial support to burying the dead.
On Saturday, April 24, at Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, Calif., the nearly 6-foot-2, Polish-born former light heavyweight (175 pounds) and cruiser weight (200 pounds) champion, Tomasz Adamek, of Jersey City, will be facing similar adversity when he takes on 6-foot-4, heavyweight contender, Chris Arreola, who, weighed 263 pounds for his last fight and represents the largest man the 33-year-old Adamek has ever fought.
And Adamek (40-1, 27 knockouts) will be doing so while thinking about the 96 passengers and crew who died in Saturday's plane crash in Russia near Smolensk, including Polish President, Lech Kaczynski, and several political, military and religious leaders.
"Team Adamek is dedicating this fight to all of the people who died there and to their families. This was a tragedy which has never, ever happened in the history of the world. We basically lost the president, the First Lady. There's nobody there. It's a big void. How those people will be replaced, I have no idea. Just the outpouring of grief and sympathy," said Adamek, during a conference call that included Arreola on Wednesday.
"Today, just to see the coffin of the president, you have to stay in a line which is about five miles long. This is what is happening right now in Poland," said Adamek, who has won nine straight fights with six knockouts during the run. "This is a great tragedy on a personal and political level. Every Pole is feeling the grief, and every Pole is touched, because we don't know how we're going to rebuild it."
Adamek debuted in boxing's largest division with October's fifth-round knockout of former world heavyweight title contender, Andrew Golota (41-8-1, 33 KOs), whom Adamek dropped in the first, and, fifth rounds, despite being out-weighed, 214-to-256.
In his second heavyweight bout in February, Adamek earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over former U.S. Olympian, Jason Estrada, who out-weighted Adamek, 237-to-220.5.
But the 28-year-old Arreola (28-1, 25 knockouts) weighed a career-high, 263-pounds for his last bout, which was which was December's fourth-round knockout of Brian Minto (34-3, 21 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in his career by Arreola.
Nicknamed, "The Nightmare," Arreola's victory helped him to bounce back from September's 10th-round knockout loss to WBC king, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs) heading into the clash with Adamek, who is dedicating the fight to those who died in the airplane crash.
"I was invited to have breakfast with President Kaczynski [to happen in May,] who died in the accident, and it was supposed to happen just after the fight with Chris," said Adamek, whose match with Golota, a native of Warsaw, Poland, who lives in Chicago, took place in Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland, before a large crowd there.
"I know that the president was as big fan of boxing. A bigger fan than he was of soccer. So this is the one person that I will never ever get to see. I have a very deep faith, and I am strong because of this faith," said Adamek. "I understood what happened, and I am grieving, but I can seperate my personal feelings and draw from my religious experiences and strength to not be distracted before this fight. I am very motivated."
Adamek has not lost a fight since February of 2007, when he was dethroned as WBC, light heavyweight champion via unanimous decision against Chad Dawson.
"The light heavyweight championship was a nightmare, no pun intended. Being that I had to lose 15-and-20 pounds every time, I was basically exhausted all of the time," said Adamek.
"So I couldn't wait to get out of the light heavyweight division and start doing something as a cruiser weight," said Adamek. "And I decided to fight the best at that weight from the beginning. I fought Steve Cunningham, who was the No. 1 boxer and I beat him in my first really tough cruiser weight fight."
Adamek won the IBF cruiser weight belt by split-decision over Steve Cunningham in December of 2008, and defending it twice before facing Golota.
"The Bible said that David won versus Goliath. So the size in the ring will not matter. It never mattered to me. I draw my inspiration from God. I won two titles in two different divisions. Nobody thought I could win those, and I want a third one," said Adamek.
"So in this case, the size of Chris Arreola, whether he's 6-8, 6-9, 6-5, it really makes no difference," said Adamek. "Because you're winning the fight, and this is what I strongly believe, with what's in your heart, and not the size of your body. This is a natural progression for me to be a heavyweight, and I've believed that from the beginning. I realize how tough Chris Arreola is, but the tougher it is, the better I am."
Arreola, however, believes that his size and experience will be too much for Adamek.
"Honestly, I don't think that Adamek's going to come and try to fight me the way that he's fought in the light heavyweight division and in the cruiser weight division. If he didn't come to fight against Estrada, then there's no way that he's going to come and try to fight me, because Estrada can't pop a grape," said Arreola.
"If he comes to fight me, then he's going to get knocked out. Personally, I'm hoping that he comes to fight, but you know I don't expect him to fight the way that he used to fight," said Arreola.
"Do I hope that it's going to be an exciting fight? Yes, on my part, I'm going to give my all to make it an exciting fight," said Arreola. "As far as quickness, I don't care about his quickness. People don't think that I'm quick, so there are some stuff that I might have to show people in this fight."
Arreola caused a stir by saying that he considered Adamek to be a "medicated heavyweight" until later clarifying that he did not mean that Adamek had used steroids to increase his strength and weight.
"I consider Adamek to be a cruiser weight who doesn't have to cut down. To me, he's a medicated heavyweight. As far as him being a full-blown heavyweight, I don't believe that he is. I believe that he's a blown up cruiser weight. After this, he's going to have to go back to cruiser weight. My job in this fight is to show him that he doesn't belong in the heavyweight division," said Arreola.
"Tomasz Adamek was saying that David versus Goliath type of crap, but I just don't care about that. I'm there to fight," said Arreola. "I'm not there to preach the Bible. I don't care. I'm there to fight, and I'm a fighter, and that's what I do. The main thing about this camp is that everything's moving along and everything is a lot easier than it used to be."
Arreola said that he believes that he will have to chase Adamek before cornering him and finishing him.
"Tomasz Adamek is a proven champion, and my respect goes out to him in that sense. But one thing is that I know that he's going to run away from me, and I know that I'm going to have to try to cut the ring off," said Arreola.
"And once I get him against the ropes, I'm going to have to bang away -- bang his arms, bang his body, and do whatever I have to do," said Arreola. "I just think that losing to Vitali Klitschko, that fight should have been mine. I feel like I have a lot to prove. But Tomasz is no Vitali Klitschko. Vitali was big and rangy and he knew how to run, but eventually, I'm going to catch up to him, and then, it's going to be over."
But Adamek said that he will out box Arreola.
"My strategy in a fight is to move around and not get hit," said Adamek. "But believe me, Chris Arreola will get hit."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
'I'm old school, Haye would be a simple fight,' says Holyfield -- The Independent
Independent.co.uk
It was the most disturbing and remarkable win in a career that has never been short of "did that just happen?" moments. On Saturday night, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield recorded his 43rd win as a professional boxer to claim the WBF heavyweight title. And so the man who famously fought with Mike Tyson twice (his opponent taking a bite out of his ear in the second bout), and Lennox Lewis another two times, became a world champion at 47 years of age.
Holyfield refuses to throw in the towel and take up a position behind a microphone. It was a simple victory, over fellow veteran South Africa's Frans Botha, himself 41, fighting on "the retirement circuit". But there is no safe retreat in the brutal business of boxing for old men – no veterans' "friendlies". Instead, the latest turn in the story of Holyfield, who first won the world heavyweight title in 1990, has confirmed his place at the top of a tragic and often tainted heap of recent American heavyweights.
"I'm back, back in the heavyweight business and ready to fight any of the champions," said Holyfield, whose visits to hospital in victory and defeat have become legend. "I look at the champions and I know ways to beat them. I'm from the old school and they are not. David Haye would be a simple fight for me." It is possible, incredibly, that the two may yet fight.
Holyfield is the only active boxer to have fought the old 15-round distance, which he had to do in his first world title fight back in 1986. For the record he was just 23 and having his 12th fight when he won a split a decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. It was a brutal fight and both boxers ended up in hospital needing time to recover from the savagery.
At present it is possible to argue with some force that there are just three Americans in the top 20 heavyweights and the trio are not much to write home about. There is Tony "Tiger" Thompson, Chris Arreola and "Fast" Eddie Chambers and they have all been knocked out by one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali. Thompson lost every round against Vitali before jumping on the floor in the 11th round in 2008, Chambers never threw a punch at Wladimir and collapsed in the 12th a few months ago, and Arreola survived 10 against Vitali but never won a round last year.
Yet the truth is that Holyfield is more marketable at his age because there is no talent coming through in America. But even now, in the American media following the fight at the weekend, there are growing calls for him to stop. "Holyfield once was a true warrior and champion," said Colin Linneweber of the website Bleacher Report. "Now, 'The Real Deal' is everything that is wrong with boxing and he is making a mockery out of his legacy." The Las Vegas Review-Journal called Saturday's fight "a geriatric wrestling match".
Holyfield has never really been far from the top during the last 20 years and in late 2008 he travelled to Switzerland to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. He came close, dropping a majority decision; less than 12 months later Haye beat Valuev by split decision to win the title. Holyfield, in many ways, showed Haye how to beat the Russian giant. The Briton admitted as much after his safety-first victory.
Holyfield has been involved in a world heavyweight fight in 14 of the last 20 years and some of his 19 title fights are recognised as the best of all generations of heavyweights. His trio with Riddick Bowe in the early 1990s, which included the night in Las Vegas when the "Fan Man" parachuted into the ring and was knocked unconscious by Bowe's henchmen, is the best triple in history. The final Bowe fight was particularly brutal, with both on the floor before Bowe won in round five. A few years later Bowe was made to retire because of brain damage he was meant to have suffered. After the Bowe hat-trick Holyfield was winning and losing world titles in epic scraps with Tyson and Lewis when Bowe had long since retired.
"I knew that I could beat Tyson," Holyfield said again and again. "Lennox was much harder." Holyfield and Tyson had come close to blows during an amateur training camp before the 1984 Olympics when it is claimed that Holyfield got in Tyson's face and forced the bully to back down. In the ring 12 years later Holyfield did the same thing and broke Tyson's heart in the first fight. In the rematch, known forever now as "The Bite of the Century", Holyfield took more than Tyson's heart, he took his dignity and forced him to foul his way to permanent ignominy. Holyfield was back in hospital, $30m (£19.5m) richer and part of his severed ear was stuffed in ice. I saw the pair embrace a few years ago and remember catching Tyson eyeing the gap in Holyfield's ear. Tyson insists that Holyfield was the best man he ever fought. Holyfield, a sometime Christian preacher, refuses to accuse.
The two Lewis fights were simple toe-to-toe encounters and both results divided the fans. The first was a draw in Madison Square Garden and when we sat for the return eight months later in Las Vegas I was reminded of just how big a world heavyweight championship fight could and should be. America was watching, Vegas stopped and the two walked to the centre of the ring. It was 1999 and the old magic was back; it was a fight for the history boys and it was also the last really great heavyweight title fight to take place involving an American in America.
Holyfield is still flying that damaged American flag and there is nobody on the American boxing horizon to take it from his clenched fists.
Too many champions: Heavyweight headache
Wladimir Klitschko The world No 1 is WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine champion.
David Haye The British WBA champion has covincingly won all four of his heavyweight bouts.
Vitali Klitschko The 6ft 7in Ukrainian has held the WBC belt since 2004.
Evander Holyfield At the age of 47 the "Real Deal" became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title in history on Saturday when he won the lightly-regarded WBF belt.
Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world.
Hector Ferreyro Won the IBC title in March, beating Arron Lyons.
It was the most disturbing and remarkable win in a career that has never been short of "did that just happen?" moments. On Saturday night, at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas, Evander Holyfield recorded his 43rd win as a professional boxer to claim the WBF heavyweight title. And so the man who famously fought with Mike Tyson twice (his opponent taking a bite out of his ear in the second bout), and Lennox Lewis another two times, became a world champion at 47 years of age.
Holyfield refuses to throw in the towel and take up a position behind a microphone. It was a simple victory, over fellow veteran South Africa's Frans Botha, himself 41, fighting on "the retirement circuit". But there is no safe retreat in the brutal business of boxing for old men – no veterans' "friendlies". Instead, the latest turn in the story of Holyfield, who first won the world heavyweight title in 1990, has confirmed his place at the top of a tragic and often tainted heap of recent American heavyweights.
"I'm back, back in the heavyweight business and ready to fight any of the champions," said Holyfield, whose visits to hospital in victory and defeat have become legend. "I look at the champions and I know ways to beat them. I'm from the old school and they are not. David Haye would be a simple fight for me." It is possible, incredibly, that the two may yet fight.
Holyfield is the only active boxer to have fought the old 15-round distance, which he had to do in his first world title fight back in 1986. For the record he was just 23 and having his 12th fight when he won a split a decision over Dwight Muhammad Qawi for the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. It was a brutal fight and both boxers ended up in hospital needing time to recover from the savagery.
At present it is possible to argue with some force that there are just three Americans in the top 20 heavyweights and the trio are not much to write home about. There is Tony "Tiger" Thompson, Chris Arreola and "Fast" Eddie Chambers and they have all been knocked out by one of the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali. Thompson lost every round against Vitali before jumping on the floor in the 11th round in 2008, Chambers never threw a punch at Wladimir and collapsed in the 12th a few months ago, and Arreola survived 10 against Vitali but never won a round last year.
Yet the truth is that Holyfield is more marketable at his age because there is no talent coming through in America. But even now, in the American media following the fight at the weekend, there are growing calls for him to stop. "Holyfield once was a true warrior and champion," said Colin Linneweber of the website Bleacher Report. "Now, 'The Real Deal' is everything that is wrong with boxing and he is making a mockery out of his legacy." The Las Vegas Review-Journal called Saturday's fight "a geriatric wrestling match".
Holyfield has never really been far from the top during the last 20 years and in late 2008 he travelled to Switzerland to fight Nikolai Valuev for the WBA heavyweight title. He came close, dropping a majority decision; less than 12 months later Haye beat Valuev by split decision to win the title. Holyfield, in many ways, showed Haye how to beat the Russian giant. The Briton admitted as much after his safety-first victory.
Holyfield has been involved in a world heavyweight fight in 14 of the last 20 years and some of his 19 title fights are recognised as the best of all generations of heavyweights. His trio with Riddick Bowe in the early 1990s, which included the night in Las Vegas when the "Fan Man" parachuted into the ring and was knocked unconscious by Bowe's henchmen, is the best triple in history. The final Bowe fight was particularly brutal, with both on the floor before Bowe won in round five. A few years later Bowe was made to retire because of brain damage he was meant to have suffered. After the Bowe hat-trick Holyfield was winning and losing world titles in epic scraps with Tyson and Lewis when Bowe had long since retired.
"I knew that I could beat Tyson," Holyfield said again and again. "Lennox was much harder." Holyfield and Tyson had come close to blows during an amateur training camp before the 1984 Olympics when it is claimed that Holyfield got in Tyson's face and forced the bully to back down. In the ring 12 years later Holyfield did the same thing and broke Tyson's heart in the first fight. In the rematch, known forever now as "The Bite of the Century", Holyfield took more than Tyson's heart, he took his dignity and forced him to foul his way to permanent ignominy. Holyfield was back in hospital, $30m (£19.5m) richer and part of his severed ear was stuffed in ice. I saw the pair embrace a few years ago and remember catching Tyson eyeing the gap in Holyfield's ear. Tyson insists that Holyfield was the best man he ever fought. Holyfield, a sometime Christian preacher, refuses to accuse.
The two Lewis fights were simple toe-to-toe encounters and both results divided the fans. The first was a draw in Madison Square Garden and when we sat for the return eight months later in Las Vegas I was reminded of just how big a world heavyweight championship fight could and should be. America was watching, Vegas stopped and the two walked to the centre of the ring. It was 1999 and the old magic was back; it was a fight for the history boys and it was also the last really great heavyweight title fight to take place involving an American in America.
Holyfield is still flying that damaged American flag and there is nobody on the American boxing horizon to take it from his clenched fists.
Too many champions: Heavyweight headache
Wladimir Klitschko The world No 1 is WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring magazine champion.
David Haye The British WBA champion has covincingly won all four of his heavyweight bouts.
Vitali Klitschko The 6ft 7in Ukrainian has held the WBC belt since 2004.
Evander Holyfield At the age of 47 the "Real Deal" became the oldest boxer to win a heavyweight title in history on Saturday when he won the lightly-regarded WBF belt.
Sheldon Hinton The Canadian, holder of the minor WBB strap is currently ranked 204th in the world.
Hector Ferreyro Won the IBC title in March, beating Arron Lyons.
Selasa, 13 April 2010
Odlanier Solis-Nikolay Valuev Talks Begin -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
The promoters of Cuban-born, former Olympic gold medalist, Odlanier Solis (pictured at left, throwing punch), and former WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolay Valuev, of Russia, are in talks to set up an eliminator bout that has been ordered by the WBC.
The winner would be the mandatory challenger for WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 knockouts), of the Ukraine.
"This is a great honor for Odlanier and [Arena Promotions]. To become the [WBC's] no. 1 contender with only 16 pro fights means something," said Ahmet Öner, Solis' promoter with Arena Promotions. "Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraordinary qualities since turning pro in 2007."
Long range goals for Solis are either Vitali Klitschko or his brother, Wladimir, who owns the WBO, IBF and IBO crowns.
"I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today," said Ohner, "and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon."
The 29-year-old Solis is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and, his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.
A two-time titlist, the 36-year-old Valuev (50-2, 34 knockouts) is coming off of November's 12-round, unanimous decision loss to England's David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs), who dethroned him as champion.
Ohner and Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, who handle Solis, and Don King and Sauerland Promotions, who deal with Valuev, have until April 30 to make the fight and avoid a purse bid.
"I talked to King. King called me about that fight with Solis and Valuev, and I told him that we're ready to make the deal," said Arum. "And he has a partner, Sauerland Promotions, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get something done this week if Valuev is going to go ahead go into this eliminator."
The eliminator is desired by Solis' manager, Tony Gonzalez.
"A box-offf between Solis and Valuev, that's probably the route we'll wind up taking. That's really Ahmet and Bob's job to do," said Gonzalez. "They've got to pretty much square away whatever deal they can put together, and then, if not, then it goes to purse bids. At that point, we know the routine. So, whoever wins the purse bid is the one who takes the fight."
Valuev-Solis would be a match up of two, massive fighters, with Valuev having been the largest heavyweight champion in the sport's history.
The seven-foot Valuev weighed 316 pounds for his last bout, with the nearly 6-foot-2 Solis tipping the scales at 269.
"I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle. The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring," said Oner. "Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko's reign and on the way there, hopefully, become the first man to knock out the Russian giant."
Whether the fight would take place in America or Germany remains to be seen.
"The Klitschkos have a lot of name both in Europe and over here," said Gonzalez, "But if the American television, HBO, or Showtime hasn't shown too much interest in the Klitschkos, why would they show more interest in a Valuev-Solis fight than the would a Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers?"
Gonzalez was referring to the fact that Klitschko's recent 12th-round stoppage of Chambers was not televised in America, even as it was a big hit in Europe, and, particularly, the sold out, ESPRIT Arena, in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany where the fight took place.
Valuev and Solis have some loyalty in Germany as well, the latter, having fought many of his early bouts there.
"Valuev and Solis have built followings in Germany," said Gonzalez. "So all logic and reasoning lean toward the fight being in Germany, but crazier things have happened in our sport."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
The promoters of Cuban-born, former Olympic gold medalist, Odlanier Solis (pictured at left, throwing punch), and former WBA heavyweight champion, Nikolay Valuev, of Russia, are in talks to set up an eliminator bout that has been ordered by the WBC.
The winner would be the mandatory challenger for WBC champion, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 knockouts), of the Ukraine.
"This is a great honor for Odlanier and [Arena Promotions]. To become the [WBC's] no. 1 contender with only 16 pro fights means something," said Ahmet Öner, Solis' promoter with Arena Promotions. "Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraordinary qualities since turning pro in 2007."
Long range goals for Solis are either Vitali Klitschko or his brother, Wladimir, who owns the WBO, IBF and IBO crowns.
"I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today," said Ohner, "and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon."
The 29-year-old Solis is coming off of last month's third-round knockout over Costa Rica's 35-year-old Carl Davis Drummond (26-3, 20 KOs), earning his 12th knockout, and, his sixth consecutive stoppage to improve to 16-0.
A two-time titlist, the 36-year-old Valuev (50-2, 34 knockouts) is coming off of November's 12-round, unanimous decision loss to England's David Haye (24-1, 22 KOs), who dethroned him as champion.
Ohner and Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, who handle Solis, and Don King and Sauerland Promotions, who deal with Valuev, have until April 30 to make the fight and avoid a purse bid.
"I talked to King. King called me about that fight with Solis and Valuev, and I told him that we're ready to make the deal," said Arum. "And he has a partner, Sauerland Promotions, and, hopefully, we'll be able to get something done this week if Valuev is going to go ahead go into this eliminator."
The eliminator is desired by Solis' manager, Tony Gonzalez.
"A box-offf between Solis and Valuev, that's probably the route we'll wind up taking. That's really Ahmet and Bob's job to do," said Gonzalez. "They've got to pretty much square away whatever deal they can put together, and then, if not, then it goes to purse bids. At that point, we know the routine. So, whoever wins the purse bid is the one who takes the fight."
Valuev-Solis would be a match up of two, massive fighters, with Valuev having been the largest heavyweight champion in the sport's history.
The seven-foot Valuev weighed 316 pounds for his last bout, with the nearly 6-foot-2 Solis tipping the scales at 269.
"I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle. The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring," said Oner. "Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko's reign and on the way there, hopefully, become the first man to knock out the Russian giant."
Whether the fight would take place in America or Germany remains to be seen.
"The Klitschkos have a lot of name both in Europe and over here," said Gonzalez, "But if the American television, HBO, or Showtime hasn't shown too much interest in the Klitschkos, why would they show more interest in a Valuev-Solis fight than the would a Wladimir Klitschko-Eddie Chambers?"
Gonzalez was referring to the fact that Klitschko's recent 12th-round stoppage of Chambers was not televised in America, even as it was a big hit in Europe, and, particularly, the sold out, ESPRIT Arena, in Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany where the fight took place.
Valuev and Solis have some loyalty in Germany as well, the latter, having fought many of his early bouts there.
"Valuev and Solis have built followings in Germany," said Gonzalez. "So all logic and reasoning lean toward the fight being in Germany, but crazier things have happened in our sport."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Senin, 12 April 2010
YOU'RE A BOTTLER -- Mirror
By Nick Parkinson, Mirror.co.uk
BOXING CHALLENGE
Wladimir Klitschko has accused David Haye of running scared and told him to get it on in the ring.
Haye, 29, had to pull out of fighting Wladimir last June at short notice due to a back injury and then opted to fight Russian Nikolai Valuev in November instead of Wladimir's brother and WBC champion, Vitali.
Both Klitschkos are furious at Haye for his trash talk and wearing a T-shirt to a press conference showing him holding their decapitated heads.
Now Wladimir has invited Haye's camp to open talks about the clash to take place either in Germany or England and which would be the biggest world heavyweight title fight since Londonborn Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali on cuts in 2003.
He said: "I want to send this message to boxing fans and directly to David Haye.
"David, you've bitched out on fighting both Klitschko brothers twice already and now's the time to make it happen. On behalf of boxing fans around the world, I'm officially calling you out to fight me. You can't run away from me forever if you want to be respected. I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Wbo-IBF heavyweight champion Klitschko, 34, is due to make the next defence of his world titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin in September, but a deal has not yet been finalised. So Klitschko has switched his sights to WBA king Haye who is considering his next move after impressively stopping American John Ruiz earlier this month.
Haye is the most marketable fighter in the heavyweight division alongside the charismatic brothers, who have been treading water against poor opposition.
While Vitali faces London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski next month, Wladimir knocked out Eddie Chambers in March in the 12th round of a sterile contest.
Former European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore has announced his retirement. The 31-year-old Salford favourite, who was on the verge of a WBC title shot last year, has called it quits on medical advice following two damaging defeats.
He lost his European crown to Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes last year before moving up to middleweight, only to lose his comeback bout against Sergey Khomitski on the David Haye undercard earlier this month.
He said: "It's time to move on in life and pack away my gloves and gumshield for good."
Source: mirror.co.uk
BOXING CHALLENGE
Wladimir Klitschko has accused David Haye of running scared and told him to get it on in the ring.
Haye, 29, had to pull out of fighting Wladimir last June at short notice due to a back injury and then opted to fight Russian Nikolai Valuev in November instead of Wladimir's brother and WBC champion, Vitali.
Both Klitschkos are furious at Haye for his trash talk and wearing a T-shirt to a press conference showing him holding their decapitated heads.
Now Wladimir has invited Haye's camp to open talks about the clash to take place either in Germany or England and which would be the biggest world heavyweight title fight since Londonborn Lennox Lewis stopped Vitali on cuts in 2003.
He said: "I want to send this message to boxing fans and directly to David Haye.
"David, you've bitched out on fighting both Klitschko brothers twice already and now's the time to make it happen. On behalf of boxing fans around the world, I'm officially calling you out to fight me. You can't run away from me forever if you want to be respected. I'm ready. What're you waiting for?"
Wbo-IBF heavyweight champion Klitschko, 34, is due to make the next defence of his world titles against Russian Alexander Povetkin in September, but a deal has not yet been finalised. So Klitschko has switched his sights to WBA king Haye who is considering his next move after impressively stopping American John Ruiz earlier this month.
Haye is the most marketable fighter in the heavyweight division alongside the charismatic brothers, who have been treading water against poor opposition.
While Vitali faces London-based Pole Albert Sosnowski next month, Wladimir knocked out Eddie Chambers in March in the 12th round of a sterile contest.
Former European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore has announced his retirement. The 31-year-old Salford favourite, who was on the verge of a WBC title shot last year, has called it quits on medical advice following two damaging defeats.
He lost his European crown to Sheffield's Ryan Rhodes last year before moving up to middleweight, only to lose his comeback bout against Sergey Khomitski on the David Haye undercard earlier this month.
He said: "It's time to move on in life and pack away my gloves and gumshield for good."
Source: mirror.co.uk
Wladimir Klitschko On David Haye: 'I Can't Stand This Guy' -- FanHouse
By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Ukrainian-born WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko , is perturbed. And the source of his ire is England's WBA titlist, David Haye.
Wladimir Klitschko, whose 38-year-old brother, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), is the WBC's champion, wants very badly to fight Haye, which would give the siblings sole supremacy of all of the heavyweight belts.
Haye angered the Klitschkos last June, when he showed up at a press conference in Germany wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon of himself standing in a ring while holding, aloft, their decapitated heads with their lifeless bodies at his feet.
Wladimir Klitschko, who called Haye's behavior, "Impudent," and, "Unspeakable," at the time, released this video on Monday calling out Haye.
A winner of 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockout, Wladimir Klitschko had much more to say about Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) in this Q&A.
FanHouse: Why did you choose to make this video calling out David Haye?
Wladimir Klitschko: Because this is the only fight that I want. You can read an article, but I wanted to make it personally, so that the boxing fans could actually see that I want to make this fight. We can make this fight. We've been chasing David Haye around and calling him out. But he has been bitching out on a fight against us.
But now, he can make the fight. I can make the fight. There are rules within the IBF that allows me, as the champion, if I'm going to fight a championship unification, to move the mandatory aside. I have time, and I want to show the world and the boxing fans. It's enough. Now, David Haye can make the fight as well. He knows about it, and we need to make the fight.
I will not be risking losing any title. I just made my mandatory defense of the WBO title against Eddie Chambers. The next mandatory defense is supposed to be against Alexander Povetkin, and I will do it if David Haye decides not to fight me. But I know that the IBF or any other organization will move to take the fight with David Haye if there is going to be a unification fight.
David Haye is the only title that the Klitschko brothers do not have. We have the IBF, we have the IBO, we have the WBO, we have the WBC, and The Ring Magazine championship. But we don't have the WBA. That's the only title we don't have. That's why want the unification.
I doubt that since I've been champion for such a long time that any of the organizations would stop me from making a championship unification against a David Haye.
FH: Has any other fighter every angered you as much as David Haye has?
Klitschko: Never, never, ever. I can't stand this guy. The way that he presents himself in the public, and the way that he presented my brother and myself with our heads cut off. The way that he represents the sport, I don't really like it for the public.
When he's presenting himself with our heads cut off, I can't take it, I can't stand it and I want to fight this guy. It's personal. I think that David Haye deserves to get his punishment from a real champion, and that's why I'm really pushing for it right now.
FH: Has K-2 Promotions made any attempts to contact Sauerland Promotions on behalf of David Haye to make this go forward?
Klitschko: We are in negotiations, and it's pretty complicated, because Golden Boy Promotions is involved in a certain way with David Haye, and Sauerland is involved. David has an option to fight a rematch with Nikolay Valuev, but now, probably, he will not. So, he can make it, and we are in negotiations.
But I wanted the public to know that I did not pull out of the fight last year in June. I did everything to make this fight happen, and it was David Haye who pulled out. Then, Vitali was supposed to fight him, and he bailed out again. And then, he talks so much bad things '-- that he wanted to do this and he wanted to do that.
But action speaks louder than words, and he never came forward. So it's been all talk. That's why I'm looking forward to getting him into the ring, why I want to show the public that I'm ready for him. I don't know what he's ready for. I always say that my best fight is in front of me and never in the past.
I'm always looking for my most difficult fight and expecting it in every fight, but of course, this fight with David Haye would be really exciting, because I'll get challenged. My performance is as good as the challenge. But an angry Wladimir Klitschko could be the best one.
FH: In which country would a Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye fight take place?
Klitschko: The Haye fight would be such an exciting, extraordinary fight because he's such an extraordinary talker. So he talks and promotes himself very good. So I think that this fight would be very interesting for American boxing fans and the fans around the world.
Where is the fight going to be staged? That depends on the broadcaster -- HBO or Showtime -- what they want to do. Either it's going to be a pay per view fight, or there's going to be another case to make the fight happen. We just have to have interest from American television. That's No. 1.
And then, you'd have to see which arena could make it happen. It could be in any country. Right now, it's important to make the deal with David Haye. It's not just about the money, it's about the last belt that the Klitschkos don't have, and we have a personal issue with David Haye, and that's why I want this fight so badly. I'm really pushing it and looking forward to it.
FH: How do you explain how you have gone from being knocked out by Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, to winning 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockouts, with eight wins over Americans over six years?
Klitschko: I definitely feel that I thought that, like, three years ago, that that was my peak. But I keep peaking, and peaking, and peaking and I just love the sport. And I understand that I'm a professional, and I believe that I understand more about what it is to be a true athlete and a professional boxer.
I prepare for my fights so well, that my opponents actually have no chance to compete with me. I'm actually as good as my challenger is in the ring. If my challenger is not that good, then I get critiqued or criticized for kind of being boring. But let's face it, out of the 53 wins that I have, 48 of them, I've ended up with a TKO or a KO. So 48 fighters didn't make it.
I definitely can punch in the earlier rounds or the late rounds with both hands -- the right hand or the left hand. I just feel so confident so comfortable about me being in the ring, like I never ever have.
FH: How do you feel about your last performance against Eddie Chambers?
Klitschko: Eddie Chambers was just such an experienced fighter. He had around 35 fights, and he has beaten Samuel Peter and Calvin Brock, and this guy and that guy. He had beaten an unbeaten fighter, a Ukrainian, Alexander Dimitrenko, who is even taller than I am. And he did it in such an impressive way.
I think that Eddie was really, really good, and that he was very, very fast. But after the fourth or fifth round, his strategy completely collapsed, and he just lost confidence. And then, instead of trying to win the fight, he was doing the same thing that Sultan Ibragimov did against me in Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was just trying not to get punched and not get knocked out in a very defensive way. And when you have one fighter being offensive, and the other, defensive, it's very difficult to make a competitive fight, and an exciting fight. Also, one week before my fight, we saw the Manny Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey.
It was the same situation. Pacquiao was so dominant, but his opponent didn't give him a chance. Pacquiao couldn't finish the fight earlier. When one of the fighters is really defensive and doesn't want to fight, then you can chase him forever. So I was chasing Eddie Chambers for the last round, and [trainer] Emmanuel [Steward] was pushing me, like, 'Come on, do it.!'
And I was trying. I got even upset myself, and I was like, 'Manny, relax, I'm trying.' But, Eddie was awkward and was really fast and crazy awkward with his upper body the way he ducks from the punches and stuff like that. It wasn't that easily, but, eventually, one punch, and that was it.
But I felt really confident in that fight. I knew that he couldn't really reach me, and that he couldn't really touch me. I knew that I as winning every round. I was putting myself under pressure.
FH: What's your assessment of the American heavyweight?
Klitschko: In the U.S., people talk like the heavyweight division is dead. In Europe, we're saying the heavyweight division is alive. In two days, we have sell outs of over 60,000 people attending fights in soccer stadiums. We have ratings of 14 million people in Germany watching the fight. It doesn't matter which one of the Klitschko brothers are fighting, people are getting excited.
And we're very excited and thankful for that. In the U.S., we need the broadcasters, HBO, to broadcast the fight. Last fight, with Chambers, I was very upset that HBO didn't broadcast, because you have to give credit to the best American challenger, Eddie Chambers. He's American, and he flew overseas and he was fighting the heavyweight championship of the world.
To not show it, you're kind of disrespectful to the sport, and, ultimately, disrespectful to Eddie Chambers. Emmanuel keeps telling me, 'Wladimir, you just have to keep winning the fights, keep winning the fights, and those big fights are coming up.'
He says, 'It was the same situation with Mike Tyson, it was the same situation, with Lennox Lewis, it was the same situation with Evander Holyfield, same thing with Joe Louis.' You have to just stay focused and stay active, and the big fights in the U.S. with American contenders will come up, and it will be exciting again.
I trust Manny, and I think that he's right. I just have to keep winning, and that's what I'm doing.
FH: Finally, would you fight your brother under any circumstances?
Klitschko: There's always an exception to every rule. If the world was going to go down, and our fight could save the world, probably, we're going to make the fight.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Ukrainian-born WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko , is perturbed. And the source of his ire is England's WBA titlist, David Haye.
Wladimir Klitschko, whose 38-year-old brother, Vitali Klitschko (39-2, 37 KOs), is the WBC's champion, wants very badly to fight Haye, which would give the siblings sole supremacy of all of the heavyweight belts.
Haye angered the Klitschkos last June, when he showed up at a press conference in Germany wearing a T-shirt depicting a cartoon of himself standing in a ring while holding, aloft, their decapitated heads with their lifeless bodies at his feet.
Wladimir Klitschko, who called Haye's behavior, "Impudent," and, "Unspeakable," at the time, released this video on Monday calling out Haye.
A winner of 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockout, Wladimir Klitschko had much more to say about Haye (24-1, 22 KOs) in this Q&A.
FanHouse: Why did you choose to make this video calling out David Haye?
Wladimir Klitschko: Because this is the only fight that I want. You can read an article, but I wanted to make it personally, so that the boxing fans could actually see that I want to make this fight. We can make this fight. We've been chasing David Haye around and calling him out. But he has been bitching out on a fight against us.
But now, he can make the fight. I can make the fight. There are rules within the IBF that allows me, as the champion, if I'm going to fight a championship unification, to move the mandatory aside. I have time, and I want to show the world and the boxing fans. It's enough. Now, David Haye can make the fight as well. He knows about it, and we need to make the fight.
I will not be risking losing any title. I just made my mandatory defense of the WBO title against Eddie Chambers. The next mandatory defense is supposed to be against Alexander Povetkin, and I will do it if David Haye decides not to fight me. But I know that the IBF or any other organization will move to take the fight with David Haye if there is going to be a unification fight.
David Haye is the only title that the Klitschko brothers do not have. We have the IBF, we have the IBO, we have the WBO, we have the WBC, and The Ring Magazine championship. But we don't have the WBA. That's the only title we don't have. That's why want the unification.
I doubt that since I've been champion for such a long time that any of the organizations would stop me from making a championship unification against a David Haye.
FH: Has any other fighter every angered you as much as David Haye has?
Klitschko: Never, never, ever. I can't stand this guy. The way that he presents himself in the public, and the way that he presented my brother and myself with our heads cut off. The way that he represents the sport, I don't really like it for the public.
When he's presenting himself with our heads cut off, I can't take it, I can't stand it and I want to fight this guy. It's personal. I think that David Haye deserves to get his punishment from a real champion, and that's why I'm really pushing for it right now.
FH: Has K-2 Promotions made any attempts to contact Sauerland Promotions on behalf of David Haye to make this go forward?
Klitschko: We are in negotiations, and it's pretty complicated, because Golden Boy Promotions is involved in a certain way with David Haye, and Sauerland is involved. David has an option to fight a rematch with Nikolay Valuev, but now, probably, he will not. So, he can make it, and we are in negotiations.
But I wanted the public to know that I did not pull out of the fight last year in June. I did everything to make this fight happen, and it was David Haye who pulled out. Then, Vitali was supposed to fight him, and he bailed out again. And then, he talks so much bad things '-- that he wanted to do this and he wanted to do that.
But action speaks louder than words, and he never came forward. So it's been all talk. That's why I'm looking forward to getting him into the ring, why I want to show the public that I'm ready for him. I don't know what he's ready for. I always say that my best fight is in front of me and never in the past.
I'm always looking for my most difficult fight and expecting it in every fight, but of course, this fight with David Haye would be really exciting, because I'll get challenged. My performance is as good as the challenge. But an angry Wladimir Klitschko could be the best one.
FH: In which country would a Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye fight take place?
Klitschko: The Haye fight would be such an exciting, extraordinary fight because he's such an extraordinary talker. So he talks and promotes himself very good. So I think that this fight would be very interesting for American boxing fans and the fans around the world.
Where is the fight going to be staged? That depends on the broadcaster -- HBO or Showtime -- what they want to do. Either it's going to be a pay per view fight, or there's going to be another case to make the fight happen. We just have to have interest from American television. That's No. 1.
And then, you'd have to see which arena could make it happen. It could be in any country. Right now, it's important to make the deal with David Haye. It's not just about the money, it's about the last belt that the Klitschkos don't have, and we have a personal issue with David Haye, and that's why I want this fight so badly. I'm really pushing it and looking forward to it.
FH: How do you explain how you have gone from being knocked out by Ross Puritty, Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster, to winning 12 straight fights, nine of them by knockouts, with eight wins over Americans over six years?
Klitschko: I definitely feel that I thought that, like, three years ago, that that was my peak. But I keep peaking, and peaking, and peaking and I just love the sport. And I understand that I'm a professional, and I believe that I understand more about what it is to be a true athlete and a professional boxer.
I prepare for my fights so well, that my opponents actually have no chance to compete with me. I'm actually as good as my challenger is in the ring. If my challenger is not that good, then I get critiqued or criticized for kind of being boring. But let's face it, out of the 53 wins that I have, 48 of them, I've ended up with a TKO or a KO. So 48 fighters didn't make it.
I definitely can punch in the earlier rounds or the late rounds with both hands -- the right hand or the left hand. I just feel so confident so comfortable about me being in the ring, like I never ever have.
FH: How do you feel about your last performance against Eddie Chambers?
Klitschko: Eddie Chambers was just such an experienced fighter. He had around 35 fights, and he has beaten Samuel Peter and Calvin Brock, and this guy and that guy. He had beaten an unbeaten fighter, a Ukrainian, Alexander Dimitrenko, who is even taller than I am. And he did it in such an impressive way.
I think that Eddie was really, really good, and that he was very, very fast. But after the fourth or fifth round, his strategy completely collapsed, and he just lost confidence. And then, instead of trying to win the fight, he was doing the same thing that Sultan Ibragimov did against me in Madison Square Garden in New York.
He was just trying not to get punched and not get knocked out in a very defensive way. And when you have one fighter being offensive, and the other, defensive, it's very difficult to make a competitive fight, and an exciting fight. Also, one week before my fight, we saw the Manny Pacquiao fight against Joshua Clottey.
It was the same situation. Pacquiao was so dominant, but his opponent didn't give him a chance. Pacquiao couldn't finish the fight earlier. When one of the fighters is really defensive and doesn't want to fight, then you can chase him forever. So I was chasing Eddie Chambers for the last round, and [trainer] Emmanuel [Steward] was pushing me, like, 'Come on, do it.!'
And I was trying. I got even upset myself, and I was like, 'Manny, relax, I'm trying.' But, Eddie was awkward and was really fast and crazy awkward with his upper body the way he ducks from the punches and stuff like that. It wasn't that easily, but, eventually, one punch, and that was it.
But I felt really confident in that fight. I knew that he couldn't really reach me, and that he couldn't really touch me. I knew that I as winning every round. I was putting myself under pressure.
FH: What's your assessment of the American heavyweight?
Klitschko: In the U.S., people talk like the heavyweight division is dead. In Europe, we're saying the heavyweight division is alive. In two days, we have sell outs of over 60,000 people attending fights in soccer stadiums. We have ratings of 14 million people in Germany watching the fight. It doesn't matter which one of the Klitschko brothers are fighting, people are getting excited.
And we're very excited and thankful for that. In the U.S., we need the broadcasters, HBO, to broadcast the fight. Last fight, with Chambers, I was very upset that HBO didn't broadcast, because you have to give credit to the best American challenger, Eddie Chambers. He's American, and he flew overseas and he was fighting the heavyweight championship of the world.
To not show it, you're kind of disrespectful to the sport, and, ultimately, disrespectful to Eddie Chambers. Emmanuel keeps telling me, 'Wladimir, you just have to keep winning the fights, keep winning the fights, and those big fights are coming up.'
He says, 'It was the same situation with Mike Tyson, it was the same situation, with Lennox Lewis, it was the same situation with Evander Holyfield, same thing with Joe Louis.' You have to just stay focused and stay active, and the big fights in the U.S. with American contenders will come up, and it will be exciting again.
I trust Manny, and I think that he's right. I just have to keep winning, and that's what I'm doing.
FH: Finally, would you fight your brother under any circumstances?
Klitschko: There's always an exception to every rule. If the world was going to go down, and our fight could save the world, probably, we're going to make the fight.
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Minggu, 11 April 2010
Harrison to step up Klitschko chase after vacating title -- ESPN
ESPN.co.uk
But, having just secured the first title of his nine-year professional career, it looks as though the 38-year-old has been persuaded to give the belt up. Harrison's promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with representatives of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko on Saturday and is adamant a bout is on the cards for later in the year.
"The Klitschkos told me that they are definitely interested in Audley. They recognise he is now a serious contender and know a fight with him could make them serious money, especially as we have a near guarantee from Sky that the fight will be shown on pay-per view. Our hope is for it to take place in December," Hearn told the Guardian.
There are a few potential obstacles blocking the way for Harrison. Alexander Dimitrenko is the mandatory challenger for the European belt, but former champion Albert Sosnowski's recent behaviour has given Hearn confidence that a fight with the Klitschkos can be arranged.
The Pole was scheduled to fight Harrison on Friday but, after pulling out, vacated the European title so he could fight Vitali for the WBC title on May 29.
"If Albert can get a shot at the Klitschkos on the back of winning the European title then there is no reason why Audley can't," added Hearn.
One man who may feel differently is Britain's WBA champion David Haye. The 'Hayemaker' is currently taking a break after recently dismantling John Ruiz in the first defence of his title at the Manchester MEN Arena. The Brit has voiced his ambition to get in the ring with the Klitschkos, although a rematch with Nikolai Valuev is not out of the question.
Source: espn.co.uk
Audley Harrison is set to vacate his European heavyweight title in order to chase a dream fight with one of the Klitschko
brothers, his promoter has confirmed.
brothers, his promoter has confirmed. Harrison left it late before producing a stunning left hook to knock out Michael Sprott in the 12th round at Alexandra Palace on Friday night.
But, having just secured the first title of his nine-year professional career, it looks as though the 38-year-old has been persuaded to give the belt up. Harrison's promoter Eddie Hearn spoke with representatives of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko on Saturday and is adamant a bout is on the cards for later in the year. "The Klitschkos told me that they are definitely interested in Audley. They recognise he is now a serious contender and know a fight with him could make them serious money, especially as we have a near guarantee from Sky that the fight will be shown on pay-per view. Our hope is for it to take place in December," Hearn told the Guardian.
There are a few potential obstacles blocking the way for Harrison. Alexander Dimitrenko is the mandatory challenger for the European belt, but former champion Albert Sosnowski's recent behaviour has given Hearn confidence that a fight with the Klitschkos can be arranged.
The Pole was scheduled to fight Harrison on Friday but, after pulling out, vacated the European title so he could fight Vitali for the WBC title on May 29.
"If Albert can get a shot at the Klitschkos on the back of winning the European title then there is no reason why Audley can't," added Hearn.
One man who may feel differently is Britain's WBA champion David Haye. The 'Hayemaker' is currently taking a break after recently dismantling John Ruiz in the first defence of his title at the Manchester MEN Arena. The Brit has voiced his ambition to get in the ring with the Klitschkos, although a rematch with Nikolai Valuev is not out of the question.
Source: espn.co.uk
Sabtu, 10 April 2010
WBC Orders Valuev vs Solis; Ray Austin To Sue WBC? -- Eastside Boxing
Eastside Boxing
ARENA’s Cuban heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to the no. 1 spot in the new WBC rankings. Originally „La Sombra“ was scheduled to fight Ray Austin in a final elimination bout but Austin declared to be unavailable due to legal problems. Therefore Solis took Austin’s spot in the rankings. „This is a great honour for Odlanier and ARENA“, stated promoter Ahmet Öner. „To become the no. 1 contender with only 16 pro-fights means something. Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraorinary qualities since turning pro in 2007. I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon..“
But before facing WBC champion Vitali Klitschko Solis will have to suceed in his biggest challenge so far. Instead of Austin the three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist has been ordered to fight the next highest rated contender Nikolay Valuev in a WBC final elimination bout. The 7-foot-giant has lost his WBA championship title against David Haye by mid-decision last November and has an impressive record of 50 wins in 53 pro-fights including 34 stoppages.
„I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle“, says Öner. „The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring. Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko’s reign and on the way there hopefully become the first man to knock out the Russian giant.“
Ray Austin Ready To Take Legal Action
Heavyweight contender Ray Austin, rated number 1 by the WBC, is prepared to take legal action against the WBC if Jose Sulaiman follows through with his plans to cut Austin out of its next elimination bout. John Tripp, one of the bankruptcy attorneys involved with Austin issued the following statement:
Ray Austin is ready, willing and able to fight in the next elimination bout. The WBC decision to announce the title eliminator between Solis and Valuev merely because of Ray Austin filing bankruptcy and rejectiing his personal management and promotional agreement with Don King Productions is clearly a violation of Ray’s rights under Federal Bankruptcy Law and we intend to file a complaint in the United State Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Ohio against WBC for violating the provisions of the bankruptcy code. I have had some dealings in boxing and this type of abuse has been going on for too long. We previously advised the WBC, on multiple occasions, that Ray was available to box Solis or any other fighter designated by the WBC, but they decided to ignore Ray Austin’s right in his #1 position. Over the weekend we will be investigation possible racketeering, conspiracy, and RICO charges against the WBC and other parties. If Jose Sulaiman wants another debacle like Graciano Rocchigiainni, he is well on his way.
The WBC is not going to get away with ignoring its own rules yet again.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
ARENA’s Cuban heavyweight sensation Odlanier Solis advances to the no. 1 spot in the new WBC rankings. Originally „La Sombra“ was scheduled to fight Ray Austin in a final elimination bout but Austin declared to be unavailable due to legal problems. Therefore Solis took Austin’s spot in the rankings. „This is a great honour for Odlanier and ARENA“, stated promoter Ahmet Öner. „To become the no. 1 contender with only 16 pro-fights means something. Odlanier has been an amateur standout and also proved his extraorinary qualities since turning pro in 2007. I am convinced that he is the only serious threat to the Klitschko brothers today and I hope that he will get the chance to prove me right very soon..“
But before facing WBC champion Vitali Klitschko Solis will have to suceed in his biggest challenge so far. Instead of Austin the three-time world amateur champion and 2004 Olympic gold medallist has been ordered to fight the next highest rated contender Nikolay Valuev in a WBC final elimination bout. The 7-foot-giant has lost his WBA championship title against David Haye by mid-decision last November and has an impressive record of 50 wins in 53 pro-fights including 34 stoppages.
„I am sure that this fight will be an epic battle“, says Öner. „The whole world will watch when those two tanks collide in the ring. Solis is bringing the excitement back to the heavyweight division. He will end the Klitschko’s reign and on the way there hopefully become the first man to knock out the Russian giant.“
Ray Austin Ready To Take Legal Action
Heavyweight contender Ray Austin, rated number 1 by the WBC, is prepared to take legal action against the WBC if Jose Sulaiman follows through with his plans to cut Austin out of its next elimination bout. John Tripp, one of the bankruptcy attorneys involved with Austin issued the following statement:
Ray Austin is ready, willing and able to fight in the next elimination bout. The WBC decision to announce the title eliminator between Solis and Valuev merely because of Ray Austin filing bankruptcy and rejectiing his personal management and promotional agreement with Don King Productions is clearly a violation of Ray’s rights under Federal Bankruptcy Law and we intend to file a complaint in the United State Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Ohio against WBC for violating the provisions of the bankruptcy code. I have had some dealings in boxing and this type of abuse has been going on for too long. We previously advised the WBC, on multiple occasions, that Ray was available to box Solis or any other fighter designated by the WBC, but they decided to ignore Ray Austin’s right in his #1 position. Over the weekend we will be investigation possible racketeering, conspiracy, and RICO charges against the WBC and other parties. If Jose Sulaiman wants another debacle like Graciano Rocchigiainni, he is well on his way.
The WBC is not going to get away with ignoring its own rules yet again.
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Jumat, 09 April 2010
AUDLEY HARRISON'S BIG END -- Daily Star
By Nick Parkinson, DailyStar.co.uk
AUDLEY Harrison got revenge over Michael Sprott with a savage last-round knockout to win the European heavyweight title last night.
Harrison avenged a 2007 KO loss to Sprott to claim the vacant title at Alexandra Palace in north London.
By lifting the European belt, Harrison is now in the best position of his under-achieving career, with a world title shot later this year a realistic possibility.
However, the 38-year-old was heading for a clear points loss until he uncorked a stunning left hook in the 12th round.
Harrison suffered a right shoulder injury at the end of the second round and needed a knockout to rescue his career from the threat of retirement.
He said: “My right shoulder went. I knew I was behind, but I stayed in looking for a shot with my left hand and I was able to gain victory. With one hand from the second round, I found that shot. I showed heart, I showed bottle and I deserve to be the European champion.”
Harrison wants to face either WBC champion Vitali Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir – the IBF-WBO king – rather than Britain’s WBA ruler David Haye.
Becoming European champion has catapulted Harrison into the WBC top 10 rankings, so a successful first defence against Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko would earn a straight shot at Vitali.
Sprott, 35, knocked out Harrison in three rounds in 2007 and last month returned with a 58-second stoppage win following the death of his sister in September.
Harrison had auctioned off the Prizefighter Series trophy he won in October for Sprott’s family, but there was no charity on show between them in this long-awaited rematch.
Harrison was the busier boxer in the first session and then unloaded a barrage of left hooks with Sprott on the ropes. But moments later, in the second round, Harrison’s legs were wobbled under the force of a fierce right by a fired-up Sprott.
The California-based Londoner looked in trouble in the third round as Sprott launched himself furiously at him.
Southpaw Harrison began getting through with his jab later in the third, but another big right from Sprott found the target.
Harrison seemed reluctant to throw his right hand after the middle rounds and Sprott took advantage by relentlessly marching forward on the attack.
Harrison launched a series of left hooks in the ninth, but took some big shots in the 10th as Sprott continued to dominate.
After winning the 11th round Sprott only needed to survive the last to be confident of a points win.
But Harrison found the best punch of his career to flatten Sprott with a left hook as the Reading boxer opened his guard at the wrong time.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
AUDLEY Harrison got revenge over Michael Sprott with a savage last-round knockout to win the European heavyweight title last night.
Harrison avenged a 2007 KO loss to Sprott to claim the vacant title at Alexandra Palace in north London.
By lifting the European belt, Harrison is now in the best position of his under-achieving career, with a world title shot later this year a realistic possibility.
However, the 38-year-old was heading for a clear points loss until he uncorked a stunning left hook in the 12th round.
Harrison suffered a right shoulder injury at the end of the second round and needed a knockout to rescue his career from the threat of retirement.
He said: “My right shoulder went. I knew I was behind, but I stayed in looking for a shot with my left hand and I was able to gain victory. With one hand from the second round, I found that shot. I showed heart, I showed bottle and I deserve to be the European champion.”
Harrison wants to face either WBC champion Vitali Klitschko or his younger brother Wladimir – the IBF-WBO king – rather than Britain’s WBA ruler David Haye.
Becoming European champion has catapulted Harrison into the WBC top 10 rankings, so a successful first defence against Ukrainian Alexander Dimitrenko would earn a straight shot at Vitali.
Sprott, 35, knocked out Harrison in three rounds in 2007 and last month returned with a 58-second stoppage win following the death of his sister in September.
Harrison had auctioned off the Prizefighter Series trophy he won in October for Sprott’s family, but there was no charity on show between them in this long-awaited rematch.
Harrison was the busier boxer in the first session and then unloaded a barrage of left hooks with Sprott on the ropes. But moments later, in the second round, Harrison’s legs were wobbled under the force of a fierce right by a fired-up Sprott.
The California-based Londoner looked in trouble in the third round as Sprott launched himself furiously at him.
Southpaw Harrison began getting through with his jab later in the third, but another big right from Sprott found the target.
Harrison seemed reluctant to throw his right hand after the middle rounds and Sprott took advantage by relentlessly marching forward on the attack.
Harrison launched a series of left hooks in the ninth, but took some big shots in the 10th as Sprott continued to dominate.
After winning the 11th round Sprott only needed to survive the last to be confident of a points win.
But Harrison found the best punch of his career to flatten Sprott with a left hook as the Reading boxer opened his guard at the wrong time.
Source: dailystar.co.uk
Audley Harrison the injured enigma clings to career after late KO -- Telegraph
By Gareth A Davies, Telegraph.co.uk
Last week the nation watched as David Haye, drunk with a growing self-belief and bringing a touch of brilliance in his belligerence, continued on the glittering path seeking to be lord of the heavyweight ring in despatching American John Ruiz over nine brutal rounds.
It was a homecoming world title fight – the WBA portion of the belt – and the contest raised the rafters at the MEN Arena. It also raised several questions, and answered them over 26 brutalizing minutes of ring action. Haye is on the way up, and almost ready for two mega-fights with the Klitschko brothers.
So, to Audley Harrison… Challenge the Klitschkos ? Fight David Haye ? Last night in Alexandra Palace, north London, we (almost) saw the last of the big guy from Brent. Remember Audley Harrison, they might have said the guy who won Olympic gold in 2000 but went nowhere for ten years until it was all over…? It was that close at the old home of British Broadcasting up on Ally Pally, as it is known locally.
Harrison was almost two minutes from the walls closing in on him, his career all but over. Coming into the twelfth round Harrison was losing the fight for the vacant European title against Michael Sprott, on points. It was a half-decent fight, in which Sprott made most of the running. Harrison even showed some heart.
Yet, somehow, Harrison rescued this contest with a thunderous left ‘equalizer’ with 100 seconds left in his career, leaving the British and Commonwealth champion supine. Out cold was Sprott. Sprotted.
A-Farce, Audrey, call him what you like – and they have- but Harrison was finished before a huge left hand saved his career, kept it afloat.
I have to confess, it hasn’t really changed anything. Nor will it have changed most observers views of Harrison. He showed some heart, he turned this into the late, late show. But he has flagrantly disappointed for a decade. And now he’s 38.
He hasn’t really got it at the highest level. He’ll huff and he’ll puff and he may yet get a crack at the Klitschkos, or even Haye…never say never in boxing, but he’s not of that level. Physically, he is. As a promoter he is; as a talker, he is…but then the bell has to go.
Personally, I’d like to see Haye-Harrison. It would sell out…
I reported on every one of Harrison’s first ten professional fights (groans) on the BBC, from 2001 onwards (and I even saw his US debut, his eighth fight, in Atlantic City against Shawn Robinson who was a foot smaller and 53lbs lighter than Harrison) and it was clear from the off that the OLympic champion-turned-pro felt that knocking out a random doorman from Krakow should be followed by a long monologue to the media immediately afterwards.
It was a bad habit. There was the nagging feeling from the off that he was a quite brilliant talker, wonderful at representing himself…yet lacked something at the highest level. This is still a secret only Harrison himself is unaware of. Which is why he is mocked so pitilessly.
He showed a bit of spirit in this contest, and ten years on from Olympic glory, he still has the gift of the gab, huge athleticism, technique, he is a southpaw, but is derided by all in boxing, and even those not desperately familiar with it.
I was involved in analysing Harrison’s career with Andy Jacobs and Andy Goldstein on TalkSport this week, and they were mystified that he can claim that he could face the Klitschko brothers or Haye in a ring, for a world title, somewhere soon. It does seem improbable. However, the reality is that such a contest is only two fights away.
At Alexandra Palace, they booed him (of course). Three years ago, Sprott knocked Harrison flat out in the third. Here Harrison took his revenge.
“My right shoulder went in the second round, and I showed determination and heart in there. It showed how much I wanted to keep my career,” explained Harrison. He had fought one-handed for seven rounds. “I proved that I want to remain in boxing. I didn’t quit, and I’m still here….”
* * * * *
There is even worse tomorrow night in the United States, when 47-year-old Evander Holyfield meets Frans Botha, now 41, in a Las Vegas ring. Holyfield, unfortunately, is still fighting because he says he wishes to be world heavyweight champion again, but in reality his 200 million + dollars have all gone and he needs, I understand, around $1 million a year for alimony and to run his estate. I watched him in Zurich last year live, labouring through 12 rounds against Nikolai Valuev, losing the WBA title fight
* * * * *
Back in north London…
The truth is out there. Ten years ago, as they prepared for the Olympics, Haye, aged 19, was a skinny beanpole next to Audley Harrison, then 28.
Haye failed to make the Olympics; Harrison claimed gold in Sydney and won the golden pot, and negotiated a £1million deal with the BBC, for which the corporation were pilloried.
Ten years on, they are both heavyweights, and are not even in the same league. Haye is the fighter, and Harrison…well…let’s just say he could yet be a contender…for now, let’s leave it at that.
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Last week the nation watched as David Haye, drunk with a growing self-belief and bringing a touch of brilliance in his belligerence, continued on the glittering path seeking to be lord of the heavyweight ring in despatching American John Ruiz over nine brutal rounds.
It was a homecoming world title fight – the WBA portion of the belt – and the contest raised the rafters at the MEN Arena. It also raised several questions, and answered them over 26 brutalizing minutes of ring action. Haye is on the way up, and almost ready for two mega-fights with the Klitschko brothers.
So, to Audley Harrison… Challenge the Klitschkos ? Fight David Haye ? Last night in Alexandra Palace, north London, we (almost) saw the last of the big guy from Brent. Remember Audley Harrison, they might have said the guy who won Olympic gold in 2000 but went nowhere for ten years until it was all over…? It was that close at the old home of British Broadcasting up on Ally Pally, as it is known locally.
Harrison was almost two minutes from the walls closing in on him, his career all but over. Coming into the twelfth round Harrison was losing the fight for the vacant European title against Michael Sprott, on points. It was a half-decent fight, in which Sprott made most of the running. Harrison even showed some heart.
Yet, somehow, Harrison rescued this contest with a thunderous left ‘equalizer’ with 100 seconds left in his career, leaving the British and Commonwealth champion supine. Out cold was Sprott. Sprotted.
A-Farce, Audrey, call him what you like – and they have- but Harrison was finished before a huge left hand saved his career, kept it afloat.
I have to confess, it hasn’t really changed anything. Nor will it have changed most observers views of Harrison. He showed some heart, he turned this into the late, late show. But he has flagrantly disappointed for a decade. And now he’s 38.
He hasn’t really got it at the highest level. He’ll huff and he’ll puff and he may yet get a crack at the Klitschkos, or even Haye…never say never in boxing, but he’s not of that level. Physically, he is. As a promoter he is; as a talker, he is…but then the bell has to go.
Personally, I’d like to see Haye-Harrison. It would sell out…
I reported on every one of Harrison’s first ten professional fights (groans) on the BBC, from 2001 onwards (and I even saw his US debut, his eighth fight, in Atlantic City against Shawn Robinson who was a foot smaller and 53lbs lighter than Harrison) and it was clear from the off that the OLympic champion-turned-pro felt that knocking out a random doorman from Krakow should be followed by a long monologue to the media immediately afterwards.
It was a bad habit. There was the nagging feeling from the off that he was a quite brilliant talker, wonderful at representing himself…yet lacked something at the highest level. This is still a secret only Harrison himself is unaware of. Which is why he is mocked so pitilessly.
He showed a bit of spirit in this contest, and ten years on from Olympic glory, he still has the gift of the gab, huge athleticism, technique, he is a southpaw, but is derided by all in boxing, and even those not desperately familiar with it.
I was involved in analysing Harrison’s career with Andy Jacobs and Andy Goldstein on TalkSport this week, and they were mystified that he can claim that he could face the Klitschko brothers or Haye in a ring, for a world title, somewhere soon. It does seem improbable. However, the reality is that such a contest is only two fights away.
At Alexandra Palace, they booed him (of course). Three years ago, Sprott knocked Harrison flat out in the third. Here Harrison took his revenge.
“My right shoulder went in the second round, and I showed determination and heart in there. It showed how much I wanted to keep my career,” explained Harrison. He had fought one-handed for seven rounds. “I proved that I want to remain in boxing. I didn’t quit, and I’m still here….”
* * * * *
There is even worse tomorrow night in the United States, when 47-year-old Evander Holyfield meets Frans Botha, now 41, in a Las Vegas ring. Holyfield, unfortunately, is still fighting because he says he wishes to be world heavyweight champion again, but in reality his 200 million + dollars have all gone and he needs, I understand, around $1 million a year for alimony and to run his estate. I watched him in Zurich last year live, labouring through 12 rounds against Nikolai Valuev, losing the WBA title fight
* * * * *
Back in north London…
The truth is out there. Ten years ago, as they prepared for the Olympics, Haye, aged 19, was a skinny beanpole next to Audley Harrison, then 28.
Haye failed to make the Olympics; Harrison claimed gold in Sydney and won the golden pot, and negotiated a £1million deal with the BBC, for which the corporation were pilloried.
Ten years on, they are both heavyweights, and are not even in the same league. Haye is the fighter, and Harrison…well…let’s just say he could yet be a contender…for now, let’s leave it at that.
Source: blogs.telegraph.co.uk
Harrison finally hits the Sprott: Injured Audley keeps his career alive -- Daily Mail
By Jeff Powell, DailyMail.co.uk
Audley Harrison dragged redemption from the brink of retirement by dredging up the courage which has lain dormant through most of his professional career.
That's right, courage. He showed bravery of such a high and unexpected order that he finally backed his claims to a world title challenge which he has craved since winning gold for Britain at the Sydney Olympics a decade ago.
Harrison, the A-force man whose fighting heart has been questioned so often, fought with one arm as good as tied behind his back before inflicting the last-round knock-out of Michael Sprott which made him champion of Europe.
An emotional Harrison said: 'I ripped a tendon in the shoulder when throwing a jab. It's an old injury. I knew I needed a knock-out going into the last round because I was behind on points. But I always felt I could find the big shot. I would like to ask Michael if I still haven't got any heart.'
For most of the 11 rounds before the knock-out, Harrison had taken a firestorm of punishment while clinging to the hope of landing one blow with the only weapon remaining in his armoury. That left hook arrived with one minute and 55 seconds of his ordeal remaining.
Referee Dave Parris did not finish the count. Instead he summoned urgent attention for Sprott, who revived, only to be taken unwell in the dressing room to which the paramedics hurried again. He spent the night under observation in hospital.
Harrison's finding of himself as a true fighting man came with the clock apparently running down on his career. We watched with surprise as well as a kind of morbid fascination as he fought more heroically with one hand than he has ever done with two.
As Harrison's arm fell more limp, he resorted to switching from his southpaw lead to not only jabbing with his left but trying virtually every punch with that one hand.
Inevitably, Sprott pounded away to build up a winning lead on the scorecards. One of the three judges had Harrison's fellow Londoner six points ahead before the last round.
At times Harrison reeled around the Alexandra Palace ring but, with oblivion beckoning, he found the nerve to take the hard knocks. Sprott's corner made the crucial error of sending their man out to try to finish Harrison in the 12th. Had he boxed those last minutes with caution he would have beaten Harrison for the second time. Instead he was caught by a thunderous left hook.
Harrison's swollen features confirmed the extent of his discomfort but by coming through the hurt he is within one fight of a challenge for Vitali Klitschko's WBC title.
First he must deal with the mandatory contender for the European belt, another giant Ukrainian named Alexander Dimitrenko.
But promoter Barry Hearn said: 'After this - one of the most fantastic things I've seen in the ring - I believe Audley only has to win that to get his wish against Klitschko before the end of the year.'
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Audley Harrison dragged redemption from the brink of retirement by dredging up the courage which has lain dormant through most of his professional career.
That's right, courage. He showed bravery of such a high and unexpected order that he finally backed his claims to a world title challenge which he has craved since winning gold for Britain at the Sydney Olympics a decade ago.
Harrison, the A-force man whose fighting heart has been questioned so often, fought with one arm as good as tied behind his back before inflicting the last-round knock-out of Michael Sprott which made him champion of Europe.
An emotional Harrison said: 'I ripped a tendon in the shoulder when throwing a jab. It's an old injury. I knew I needed a knock-out going into the last round because I was behind on points. But I always felt I could find the big shot. I would like to ask Michael if I still haven't got any heart.'
For most of the 11 rounds before the knock-out, Harrison had taken a firestorm of punishment while clinging to the hope of landing one blow with the only weapon remaining in his armoury. That left hook arrived with one minute and 55 seconds of his ordeal remaining.
Referee Dave Parris did not finish the count. Instead he summoned urgent attention for Sprott, who revived, only to be taken unwell in the dressing room to which the paramedics hurried again. He spent the night under observation in hospital.
Harrison's finding of himself as a true fighting man came with the clock apparently running down on his career. We watched with surprise as well as a kind of morbid fascination as he fought more heroically with one hand than he has ever done with two.
As Harrison's arm fell more limp, he resorted to switching from his southpaw lead to not only jabbing with his left but trying virtually every punch with that one hand.
Inevitably, Sprott pounded away to build up a winning lead on the scorecards. One of the three judges had Harrison's fellow Londoner six points ahead before the last round.
At times Harrison reeled around the Alexandra Palace ring but, with oblivion beckoning, he found the nerve to take the hard knocks. Sprott's corner made the crucial error of sending their man out to try to finish Harrison in the 12th. Had he boxed those last minutes with caution he would have beaten Harrison for the second time. Instead he was caught by a thunderous left hook.
Harrison's swollen features confirmed the extent of his discomfort but by coming through the hurt he is within one fight of a challenge for Vitali Klitschko's WBC title.
First he must deal with the mandatory contender for the European belt, another giant Ukrainian named Alexander Dimitrenko.
But promoter Barry Hearn said: 'After this - one of the most fantastic things I've seen in the ring - I believe Audley only has to win that to get his wish against Klitschko before the end of the year.'
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Audley Harrison is a talented boxer, but he is not a fighter -- The Guardian
By Kevin Mitchell, Guardian.co.uk
Audley Harrison has been to more crossroads than Dick Whittington. In 10 years, he has gone from national hero at the Sydney Olympics to an object of almost universal derision, a failed pro who still promises the world and delivers Neasden.
The journey has become tiresome for the fight public and traumatic for Harrison, whose self-belief rarely matches his ambition once he gets in the ring, a workplace as foreign to him as the Bodleian Library would be to Mike Tyson.
He is more than capable of blowing away inadequate fodder, as he has done 26 times in 30 contests. But, if there is a live opponent coming at him – as when he fought Danny Williams, Dominic Guinn, Michael Sprott and Martin Rogan – Harrison's default position is instant caution, and that is when he has been exposed.
This week, before his rematch tonight with Sprott, he was at his eloquent best, telling Paul Foley of Boxrec.com: "I have turned my life around and I know what reality is. The perception people create is not reality. What you read in the papers, it's 10% truth and 90% perception."
He argued that he has thrived in adversity. He overcame what he calls his ghetto upbringing to get a university degree, win an Olympic gold medal and set up a 10-fight deal with the BBC. He points out he reversed the result against Williams, and went through the trauma of losing his brother in a car crash.
All of this is true. But it cannot disguise his shortcomings in the ring, because that is a place where what happens before always matters less than what happens while you're there.
Harrison is an articulate 38-year-old man, a convincing preacher of his own faith. You want him to be right, because, away from the heat of battle, what he says often makes sense and he is a likeable character. There is much to admire in his determination; he has, after all, been through some tough times, personally, and in trying to survive in the snakepit of the fight game.
But he is in the wrong business. He was not born to fight, a suspicion I have held since I bumped into his father, a small and nervous man, in the corridors of Wembley Arena the night in May 2001 Harrison made his professional debut against a man almost equally as small and nervous, a private detective from Miami called Mike Middleton.
Mr Harrison, a dapper man in suit and fedora, was carrying a large white cloth, which he told me he would throw into the ring the moment his boy got into trouble. I told him there was as much chance of that happening as Middleton working out who Jack the Ripper was. Harrison outweighed Middleton by two-and-a-half stone and stopped him in the first round, the first of many wins that led him to believe he could conquer the world.
Tonight, at the Alexandra Palace, Harrison has yet another chance, probably his last (but how many times have we said that?) when he fights Sprott for the vacant European heavyweight title.
He restored his confidence by winning Prizefighter recently, and that gave him the oxygen to carry on up the mountain. He will probably win tonight. But he is like the man looking to rediscover Shangri-La, who doesn't realise that you can't go back to some warm fantasyland, living forever on the buzz of youth.
What Audley has, paradoxically, is a talent to box without the instincts to fight – and that is a dangerous mix in the professional business. You can just about get away with it in the amateurs, which is where Audley should have stayed. Who knows? If they'd changed the rules and allowed boxers to go on beyond the age of 35, he might be going for a fourth gold medal in London.
The really bad deal
More potentially hazardous dreaming across the water tomorrow night, when Evander Holyfield, 47, fights Frans Botha, 41, in Las Vegas. Holyfield, such a force in his prime, shares Harrison's delusion that he can be world champion again. He can. In his mind.
Like Harrison, he calls on God to get him to the top of the mountain. There have been worse crimes committed in God's name, but this is one He surely won't sign up for. Believe it or not, it's on Primetime. I could not care less who wins.
Heavy times
Another heavyweight collision next month featuring a fighter heading for the exit at least is invested with reality. Danny Williams says that, regardless of the result against Sam Sexton, whom he fights on the undercard of Mitchell-Katsidis at Upton Park on 15 May, he will retire. I can't remember a fighter promising to quit, even if he wins, and doing it. We will see.
Danny has been the other great enigma of the British heavyweight scene, a fighter with real talent who struggled with the sort of inner doubts a lot of boxers have. The one night he really believed in himself, he knocked out what was left of Mike Tyson. He then gave as brave a performance as any sadist could want against Vitali Klitschko near his best.
Danny, who is 36, says he is going into the security business, looking after celebrities. He might even end up being Tyson's bodyguard on Mike's occasional trips to the UK. It's hard not to smile at the odd way life turns out some times.
Making Haye
No word yet on David Haye's next fight. But bet on this: it won't be against Nikolai Valuev. Hayemaker Boxing's German partners, Sauerland Event, hold the option on a rematch but know the bigger fight for the WBA world champion is against Wladimir Klitschko, self-managed and who fights for a rival TV network in Germany.
So, there are a lot of competing interests there. But the will exists in the Sauerland company to make Haye-Klitschko, and what is encouraging for the Londoner is that they are keen to do the fight at Wembley.
In any other business, what Haye's trainer and negotiator, Adam Booth, calls "the logical position" would make the fight a lay-down misere. But this is boxing, so expect weeks and maybe months of playground posturing.
It is one of the inbuilt ironies of the fight game that it is populated by hard men who act like kids. Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer pride themselves on being ace deal-makers, yet blew (for the time being) the biggest fight in the history of boxing, Pacquiao-Mayweather, largely because they let their egos get in the way.
Let's hope that's not the case with Haye and Klitschko. The signs are encouraging.
Source: guardian.co.uk
Audley Harrison has been to more crossroads than Dick Whittington. In 10 years, he has gone from national hero at the Sydney Olympics to an object of almost universal derision, a failed pro who still promises the world and delivers Neasden.
The journey has become tiresome for the fight public and traumatic for Harrison, whose self-belief rarely matches his ambition once he gets in the ring, a workplace as foreign to him as the Bodleian Library would be to Mike Tyson.
He is more than capable of blowing away inadequate fodder, as he has done 26 times in 30 contests. But, if there is a live opponent coming at him – as when he fought Danny Williams, Dominic Guinn, Michael Sprott and Martin Rogan – Harrison's default position is instant caution, and that is when he has been exposed.
This week, before his rematch tonight with Sprott, he was at his eloquent best, telling Paul Foley of Boxrec.com: "I have turned my life around and I know what reality is. The perception people create is not reality. What you read in the papers, it's 10% truth and 90% perception."He argued that he has thrived in adversity. He overcame what he calls his ghetto upbringing to get a university degree, win an Olympic gold medal and set up a 10-fight deal with the BBC. He points out he reversed the result against Williams, and went through the trauma of losing his brother in a car crash.
All of this is true. But it cannot disguise his shortcomings in the ring, because that is a place where what happens before always matters less than what happens while you're there.
Harrison is an articulate 38-year-old man, a convincing preacher of his own faith. You want him to be right, because, away from the heat of battle, what he says often makes sense and he is a likeable character. There is much to admire in his determination; he has, after all, been through some tough times, personally, and in trying to survive in the snakepit of the fight game.
But he is in the wrong business. He was not born to fight, a suspicion I have held since I bumped into his father, a small and nervous man, in the corridors of Wembley Arena the night in May 2001 Harrison made his professional debut against a man almost equally as small and nervous, a private detective from Miami called Mike Middleton.
Mr Harrison, a dapper man in suit and fedora, was carrying a large white cloth, which he told me he would throw into the ring the moment his boy got into trouble. I told him there was as much chance of that happening as Middleton working out who Jack the Ripper was. Harrison outweighed Middleton by two-and-a-half stone and stopped him in the first round, the first of many wins that led him to believe he could conquer the world.
Tonight, at the Alexandra Palace, Harrison has yet another chance, probably his last (but how many times have we said that?) when he fights Sprott for the vacant European heavyweight title.
He restored his confidence by winning Prizefighter recently, and that gave him the oxygen to carry on up the mountain. He will probably win tonight. But he is like the man looking to rediscover Shangri-La, who doesn't realise that you can't go back to some warm fantasyland, living forever on the buzz of youth.
What Audley has, paradoxically, is a talent to box without the instincts to fight – and that is a dangerous mix in the professional business. You can just about get away with it in the amateurs, which is where Audley should have stayed. Who knows? If they'd changed the rules and allowed boxers to go on beyond the age of 35, he might be going for a fourth gold medal in London.
The really bad deal
More potentially hazardous dreaming across the water tomorrow night, when Evander Holyfield, 47, fights Frans Botha, 41, in Las Vegas. Holyfield, such a force in his prime, shares Harrison's delusion that he can be world champion again. He can. In his mind.
Like Harrison, he calls on God to get him to the top of the mountain. There have been worse crimes committed in God's name, but this is one He surely won't sign up for. Believe it or not, it's on Primetime. I could not care less who wins.
Heavy times
Another heavyweight collision next month featuring a fighter heading for the exit at least is invested with reality. Danny Williams says that, regardless of the result against Sam Sexton, whom he fights on the undercard of Mitchell-Katsidis at Upton Park on 15 May, he will retire. I can't remember a fighter promising to quit, even if he wins, and doing it. We will see.
Danny has been the other great enigma of the British heavyweight scene, a fighter with real talent who struggled with the sort of inner doubts a lot of boxers have. The one night he really believed in himself, he knocked out what was left of Mike Tyson. He then gave as brave a performance as any sadist could want against Vitali Klitschko near his best.
Danny, who is 36, says he is going into the security business, looking after celebrities. He might even end up being Tyson's bodyguard on Mike's occasional trips to the UK. It's hard not to smile at the odd way life turns out some times.
Making Haye
No word yet on David Haye's next fight. But bet on this: it won't be against Nikolai Valuev. Hayemaker Boxing's German partners, Sauerland Event, hold the option on a rematch but know the bigger fight for the WBA world champion is against Wladimir Klitschko, self-managed and who fights for a rival TV network in Germany.
So, there are a lot of competing interests there. But the will exists in the Sauerland company to make Haye-Klitschko, and what is encouraging for the Londoner is that they are keen to do the fight at Wembley.
In any other business, what Haye's trainer and negotiator, Adam Booth, calls "the logical position" would make the fight a lay-down misere. But this is boxing, so expect weeks and maybe months of playground posturing.
It is one of the inbuilt ironies of the fight game that it is populated by hard men who act like kids. Bob Arum and Richard Schaefer pride themselves on being ace deal-makers, yet blew (for the time being) the biggest fight in the history of boxing, Pacquiao-Mayweather, largely because they let their egos get in the way.
Let's hope that's not the case with Haye and Klitschko. The signs are encouraging.
Source: guardian.co.uk
Kamis, 08 April 2010
David Haye Tells Audley Harrison - "Beat Michael Sprott And Alexander Dimitrenko, Then Come Knock On My Door" -- Eastside Boxing
By James Slater, Eastside Boxing
WBA heavyweight champion Brit David Haye has admitted he has something of a soft spot for countryman and former Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison. And though "The Hayemaker" admits the 38-year-old known as "A-Force" has a long way to go before he can be looked at as a serious and credible challenger for his WBA belt, the 29-year-old has not ruled out such a fight.
Talking to Sky Sports recently, Haye spoke about Harrison and his frequent attempts at, not so much calling him out per se, but at putting forth the idea of an all-British heavyweight title clash..
"I've achieved everything I said I would [in my career] and Audley said when he won the Olympics (in 2000) that he'd be the British champion in five fights," Haye said. "I don't think he's ever won the British title to this day (he hasn't), and this (tomorrow's rematch with Michael Sprott) is his first major title fight, and it's for a vacant title against a guy who knocked him spark out in three rounds.
"I like Audley. I think he's got a lot of ability and a lot of potential, but for some reason something's not clicking. Hopefully he's got that figured out now, and hopefully he can KO Michael Sprott, he can KO [Alexander] Dimitrenko, and he could be my next contender. Before that he's got to beat two guys."
So who knows? Maybe, if Harrison, 26-4(19) can gain revenge over Sprott in London tomorrow evening, and if he can then get Ukraine's Dimitrenko into the ring with him and beat him also, he could, just maybe, find himself not a million miles away from sharing a ring with Haye.
It's interesting Haye mentions a Harrison-Dimitrenko fight. The big 27-year-old has not been seen since his humbling points loss to "Fast" Eddie Chambers, last July. Still a big name in Europe, however, Dimitrenko will be looking to take the European belt off Harrison if the southpaw can win it tomorrow night. And though many fans would probably make Dimitrenko, 29-1(19) a favourite over "A-Force," a win for the Londoner would make his credentials as far as a shot at Haye that much more impressive.
Still, as Haye - who has bigger fish to fry, so to speak - says, big Audley is a long ways from being in a position to challenge him at the moment. After all, Sprott, who has promised another KO win over Harrison, may well win on Friday night.
But just supposing, in say, six months time, if Harrison has beaten Sprott and Dimitrenko, and if Haye is still in possession of his WBA belt - what would the critics say if Haye accepted the challenge of Harrison? It's fair to say, unless he's beaten at least one of the Klitschkos by then, Haye would come under real fire if he took what the cynics would undoubtedly call an easy fight.
If, however, Haye HAS beaten a Klitschko by October or November or thereabouts, he would be free to pretty much fight whoever he wants by way of a voluntary defence; this fight being a "warm-up" for the inevitable second Klitschko fight. This possible turn of events aside, I don't see Harrison ever facing Haye in the ring. All the same, Audley will likely take heart at how Haye is even talking about him!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
WBA heavyweight champion Brit David Haye has admitted he has something of a soft spot for countryman and former Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison. And though "The Hayemaker" admits the 38-year-old known as "A-Force" has a long way to go before he can be looked at as a serious and credible challenger for his WBA belt, the 29-year-old has not ruled out such a fight.
Talking to Sky Sports recently, Haye spoke about Harrison and his frequent attempts at, not so much calling him out per se, but at putting forth the idea of an all-British heavyweight title clash..
"I've achieved everything I said I would [in my career] and Audley said when he won the Olympics (in 2000) that he'd be the British champion in five fights," Haye said. "I don't think he's ever won the British title to this day (he hasn't), and this (tomorrow's rematch with Michael Sprott) is his first major title fight, and it's for a vacant title against a guy who knocked him spark out in three rounds."I like Audley. I think he's got a lot of ability and a lot of potential, but for some reason something's not clicking. Hopefully he's got that figured out now, and hopefully he can KO Michael Sprott, he can KO [Alexander] Dimitrenko, and he could be my next contender. Before that he's got to beat two guys."So who knows? Maybe, if Harrison, 26-4(19) can gain revenge over Sprott in London tomorrow evening, and if he can then get Ukraine's Dimitrenko into the ring with him and beat him also, he could, just maybe, find himself not a million miles away from sharing a ring with Haye.
It's interesting Haye mentions a Harrison-Dimitrenko fight. The big 27-year-old has not been seen since his humbling points loss to "Fast" Eddie Chambers, last July. Still a big name in Europe, however, Dimitrenko will be looking to take the European belt off Harrison if the southpaw can win it tomorrow night. And though many fans would probably make Dimitrenko, 29-1(19) a favourite over "A-Force," a win for the Londoner would make his credentials as far as a shot at Haye that much more impressive.
Still, as Haye - who has bigger fish to fry, so to speak - says, big Audley is a long ways from being in a position to challenge him at the moment. After all, Sprott, who has promised another KO win over Harrison, may well win on Friday night.
But just supposing, in say, six months time, if Harrison has beaten Sprott and Dimitrenko, and if Haye is still in possession of his WBA belt - what would the critics say if Haye accepted the challenge of Harrison? It's fair to say, unless he's beaten at least one of the Klitschkos by then, Haye would come under real fire if he took what the cynics would undoubtedly call an easy fight.
If, however, Haye HAS beaten a Klitschko by October or November or thereabouts, he would be free to pretty much fight whoever he wants by way of a voluntary defence; this fight being a "warm-up" for the inevitable second Klitschko fight. This possible turn of events aside, I don't see Harrison ever facing Haye in the ring. All the same, Audley will likely take heart at how Haye is even talking about him!
Source: eastsideboxing.com
Haye plans four more fights -- Sky Sports
Sky Sports
The British heavyweight was in the Sky Sports News studios to look back on his stunning defence of his WBA world title against John Ruiz.
However, in between eating chips and chocolate for the first time in three months, the 29-year-old is already looking ahead to possible bouts against either Vitaly or Wladimir Klitschko.
Ideal world
"We're just relaxing at the moment but in the next couple of weeks Adam (Booth, Haye's trainer and manager) and I will sit down and really start breaking down what is the best manoeuvre out there," he told Sky Sports News.
"The best one for me, in an ideal world, would be either of the Klitschko brothers. Whichever one is available.
"I know Wladimir has a very effective jab and a good work-rate. But he's very gun-shy - he doesn't like to commit himself. He's shown in many fights when things get hard he finds a way to lose the fight.
"The same thing applies with Vitaly. When things get tough he pulls out with injuries during a fight. I will find a way to make them boys quit.
"They are a league above John Ruiz, and that's not being disrespectful to him (Ruiz). They don't have styles where they take a lot of shots and they are very calculated.
"I believe they are a step above (what I've faced), but I will raise my game to whoever I'm fighting."
He added: "I want to fight (the Klitschkos) and I know they both want to fight. Nobody is running from anybody, it's just all about getting it down on paper and making it happen."
With his intention to hang up his gloves in two years, a decision he made back when he was just 10, Haye intends to keep himself busy.
While he is hopeful of facing both Klitschkos before quitting, the Londoner insists he does not have to fight the Ukrainian siblings to secure his "legacy".
"I'm going to squeeze four fights in, at least two of them against the Klitschko brothers," Haye announced.
"I said when I was 10 years old that I would retire when I was 30-31. I've achieved my goals that I set out to do as a kid; it's now about that extra legacy.
"To unify the titles against Wladimir or Vitaly would be absolutely huge for my legacy. If it doesn't happen in two years, then it doesn't happen. However I will find someone to secure my legacy with.
"I could keep going on for another seven years. I eat healthy, so I could probably go on longer than that if I wanted to.
"But I've seen good friends and fighters where their speech has deteriorated over the years. I'd hate to fall in that category when I'm 38 or 39, where you lose you faculties.
"I'm healthy at the moment and I want to make sure I achieve all my goals and then get out of it (the sport of boxing) the same way I got into it."
Valuev rematch
If a bout with either Wladimir or Vitaly does not come off in the near future, another possible option for Haye could be a rematch with Nikolay Valuev - the man he beat to be crowned world champion.
"It's a possibility," the former cruiserweight admitted. "If the Vitaly and Wladimir fights don't materialise then there is an option where that could potentially happen."
Asked if he'd like to face Valuev again, he replied: "In an ideal world no, because I've already beaten him.
"But if it has to happen, then it has to happen. I believe if I fought him again I'd knock him out this time around. I know I can hurt him and I'd make sure I got to him earlier (than in their first fight)."
Source: skysports.com
David Haye has reaffirmed his intention to retire from boxing at the age of 31 - even if he hasn't faced either of the Klitschko brothers 
by then.
by then. The British heavyweight was in the Sky Sports News studios to look back on his stunning defence of his WBA world title against John Ruiz.
Having become just the second man to stop the experienced American at the MEN Arena on Saturday, Haye is now enjoying a well-earned break.
However, in between eating chips and chocolate for the first time in three months, the 29-year-old is already looking ahead to possible bouts against either Vitaly or Wladimir Klitschko.
Ideal world
"We're just relaxing at the moment but in the next couple of weeks Adam (Booth, Haye's trainer and manager) and I will sit down and really start breaking down what is the best manoeuvre out there," he told Sky Sports News.
"The best one for me, in an ideal world, would be either of the Klitschko brothers. Whichever one is available.
"I know Wladimir has a very effective jab and a good work-rate. But he's very gun-shy - he doesn't like to commit himself. He's shown in many fights when things get hard he finds a way to lose the fight.
"The same thing applies with Vitaly. When things get tough he pulls out with injuries during a fight. I will find a way to make them boys quit.
"They are a league above John Ruiz, and that's not being disrespectful to him (Ruiz). They don't have styles where they take a lot of shots and they are very calculated.
"I believe they are a step above (what I've faced), but I will raise my game to whoever I'm fighting."
He added: "I want to fight (the Klitschkos) and I know they both want to fight. Nobody is running from anybody, it's just all about getting it down on paper and making it happen."
With his intention to hang up his gloves in two years, a decision he made back when he was just 10, Haye intends to keep himself busy.
While he is hopeful of facing both Klitschkos before quitting, the Londoner insists he does not have to fight the Ukrainian siblings to secure his "legacy".
"I'm going to squeeze four fights in, at least two of them against the Klitschko brothers," Haye announced.
"I said when I was 10 years old that I would retire when I was 30-31. I've achieved my goals that I set out to do as a kid; it's now about that extra legacy.
"To unify the titles against Wladimir or Vitaly would be absolutely huge for my legacy. If it doesn't happen in two years, then it doesn't happen. However I will find someone to secure my legacy with.
"I could keep going on for another seven years. I eat healthy, so I could probably go on longer than that if I wanted to.
"But I've seen good friends and fighters where their speech has deteriorated over the years. I'd hate to fall in that category when I'm 38 or 39, where you lose you faculties.
"I'm healthy at the moment and I want to make sure I achieve all my goals and then get out of it (the sport of boxing) the same way I got into it."
Valuev rematch
If a bout with either Wladimir or Vitaly does not come off in the near future, another possible option for Haye could be a rematch with Nikolay Valuev - the man he beat to be crowned world champion.
"It's a possibility," the former cruiserweight admitted. "If the Vitaly and Wladimir fights don't materialise then there is an option where that could potentially happen."
Asked if he'd like to face Valuev again, he replied: "In an ideal world no, because I've already beaten him.
"But if it has to happen, then it has to happen. I believe if I fought him again I'd knock him out this time around. I know I can hurt him and I'd make sure I got to him earlier (than in their first fight)."
Source: skysports.com
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