By Michael Lieberman: I got to be honest with you all, I’m less than impressed with David Haye’s choice of opponent for his November 15th fight at the O2 Arena. I see Monte Barrett as a nominal top ranked challenger, who besides his recent 1st round TKO over a badly unproven Tye Fields, has done nothing in the past five years to be considered for a bout with Haye. If losses to Cliff Courser, Nikolay Valuev, Joe Mesi and Hasim Rahman are enough for him to be given the go ahead for a Haye opponent, then there’s something wrong with Haye’s selection process. Barrett is a good fighter, but he’s only 50-50 in his last six fights. That’s got to tell you something about him, doesn’t it?
This wouldn’t be an issue for if Haye hadn’t promised that he would be taking on a big-named top contender in the heavyweight division for his next fight. I don’t know about you, but for me I wouldn’t consider Barrett as the type of guy that Haye had in mind when he made that statement. Certainly, Barrett, a 37 year-old fighter, has fought some of the biggest fighters in the boxing world in Wladimir Klitschko, Rahman, and Valuev, but he’s also lost to all of them. That’s not exactly an inspiring figure to think about if you’re intention is to impress someone with a big-named opponent, is it? For me, it would seem a little more logical if Haye had made a truly bold pick by selecting a fighter like Alexander Dimitrenko, Chris Arreola, James Toney, Rahman, Eddie Chambers or Tony Thompson.
Those are fighters that I consider big-named fighters, the ones that the boxing public would probably be impressed with seeing Haye fight. I’d even throw in the unbeaten contender Kevin Johnson’s name in the hat as a more worthy challenger. Unlike what Haye has been saying in the media about few heavyweight fighters wanting to fight him, I’d be willing to bet that all of the heavyweights that I listed would jump at the chance to fight Haye if he were to ask them. Indeed, Chambers, Johnson and Thompson made statements to the fact that they’d like to fight him, yet in the end Haye picks Barrett rather than one of them. Now why is that? I frankly am disappointed in Haye and see him in a whole new light.
According to Haye, “Barrett is pretty much a perfect opponent.” A perfect opponent? A fighter with three losses out of his last six fights a perfect opponent? Barrett has never been known as a puncher, which is probably the main reason that he was selected by Haye instead of the more dangerous fighters like Chambers, Dimitrenko, Johnson, Rahman and Thompson. Also, Barrett was crushed in two rounds by Cliff Couser only last year. Haye could have seen that fight and figured, ‘hey, not only does this guy not hit hard, but he also has a weak chin, let’s fight him.’ Whatever the reason for his selection of Barrett, I think Haye bypassed some much more qualitied fighters than him. I think Barrett would have been a good opponent years ago, say in 2000 when Klitschko stopped him, but not now that Barrett’s nearing 40.
September 26th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Michael do you not remember writing “David Haye wants JD Chapman? What happened to Hayes top Opponent?” Let me remind you “After all this time,its sickening to see the fighters that Haye chose not to fight. He could have easily chosen good fighters like James Toney,Hasim Rahman, Chris Arreola, MONTE BARRET, Andrew Golota,Kevin Johnson, Alexander Dimitrienko, Eddie chambers, Tony Thompson or Travis Walker, to name just a few.”
What changed Mikey, oh i forgot, it didnt matter who he chose coz you were going to have a pop at him anyway coz hes from Britain. Some consistencey with your moronic divel in the future please.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:38 am
In Lieberman’s last write up he said Barret would be a good match up!!! this website really needs to lose this racist fool to save it’s credibility…I’m serious.
September 27th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Lets stop being silly this is a perfectly good article nothing controversial in it and nothing frankly that isn’t true. Barrett is now well past his prim and when he was in good shape he was at best a good journey man nothing more. Nothing to be ashamed of he could get in there and mix it with the best. Haye is a good cruiser weight. Not a great one, a good one. He beat those he had to and they happened to be good also, not great. Since his well deserved success against Maccarinelli Haye has cleverly used the press to advance his cause. Good for him, but its only Gas, nothing more. Please remember he hasnt actually started in the heavyweights yet and already he’s at the top,talking of cleaning up the division. Well news for him some are a little ahead of him and fully justify their position in the pecking order to the top.Haye may indeedl do well, he has all the tools but for me at this moment in time I believe he would struggle against the likes of Chris Arreola and the little talked of Vladimir Virchis both have true power and iron chins. So thank you for a balanced and informative article. I’m a Brit but have no loyalty except to those that deserve to be at the top. Their nationality means nothing, their courage and skill does.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Doctor, The point is its a complete flip on a an article the writer wrote just a few weeks ago saying barret would be a good opponent when Haye was slated for chosing jd chapman,now it is Barret hes flipped it to say hes a bad opponent. Whoever Haye chose would of been slated by this writer. His contradiction just underlines his obsession with degrading British fighters, read some more of his posts, or at least the one i mention before trying to defend an article that is clearly only wriiten to make derogotory comments about a fighter he doesnt rate purely on what his passport says.
September 27th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Barrett is one of the few decent heavyweights that Haye will be bigger than in both height and weight when they enter the ring so should be a good match up at least physically for Haye.
September 28th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Yeah, Lieberman recently said Barrett would be a good fighter for Haye to take on. For whatever personal reason, Lieberman has an obvious and undisguised bias against today’s British boxers. None of his articles appear credible, balanced or logical. When I pointed out some glaring flaws in a previous article of his, my comment was deleted minutes later.
September 28th, 2008 at 8:57 am
tyrone your not alone mate, the same thing happend to me when I left cmments Lieberman too!!!
September 28th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Same here chaps, i commented on this very article agreeing with Baz. Twenty minutes later my post was deleted. Obviously Michael doesn’t like seeing too many posts that state the truth that he is a hypocritical Brit hater.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:12 am
There’s been so many articles practically declaring Haye as the greatest threat to Klitchko without him building up creadibility as a heavyweight, I’m just happy that he’s fighting a heavyweight. I’m ok with Barret as an opponent. He’s got to start somewhere. If he KO’s Barret, that would impress me.
September 29th, 2008 at 7:54 am
David Haye please knockout Barret and please knockout the next guy and the guy after that and then once you have knocked them all out and have become undisputed champion of the world do us all a favor……… FIND MICHAEL LIEBERMAN AND LAND THE BIGGEST HAYMAKER YOU HAVE EVER THROWN RITE ON HIS CHIN!!!……stupid bias fool
September 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
This just goes to show what kind of big mouth coward David Haye is.He knows that if he was to pick a contender he would get his face smashed in.Haye is a joke and will be lucky to make past Barrett.LMFAO!!I actually hope he wins so that Klitschko can beat him senseless next year.In all reality David Haye shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same sentance as Wlad Klitschko.Klitschko will knock David Haye out in 3 rounds.
September 29th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hey Tyrone.There’s no bias against British boxers.They just flat out can’t box.Bitish boxers have no talent.Ricky Hatton?LMFAO.He’s average at best.And there’s really nobody else out there.So who’s the bias against?There are no British boxers.You British should just stick to Cricket or or well im not even sure what else you do good.
September 29th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Adam, why single out tyrone, what did he say that the rest didnt?. The point of the comments are that Lieberman stated barret was a good opponent when haye was eyeing chapman,then TEN DAYS later he changed it to a bad opponent when he was locked against barret. These comment arent about Klitschko or who would win that bout, its about the blatant bias this particular “Writer” chooses to show against British boxers.
September 30th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Adam you a loon.
Whoes your hometown world beater cos hatton would wip his ass
September 30th, 2008 at 8:51 am
Adam you an idiot!! Just be quiet I am not even going to start listing the world class fighters we have cos you are a fool and no matter what I say you will just say “LMFAO” Which proves what exactly?? Your a tit
September 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
My hometown world beater(whatever that means)is Mayweather.I’m 100% red blooded American.But my favorite boxer is Wlad Klitschko.I’m a tit?WOW.Lemme list the British fighters for you since you can’t.Ricky Hatton.K,im done.David Haye is a pu**y,and he is gonna get worked if he ever makes it to Klitschko.Haye would benefit most by losing to Barrett because then he wouldn’t have to be forced to be murdered by Klitschko.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
And you really dont want Hatton to get in the ring woth Mayweather again do you?
October 1st, 2008 at 4:10 am
No no no Hatton would make a massive mistake getting in the ring with Mayweather cos he would simply lose. I am a big Mayweather fan nothing agaisnt Hatton he is a very good fighted but not as good as the pretty boy!! Are you forgetting about a certain brit that battered the hell out of jeff lacy and beat that idiot Hopkins???
October 1st, 2008 at 4:24 am
Also why are you a Klitschko fan??? USA have have plenty of fantastic boxers over the years so surely you must be aware that he isnt very good! He is slow, Predictable and not even a hard hitter really. I have been to watch the last 10 David haye fights live and I am going to watch him fight Barrett. Have you seen many of his fights?? Being a fan of Klitschko you must be a little worried what Haye has to offer?? I have seen the last 5 or 6 Klitschko fights - hype and joking aside I honestly think Haye will knock him out. Oh and sorry for calling you a tit!! Maybe a little harsh!!!
October 1st, 2008 at 7:22 am
comment to adam britain have got many world class fighters in Hatton Haye Calzaghe at least our fighters fight for a passion not a big pay day
October 1st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Faz did you just say Haye is 1 of your best boxers?Come on man get real.This guy is a scmuck.I actually like Hatton but the fact is he’s not a great fighter.He hasn’t looked good since he knocked out Kostya Zstyu(sorry about the spelling of his last name).And calzaghe is a coward.He flat out said he wouldn’t fight Kelly Pavlik.And that’s because he would get worked.A-Force,my favorite boxer of all time is Wlad Klitschko because he carries himself with class and has respect for boxing and the boxers he faces.He is 45-3 with 42 Ko’s.That is a world class boxer with a world class attitude.David Haye is a big mouth fool with no respect for anybody.Klitschko has beaten every top Heavyweight fighter in the world and for the first time i have seen somebody actually piss Klitschko off.This is gonna be an as* whoopin from the word go if Haye can get passed Barrett and i dont think he will.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:02 pm
And as for your idiotic comment about Klitschko being slow and not having good power.His 42 ko’s speak for themself,and i have never heard 1 boxer ever say anything about him being slow.And i’ve heard dozens of fighters say that they have never been hit with power like he has.So your comments are senseless and have absolutely no merit except for stupidity.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Ha ha ha…Adam you fool!!! If British Boxers can’t box then why have we 4 Ring Magazine Champions? How many do America have then…? the answer is ONE!!! that’s Pavlik…him and Paul Williams are the only up and coming US fughters with any balls at all!!!
By the way anyone who thinks Pavlik would beat Joe don’t understand that how Calzaghe fights. I’m not being biased but Pavlik’s style is made for Calzaghe!!! Pavlik is just a less muscular version of Kessler more or less…Adam, get a reality check you silly little arrogant Yank
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:31 am
well said ben . Adam dude calzaghe is not a coward hes fort da worlds best in lacy hopkins kessler the only reason he doesnt want to fight pavlik is because calzaghe would destriy him
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 am
So its not just me that thinks Adam speaks total rubbish then???
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
no A-force adam dunt no out bwt british boxing
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Faz you Bits are just naturally retarded.If Calzaghe would destroy Pavlik them dont you think hr would want to fight him not run scared like he did.We Americans have the best fighters in the world.We have Pavlik,Floyd Mayweather who beat the tar out of your British icon Hatton.Wlad Klitschko is from the Ukrain which is where my famaily migrated from.Klitschko is also a U.S citizen.But you dipshi*s wanna try and put American boxing down look at the legendary boxers that where American and compare them to the Brits.Joe Frazier,Ali,Larry Holmes,Rock Marciano,Evander Holyfield,Mike Tyson,Floyd Mayweather,Oscar De LaHoya,Roy Jones Jr and i could go on for days.Who do you have that was great?Lennox Lewis?Thats the only great fighter you had and he was gettin his as* whooped by Vitaly Klitschko when they stopped the fight.Brits are losers and cowards.You can see that by the way they run and hide with the french when us Americans stand and fight these cowards in Iraq.I’m sick and tired of you pu**ies running ur mouths like your tough when you aint sh*t.
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Adam are you only this mouthy when your hiding behind a keyboard? Cos if you had said to my face what you have just typed I would have put you on your backside in seconds. Go and do us all a favour and jump in front of a bus or something you pathetic yank. No wonder so many people in this world hate Americans! Luckily I have met a lot in my life and can confirm they are not all complete idiots like you
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Adam how can you say Brits are retarded? This is coming from a country who elected George W. Bush!!! Ha ha.
Don’t you even know the US are most famous around the world for being STUPID!!! America do have a fantastic history in Boxing without doubt…but you don’t anymore!!! Like I said, we have 4 Ring mag champs from your bible of Boxing and you lot only have 1!!! Mayweather has retired but for a fighter what a little pussy!!! won’t fight now cause he’d be exposed by Margarito and Williams. Can only just get by an old Oscar and then pick on a much smaller Hatton…even then he ran like a girl and held him all the way. Did you see clips of him cryiing like a GIRL on dancing with the stars!!! all because he couldn’t get a move right…what a pansy!!!
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:24 pm
By the way the UK were your closest alies in the war and didn’t get on with France over it. Britain are notorious for having the best trained army in the world…America are known for being the biggest baffoons in the world. You obviously prove that point Adam…you really made yourself look like a fool now. Let’s face it, you no nothing about Boxing and even less about the Iraq war…fool.
October 4th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
You brits stood with us in Iraq until it got tough then you ran and hid just like the french.But it’s what everyone expected from you puss*es.Goerge W. Bush was the only man in the world to stand up to Saddaam and the these terorrist cowards.He’s been an excellant President and he’ll go down in history as 1 of the best ever.Just cause you cowards turn and ran doesn’t mean we will.I am currently in the Marines and will be returning for my 3rd tour of duty in November.As far as A-Force putting me on my backside,i’m having a hard time typing because i’m laughing so hard.I would whoop all your a*ses with both hands tied behind my back.Your a fuc*in joke.You are known for having the best trained army in the world.That must be a flat out joke.You are known by who to have the best trained army in the world?I have never heard anybody say that the brits have a well trained army and that includes the brits i’ve served in Iraq with.In fact the Brits(although they weren’t poorly trained)were absolutely in awe over how well we work in combat.I talked to several brits that said they will never forget the teamwork and strength they saw portrayed by our armed forces.So dont bulls*it me with your nonsense.You cowards wanna try and threaten me when for the last 4years i have been shot at with AK’s and have seen my best friends blown to pieces 25 yards from me.And you think you can put me on my backside?Any day you feel your man enough you let me know.It would be my pleasure to snap your fuc*en neck.
October 6th, 2008 at 4:56 am
If Obhama gets elected and pulls the US troops out…will that make the America a ‘bunch of pussies’ then? Yes, according to you.
For someone who has seen freinds get blown up, you sure have a ‘my Daddy can beat your Daddy’ kind of atittude! You sound like a fifteen year old typical American spoiled bratt…let’s face it you wont be snapping anyone’s neck…not that I would care even if you were a marine…you don’t know who I am were I have been or what I have seen, so be careful before making threats…the whole world is ready to eat Americans up outside your country just like everyone else.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:07 am
By the way British troops are known to be the best trained best experienced troops in the world by…wait for it…THE REST OF THE WORLD!!! I have even heard US Generals say in depth about there admiration for them…outside of the US people have no respect for America…even half of your own country laugh at Bush for being a joke! let his own people drown for days before takng action…that’s were the military should of been…I shouldn’t have to tell you this? In this country and others there are about a million comic sketches mocking him like I have never seen, and god knows what else…not the sign of a great president is it?
October 25th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I know now Mr Lieberman that you just don’t rate British Fighters. Why not admit it? You can’t give Joe Calzaghe credit. Now you have to have a shot at David Haye. You don’t criticize the other Americans who refused to fight David Haye. So yes Monte Barrett (fair play to him for having the guts) is probably the best he could have got. Everyone saw Klitschko turn down Haye for the mandatory Povetkin so what could he do in your eyes to prove himself?