Haye doesn’t think he’ll match Lennox Lewis’ legacy, even if he beats both Klitschko brothers – News
March 20th, 2010
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) wisely admits that he doesn’t think he can match the great legacy of former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis (41-2-1, 32 KOs), even if Haye beats Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko in the future. In an article at the Daily mail, Haye says “He [Lewis] had that many more years to and much more experience. He was an Olympic Gold Medalist, so it would be tough.” You think? It’s good that Haye is admitting this because it’s pretty clear that Haye won’t be able to come close to accomplishing what Lewis did in his career at heavyweight. The problem Haye is that he just doesn’t enough time, and still hasn’t fought anyone worth mentioning.
Haye says “Even if I knock out [John] Ruiz, and Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, it would still be hard for me to then say I was better than Lewis.” Let me break this to Haye: he wouldn’t be able to compare yourself to Lewis. Oh, sure Haye could compare himself to Lewis all he wants, but I think most people would think he’s deluded. Beating the Klitschko brothers would be nice, but it still wouldn’t compare to what Lewis accomplished during his 14-years as a pro.
Haye would have to stay around for years, beating all the rest of the heavyweight contenders and then still hang around and beat the next young crop of heavyweights before he can compare to Lewis. The problem is Haye is too short to be anything like Lewis. Haye doesn’t have the height, the reach, the weight or the cannon of a right hand that Lewis had. Lewis had the complete package going for him at heavyweight.
Haye is like a pumped up cruiserweight who still hasn’t fought anyone good, but who talks as if he’s been a champion for years. At this point, I’d be surprised if Haye can get by Ruiz without going life and death with him. Can you imagine a prime Lewis struggling to beat Valuev?
Can you? Even if Lewis hurt his right hand like Haye says he did early in the fight, Lewis, with his powerful left hook, would have chopped Valuev down without any problems. And if Lewis was still able to throw right hands like Haye showed in briefly staggering Valuev in the 12th round with one of them, then he would have destroyed Valuev well before the 12th.
Actually, I see Valuev lasting only one round against a prime Lewis. Valuev would be totally decimated by Lewis in the 1st round. I think Haye would be better off comparing himself to someone a little less talented than Lewis. I don’t know who you can compare Haye with at this point because he hasn’t really accomplished anything as of yet.
Tags: 23 Responses to “Haye doesn’t think he’ll match Lennox Lewis’ legacy, even if he beats both Klitschko brothers – News”
Leave a Reply
please use above banner to link back to us!
any one see the haye thompson fight haye will lose to both klitchko bros belive
Please don’t mention Haye in the same breath s Lennox Lewis. Lewis was a great champion, Haye is an idiot without any guts.
Lewis was the best by far in his time. It isn’t fair to compare fighters from different times. Lewis beat everyone and came back and beat those who had beat him, how can anyone be critical of that. Lewis also held himself up like a true champion. He’s a smart guy and left when he felt his time was up, we all run out of time, it takes a smart person to live up to it. Both Klitchko’s admire him and have huge respect for him, why?….because he deserves nothing but respect.
Pete you should wash your mouth out with soap after saying Holyfield was 2nd to Lennox. Lennox was a protected fighter earlier in his career and came on strong when the division was in decline. He was protected the same way Calzhage and Hatton was but had greater success because of the lack of talent in the division. With is size him and his handlers took advantage of the declining division. For you to say Evander was 2nd to Lennox is a joke. Lennox beat an aged and injured Holyfield. When it’s all said and done Tyson and Holyfield will always be ranked higher than Lennox Lewis.
Lewis was simply the best heavyweight champion for a long time and nobody has come close since. In my opinion he fought and beat more skilled boxers than Tyson. He unified all the belts to be undisputed heavyweight champion 3 times, like Ali, and in the process beat everyone around who was prpared to fight him. Lewis was aging and a bit lazy in the end, but being champ for so long you lose the hunger. Poeple mention the Klitchko fight, but he was beaten under the Marquess of Queensbury rules fair and square. Viatli’s face was a mess and although he was up on the cards he was getting hit with some heavy punches which his face couldn’t take. Maybe Lewis should have given him a rematch, but he was getting old and wasn’t the force he once was, but if he’d of motivated for the fight I think it would’ve been even worse for Vitali and he would’ve been stopped. I love the fact that certain idiots slag off Lewis when he clearly is one of the all time great heavyweights.
vitali might have won had they not stopped the fight (vs lewis) but even then lewis beat everybody they put in front of him and either outboxed or ko’d each one. his ko loss to rahman was quite a blemish on his career but emphatically avenged by a ko proved that he was a true champion. GOAT said “Ain’t nothing wrong with gettin knocked down, it’s not gettin up that’s wrong.”
sorry gentlemen–too much coffee this morning
Haye who????? sounds like the first haymaker he’s even thrown was a soundbite comparing himself to one of the best heavyweights in modern history. maybe it’s a UK thing but we can’t hear you across the pond David Haye, i mean Lennox Lewis–r u for real? ur still sniffin @ da K bro’s jock.
What a funny article, It takes an imagination to mention Haye in the same breath with Lennox Lewis. Just think as soon as John Ruiz is finished with his last task in boxing by taking out the trash (Haye) we won’t have to hear much more from him. Except for some of the British fanatics who will claim “Oh Haye was only lying on his face looking for the ref’s contact. Or “He was trying to donate blood to the red cross”….After him and Froch get put away maybe they can become back up singers for “Sir” Elton John and wear chicken suits……”Sir”…..you guys actually made him a sir?…..Who is the real queen over there anyway?
Haye isn’t going to get past either of the Klitschko brothers. The brothers are monsters at Heavyweight who will dominate Haye in the ring. We shouldn’t be talking about Haye until he fights one of the real champs at Heavyweight, which are the Klitschkos.
haye as yet to fight a decent heavyweight,,,,eddie chambers if far, far, far better than anyone haye has ever fought,,,haye shouldnt be talking legacy until he actually steps in a ring with a real fighter, and that doesnt mean another 38 year old has been such as ruiz
Lewis is one of the most overrated heavyweights in history! His wins over Evander and Mike should have an ** beside them because he finally decided to fight them at the end of their careers. The heavyweight division was in a major decline and he still managed to get knocked out by lesser opponents and to add insult to injury he avoided a rematch with Vitali like a coward. I would probably rank Lennox crytal chin Lewis in the twenties as far as heavyweights. P.s. David Haye will be a joke until he takes on one of the brothers. Right now he is all talk.
This doesn’t make any sense…
Haye said he doesn’t think he can accomplish the same as Lewis i.e. being fairly level headed and honest….and then you do an article about how outrageous it is for him to compare himself to Lewis?
I say ‘article’..in turth, it looks more like a rant from a 12 year old with tourettes. I’m surprised you even give Lewis any credit considering he was British.
There is another HW champion out there beside the Brothers? David Haye? Why hasn’t he fought Vlad or Vitali? Whats he waiting on? He’s been sitting on that belt so long it probably stinks. He needs to stay where he’s at. No matter when and where he fights the BROTHERS, he’s going to get his ass whooped. Ruiz will give him a run for his money and he is far from his prime. Haye is a imposter, I’m glad he’s from over seas….
Scott I think your forgetting Lewis was a natural heavyweight where as Haye is not Haye is easily as skilled as Lewis I just think Haye doesn’t have the heavyweight punching power or size or strength Haye may have a shot at getting a points decision against Wlad with Wlad’s stamina problem but vitali would end Haye
davey high 5 my friend you hit it on the spot!
Haye is a moron
o…please you might be able to wash his undies
5th tiller fighter.
haye seems living in a fantasy boxing!bring it on and fight!let the gloves do the talking!talk the talk and walk the walk!
Hayes right hand is as if not powerful than Lewis and the equal of Dr Steelhammer.
Haye is the only chance at beating the Ks but they are formidable.
dont agree that rahman and mcoll are non punchers..who told u that.any heavyweight gives u a good shot and it is good nite baby unless God is with u.lewis just exposed himself to the punch.. he is still a great champ.
lewis will not beat valuev easily,are u out of your conkers?
no one can.hes a giant simple.
what d u mean lewis is too big 4 haye. he is 6ft.5 and haye is 6.32 inch diff..not big deal at all.
wht is the poin u r tryin to make,haye should lose hes dignity and crawl and say i am nothin? please ….and he has fought softies..can u go even one round of sparring with any of those “softies” let alone a full fight..did not think so. ucannot fight..i was going to say stick to writing but u cannot write either so u better go find your gift and use it in the correct field..good day
You wasnt calling Barrett and Valuev soft opponents before Haye beat them was you scott Hypocrital to the last
lewishas been ko,d more times than haye,,,by none punchers like rkman/ mcoll…FACT