David Haye – The Saviour of Boxing

By Boxing News - 08/05/2008 - Comments

haye453546.jpgBy Abbas Dadhiwala: Nothing does more to emphasize the parlous state of heavyweight boxing than the recent fight between Wladimir Klitschko and Tony ‘The Tiger’ Thompson. Yes, I know your wondering who they are, but that is unfortunately the sorry state that is boxing premier division is in.

Anyone around long enough might remember the epic fights between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, namely the ‘Thrilla In Manila,’ widely regarded by myself as the greatest heavyweight fight of all time. ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ is another fight that has been etched into the memory of boxing fans across the world with Muhammad Ali a heavy underdog coming through against big George Foreman. Certainly, it is difficult to think of a time when a similar state of affairs existed in heavyweight boxing. The five years that followed Rocky Marciano’s retirement when the title was held mostly by a blown-up middleweight, Floyd Patterson, was as bad as the state of the heavyweight division now.

Then came Muhammad Ali who changed the face of boxing. First he destroyed the joke champion Floyd Patterson, then went about unifying and bringing credibility back to the heavyweights that is the probably the golden era of boxing with the likes Frazier Foreman, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Oscar Bonavena and others who could fight. But now there is no one who people will look back in 10 years time and say he was a worthy heavyweight champion.

However, Britain boasts one man who can single handedly bring heavyweight boxing back to the masses, and that is David Haye, otherwise known as “The Hayemaker.” Haye has box office appeal, the looks, the punch, poise and panache to make heavyweight boxing glamorous again.

After unifying the Cruiserweight division by knocking Jean Marc Mormeck and Enzo Maccrinelli, Haye has proved that he can slug it out with the best and come out on top. Everyone knows the heavyweights punch harder and are harder to put down, but Haye packs a punch as powerful as any of the heavyweights. Wladimir Klitschko has lost before and been knocked out in the process and can definitely be beaten. As we say in the boxing world, he has a glass chin, and so does the rest of the champions, including Samuel Peter.

The heavyweight title is there for the taking for David Haye and once he wins and unifies the division, I can see him ruling the boxing world for a long time to come.



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