After what seemed like ions for former cruiserweight champion David Haye to make his decision for his next opponent for his November 15th bout, only his second as a heavyweight, he finally made up his mind with today’s announcement that he will be fighting top contender Monte Barrett at the O2 Arena in London. Barrett, 37, has a good resume having fought top fighters such as Tim Witherspoon, Lance Whitaker, Wladimir Klitschko, Hasim Rahman, Nikolay Valuev, Joe Mesi and Dominick Guinn. Most of the time, Barrett has done well against the top tier fighters with the exception of Klitschko, who was simply too big and too powerful for him, stopping Barrett in seven rounds in July 2000.
Ranked #9th in the WBO, Barrett fits Haye’s criteria of a top fighter, which was something that Haye had been saying he wanted to fight. Haye, 27, previously had come to signing a fight with 6’5″ JD Chapman, but that fight fell through when Chapman decided he didn’t want the bout. This left Haye with a lot of tough choices, because many of the top 15 fighters would be dangerous opponents for a fighter like Haye with only one other heavyweight bout on his resume.
For a fighter with a reputation of a weak chin like Haye has, it would have been almost foolhardy if he were to take a risky bout with a good top 15 opponent like Kevin Johnson and Eddie Chambers, two of the names that he had been in talks with. With a possible fight with Wladimir Klitschko on the horizon in 2009, Haye probably didn’t want to take on too good of an opponent and risk getting taken out again like he was in 2004 by Carl Thompson. In choosing Barrett, Haye has found a fighter with a good name, decent power and good boxing skills.
The best part, however, is that Barrett is up there in age at 37, and has lost four out of his last nine bouts, making him less likely to dent Haye’s vulnerable glass jaw. Even though Barrett is in the twilight of his career, he’s still dangerous as evidenced by his 1st round stoppage of the 6’9″ Tye Fields, who Barrett stopped in June. Barrett may not be quite the fighter he was several years ago, but he clearly punches hard enough to take Haye out if given the chance.
If Barrett can stay in the fight beyond the sixth round, he has a good chance of hurting Haye and ending matters. Haye will probably try and blitz him early like he does most of his opponents, hoping to hurt him with a big shot as fast as he can to avoid the fight getting messy.
Barrett, though, has been in with some big punchers in his time like Rahman and Valuev, and shown that he can hang around until late in the fight. It’s unclear whether he can do this against the younger, bigger punching Haye or not, but one thing is clear, he’s going to be a real live underdog come November 15th, and a real threat to the brittle-chinned Haye at all times.
Carl Froch ready for unbeaten Pascal
Following a number of set backs Carl Froch will finally fight for “the best belt in the world” when he takes on Canada’s Jean Pascal for the WBC Super middlweight title on Saturday 6th December.
Speaking on Setanta Sports News during Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour Froch expressed his relief at having found a credible opponent.
“It’s what I’ve been waiting for for the past 18 months, since I became mandatory to Joe Calzaghe’s belt. It’s been difficult, sitting back, waiting in the wings for something to happen.
“To finally be matched up with a top, credible fighter like Jean Pascal is great. Great for the fight fans and great for myself.
“It’s been frustrating but we’re through that now.”
Froch knows that Pascal poses a serious threat and compared the 25 year-old’s style to that of American legend Roy Jones Junior.
“The way he throws his punches and is very elusive is similar. I’ve seen him do some good stuff. He’s unbeaten, he’s young and hungry and he’s going to want to have a swing up.
“We’re taking him very seriously and anybody who turns out for a WBC title fight is going to be super fit.”
Soboda Double Header Weight In Results
SAN JACINTO, CA, September 24 – WBO welterweight champion Paul ‘The Punisher’ Williams (34-1, 25 KOs) makes his first move toward fighting anyone from 147 to 168 pounds – a weight span that he wants to take him from welterweight to super middleweight, simultaneously – when he makes the start of what he hopes will be his historic run tomorrow at the Soboba Casino when he jumps two weight classes from welterweight to the middleweight division challenging upset-minded Andy Kolle (17-1, 12 KOs) in the main event of Goossen Tutor Promotions’ first event to be televised on the VERSUS network (9 PM EST/6 PM PST).
In making this leap, Williams becomes the first modern day fighter that many believe to be the only fighter capable of pulling off such a tremendous feat. Combined with his skill, Williams’ has the size in height and reach, along with the guts to undertake an endeavor that will not only establish him as a true pound-for-pound superstar, but will send a message to any of the other elite fighters in the four weight classes that ‘The Punisher’ is ready to stand behind his big words. Can he do it? Tomorrow’s fight against Kolle will give fight fans from around the world the answer to that question.
Said Williams “I’m ready to go in and get the job done. My training camp went well and tomorrow night I will take control the way I always do. I’m coming in prepared and comfortable with my weight.”
Speaking of history, the VERSUS co-featured bout will see the unbeaten pride of Riverside, California, Cristobal ‘The Nightmare’ Arreola (24-0, 21 KOs), as he attempts to stay on the road to the heavyweight title when he takes on imposing Puerto Rican heavyweight, Israel ‘King Kong’ Garcia (19-1, 11 KOs). With a win, Arreola will move one step closer to becoming the first Mexican-American fighter ever to win the world heavyweight championship, and he vows not to let his growing fan base down.
Added Cristobal “I’m focusing on tomorrow’s fight and a victory which will bring me one step closer to a championship belt.”
WEIGH IN RESULTS
PAUL WILLIAMS ANDY KOLLE
157lbs. 158lbs.
CRISTOBAL ARREOLA ISRAEL GARCIA
258 1/2lbs. 246lbs.
RICO RAMOS MANUEL SARABIA
121 1/2lbs. 121lbs.
MIKE DALLAS JR. JOSE LUIS NOYOLA
BAYAN JARGAL FRANCISCO RIOS GIL
141 3/4lbs. 144 1/2lbs.
DERRICK WILSON EMILIANO MENDOZA
120lbs. 123lbs.
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