By Dan Risk: Much has been made about the hugely hyped heavyweight unification bout between WBO/IBO/IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) and WBA champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s). Will Klitschko be able to outwork the Brit fight with his jab and grab tactics or will Haye’s speed and power be too much for the weak chinned Ukrainian? However, in the build up to this fight, one of the most intriguing characters is Haye’s right hand man and best friend – Adam Booth.
Credit must go to Booth for all that he has done for the career of Haye and other young fighters. Not only has he coached him to become a double weight world champion, Booth has done wonders leading Hayemaker Promotions to become one of the most prominent in world boxing, bringing through talent such as Commonwealth super-middleweight champion George Groves (12-0, 9 KO’s).
His skills as a coach will never be disputed, adopting particular techniques and training styles that he sees getting the most out of his fighters.
Where my doubt comes with Booth is if he has so many fingers in so many pies, can he really fulfill to all these commitments. A benefit for Haye is that due to his style and personality, he is able to promote fights with very little work and bring in huge revenue.
I am also dubious about the way he conducts himself. Boxing fans were banging their heads against the wall when a Haye/Klitschko deal couldn’t get struck and many fingers were pointed towards the way Booth handles negotiations. Haye and Booth have made it abundantly clear that one of the main reasons they are in boxing is to make as much money as possible and this can sometimes cloud his judgment when trying to strike a deal.
He seems to find it very easy to say something and within days he has retraced his steps and will contradict himself. Don’t mistake this article as a way to just simply to bash Adam Booth; he credentials as a coach cannot be questioned. His top two fighters, in a small promotion company, have a combined record of 37-1 and various titles.
Where criticism could come Booths way is if Haye is rolled by Klitschko in a few rounds. Personally, I’m looking at a Haye win between rounds 4 and 6 but should the plan be upset the critics could look towards his business partner, friend, coach and promoter.
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