Weekend Review: Haye's big night
Posted Nov. 8, 2009 at 10:02pm
By Michael Rosenthal
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BIGGEST WINNER
David Haye: The Londoner is one bright guy if he planned all this out. He garnered valuable publicity by agreeing to fight both Klitschko brothers and then pulled out each time, landed a fight with the only non-Klitschko titleholder and walked away with a belt on Saturday night. I wasn’t overly impressed with his performance against Nikolai Valuev on Saturday in Germany. I didn’t think he threw enough punches for the belt to change hands, although he claims to have injured his right hand early in the fight. That said, he won the decision and is now in position to make a lot of money. He might have to fight mandatory challenger John Ruiz, which would be a disaster for the sport. He could again pursue the Klitschkos, which would earn him a ridiculous amount of money for a title-unification bout. I don’t think he could beat either Klitschko, though. The opponent I like best for Haye is Tomasz Adamek, who would make for a thrilling fight. Bottom line: Haye has many options.
BIGGEST LOSER
Nikolai Valuev: The Russian giant couldn’t do much more than he did on Saturday, stalking Haye from beginning to end and throwing enough punches to give himself a chance to win. This time, it didn’t work. Now, I wonder whether we’ll ever see him wearing a title belt again. I don’t see Haye fighting him again but he would be a marketable opponent for one of the Klitschkos, particularly in their common base of Germany. Valuev, 36, was never more than a decent heavyweight -– in spite of only two losses -- but he did extremely well for his size and limited athleticism. He has good boxing fundamentals and comes prepared to fight each time out. He should be proud of his accomplishments.
WORST MANDATORY
Haye vs. Ruiz: This is just one of myriad of examples of how sanctioning bodies hurt boxing. Haye’s mandatory challenger after taking Valuev’s WBA belt is Ruiz, who is capable but not by any stretch the top heavyweight contender in the world and a boring fighter to boot. Who wants to see that fight? No one outside Ruiz’s family and camp. Haye on Saturday pumped some life into the heavyweight division that will be sucked right back out if he fights Ruiz. Instead, Haye should be allowed to build on his momentum by facing one of the Klitschko brothers or Adamek in fights the fans would fully embrace. I could think of many others I’d rather see Haye fight than Ruiz. Why torture fans when the sport is struggling to build its fan base?
BIGGEST WINNER II
Chad Dawson: Many of us considered Chad Dawson the best light heavyweight in the world going into his fight against Glen Johnson on Saturday in Hartford, Conn. He strengthened his case by beating a very good, well-conditioned opponent for the second time in convincing fashion. He probably will never be a thrilling fighter because he’s a boxer first and a slugger somewhere down the list. However, he did show at various times in the fight the damage he can inflict when he is aggressive. Maybe he’ll become more of a crowd pleaser as his confidence continues to grow, as his trainer suggested. His problem will be finding an opponent who will stir interest. Tavoris Cloud and Jean Pascal might be his best options. Beyond that, it might take a current 168-pounder to move in weight to create some excitement at 175 pounds.
BIGGEST LOSER II
Glen Johnson: Johnson is no way a loser. The man has always handled himself with grace outside the ring and like a champion in it. He had only one great stretch in his career –- when he beat Clinton Woods, Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver in succession in 2004 -– but has been very difficult to beat regardless of opponent for most of the past 15 years. On Saturday, the Jamaican-born Floridian was beaten convincingly but still gave one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world a decent fight at 40 years old. He talked about retirement immediately afterward but could remain a contender for years if he wants to. I suspect he’s not finished.
MOST-UNUSUAL REMATCH
Diaz vs. Malignaggi: I don’t think the Juan Diaz-Paulie Malignaggi rematch on Dec. 12 in Chicago would’ve taken place if it weren’t for two things –- Malignaggi’s mouth and Gale Van Hoy’s ridiculous score of 118-110 in Diaz’s favor in their first meeting. Malignaggi said beforehand that he wouldn’t get a fair decision in Diaz’s hometown of Houston and then served up a gripping diatribe in the ring after it appeared he was right, particularly in reference to Van Hoy’s scoring in an obviously close fight. I don’t think many people were clamoring to see the first fight but the rematch appears to be more compelling. It’s amazing how far a little controversy can go.
WORST IDEA
The WBC has decided in its great wisdom and moral clarity that it wants to ban the fathers of fighters from working their corners because of a study that suggests it could lead to fatalities. The last time I checked, both Mexico, where the sanctioning body is based, and the United States were free countries. It is up to the father and son to weigh the risks of sharing a corner and then make a decision. It should not be up to anyone else, particularly a sleazy organization that extorts money from fighters and their handlers for dubious services rendered on a regular basis. I have a better idea: Ban the WBC. That undoubtedly would benefit the sport as a whole.
MOST-INTRIGUING PROSPECT
A fight at Cowboys Stadium: Promoter Bob Arum and stadium officials have discussed staging a fight at the new football facility in Dallas. He said over lunch last week that he envisions Manny Pacquiao facing Juan Manuel Marquez there in the spring if the Filipino beats Miguel Cotto on Saturday in Las Vegas. He said a co-feature might be Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. John Duddy. Two Mexicans undoubtedly would attract many of the sport’s fiercest fans to the event. I’d rather see Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley, though. Arum reportedly said that Maywather could be Pacquiao’s opponent in Dallas but also has said repeatedly that he doesn’t believe Pacquiao and Mayweather can come to terms, at least not in the near future.
BEST QUOTE
Haye: "It was like punching a brick wall," said Haye, referring to a punch to the head of Valuev in the early rounds that apparently injured his hand.
David Haye: The Londoner is one bright guy if he planned all this out. He garnered valuable publicity by agreeing to fight both Klitschko brothers and then pulled out each time, landed a fight with the only non-Klitschko titleholder and walked away with a belt on Saturday night. I wasn’t overly impressed with his performance against Nikolai Valuev on Saturday in Germany. I didn’t think he threw enough punches for the belt to change hands, although he claims to have injured his right hand early in the fight. That said, he won the decision and is now in position to make a lot of money. He might have to fight mandatory challenger John Ruiz, which would be a disaster for the sport. He could again pursue the Klitschkos, which would earn him a ridiculous amount of money for a title-unification bout. I don’t think he could beat either Klitschko, though. The opponent I like best for Haye is Tomasz Adamek, who would make for a thrilling fight. Bottom line: Haye has many options.
BIGGEST LOSER
Nikolai Valuev: The Russian giant couldn’t do much more than he did on Saturday, stalking Haye from beginning to end and throwing enough punches to give himself a chance to win. This time, it didn’t work. Now, I wonder whether we’ll ever see him wearing a title belt again. I don’t see Haye fighting him again but he would be a marketable opponent for one of the Klitschkos, particularly in their common base of Germany. Valuev, 36, was never more than a decent heavyweight -– in spite of only two losses -- but he did extremely well for his size and limited athleticism. He has good boxing fundamentals and comes prepared to fight each time out. He should be proud of his accomplishments.
WORST MANDATORY
Haye vs. Ruiz: This is just one of myriad of examples of how sanctioning bodies hurt boxing. Haye’s mandatory challenger after taking Valuev’s WBA belt is Ruiz, who is capable but not by any stretch the top heavyweight contender in the world and a boring fighter to boot. Who wants to see that fight? No one outside Ruiz’s family and camp. Haye on Saturday pumped some life into the heavyweight division that will be sucked right back out if he fights Ruiz. Instead, Haye should be allowed to build on his momentum by facing one of the Klitschko brothers or Adamek in fights the fans would fully embrace. I could think of many others I’d rather see Haye fight than Ruiz. Why torture fans when the sport is struggling to build its fan base?
BIGGEST WINNER II
Chad Dawson: Many of us considered Chad Dawson the best light heavyweight in the world going into his fight against Glen Johnson on Saturday in Hartford, Conn. He strengthened his case by beating a very good, well-conditioned opponent for the second time in convincing fashion. He probably will never be a thrilling fighter because he’s a boxer first and a slugger somewhere down the list. However, he did show at various times in the fight the damage he can inflict when he is aggressive. Maybe he’ll become more of a crowd pleaser as his confidence continues to grow, as his trainer suggested. His problem will be finding an opponent who will stir interest. Tavoris Cloud and Jean Pascal might be his best options. Beyond that, it might take a current 168-pounder to move in weight to create some excitement at 175 pounds.
BIGGEST LOSER II
Glen Johnson: Johnson is no way a loser. The man has always handled himself with grace outside the ring and like a champion in it. He had only one great stretch in his career –- when he beat Clinton Woods, Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver in succession in 2004 -– but has been very difficult to beat regardless of opponent for most of the past 15 years. On Saturday, the Jamaican-born Floridian was beaten convincingly but still gave one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world a decent fight at 40 years old. He talked about retirement immediately afterward but could remain a contender for years if he wants to. I suspect he’s not finished.
MOST-UNUSUAL REMATCH
Diaz vs. Malignaggi: I don’t think the Juan Diaz-Paulie Malignaggi rematch on Dec. 12 in Chicago would’ve taken place if it weren’t for two things –- Malignaggi’s mouth and Gale Van Hoy’s ridiculous score of 118-110 in Diaz’s favor in their first meeting. Malignaggi said beforehand that he wouldn’t get a fair decision in Diaz’s hometown of Houston and then served up a gripping diatribe in the ring after it appeared he was right, particularly in reference to Van Hoy’s scoring in an obviously close fight. I don’t think many people were clamoring to see the first fight but the rematch appears to be more compelling. It’s amazing how far a little controversy can go.
WORST IDEA
The WBC has decided in its great wisdom and moral clarity that it wants to ban the fathers of fighters from working their corners because of a study that suggests it could lead to fatalities. The last time I checked, both Mexico, where the sanctioning body is based, and the United States were free countries. It is up to the father and son to weigh the risks of sharing a corner and then make a decision. It should not be up to anyone else, particularly a sleazy organization that extorts money from fighters and their handlers for dubious services rendered on a regular basis. I have a better idea: Ban the WBC. That undoubtedly would benefit the sport as a whole.
MOST-INTRIGUING PROSPECT
A fight at Cowboys Stadium: Promoter Bob Arum and stadium officials have discussed staging a fight at the new football facility in Dallas. He said over lunch last week that he envisions Manny Pacquiao facing Juan Manuel Marquez there in the spring if the Filipino beats Miguel Cotto on Saturday in Las Vegas. He said a co-feature might be Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. John Duddy. Two Mexicans undoubtedly would attract many of the sport’s fiercest fans to the event. I’d rather see Pacquiao face Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley, though. Arum reportedly said that Maywather could be Pacquiao’s opponent in Dallas but also has said repeatedly that he doesn’t believe Pacquiao and Mayweather can come to terms, at least not in the near future.
BEST QUOTE
Haye: "It was like punching a brick wall," said Haye, referring to a punch to the head of Valuev in the early rounds that apparently injured his hand.
