Haye Sky interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kpGl16U9w8

Ok He always irritated me, Now I think the guy is a world class Holly Wilaboobie.

I hope Chisora gives him rude awakening..

When he was in crusier I used to be a big fan, watched him early after amatuers as he was always good to watch. Since going to heavy he has done nothing but made himself look stupid, there are plenty of boxers who have always said daft stuff but haye is taking it to new levels, not a hint of regret for what he did in germany, go retire haye and stay retired even this heavyweight division doesnt need him

When I first identified this mans character a few years ago I had quite a few detractors.

Now it is unnecessary for me to say anything. Every time he speaks nowadays he illuminates his character more than I ever could.

Agreed. He's not humble, totally classless, not showing any contrition or wringing his hands begging for public sympathy. Why can't all boxers be world class characters who show humility, are classy like Ricky Burns. That's how to get people interested in boxing again.

azania wrote:Agreed. He's not humble, totally classless, not showing any contrition or wringing his hands begging for public sympathy. Why can't all boxers be world class characters who show humility, are classy like Ricky Burns. That's how to get people interested in boxing again.

I not what your saying & agree to some extent, controversy sells, but its horses for courses, some people may prefer Ricky Burns on screen persona than Hayes. For me apart from being classless I also find Haye a really naff & uncool guy as well as arrogant & deluded to some extent. Ricky Hatton was never lacking in fans was he? Also boxing needs to show itself in a positive light, the recent incident in Germany is exactly what fuels the fire for the anti boxing brigade. Boxing's not winning that many new fans.

Don't like his attitude (Really starting to go off him) but didn’t like Ali’s use of the Uncle Tom phrase either. Doesn’t colour my opinion of him as a boxer.

Haye used to come across slick and articulate but now he’s coming across more of a prat. Won’t stop me watching the fight tho.

Hatton got the Man City football fans, plus he was exciting. His beer drinking, kebab eating escapades was hero worshipped also.

Haye is Haye. I know people who have met him and his private persona is far removed from his public persona as it is with most people. He wants to sell a fight so he says things to generate interest. Some people take things too literally.

As long as it generates interest in boxing, then I'm happy. Boxing needs to show itself. What Haye has said and done is nothing compared to what others have done before. He is an amateur when it comes to talking. I wonder what people here would have said had they been around when Ali was screaming to anyone who would listen. No doubt many would say he wasn't humble and was classless.

azania wrote: No doubt many would say he wasn't humble and was classless.

Ali at least had the skills to back up his mouth in the ring.

Haye makes me laugh. Thats all I'll say.

Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.

Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

azania wrote:Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.
Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

Not sure i would agree with you there AZ. Manny Pacquiao generates the 2nd highest PPV gates in this era and he is by no means "classless loud mouthed" etc.

Juan Manuel Marquez also pulls great crowds along with Miguel Cotto who both have class in and out of the ring.

Mayweather is a prime example of loud mouthed and classless, but he is fantastic in the ring.

I dont think the statement "Classy boxers dont make good box office" is legitimate, when quite clearly they make great box office numbers and general interest.

azania wrote:Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.

Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

That's rubbish & you know it. ODLH, Mosely, Manny & Tyson in his early days are all examples of classy boxers that didn't have big mouths & were big box office, Hagler, Hearns & Leonard from earlier times. So you like controversial, classless loudmouths, no problem but don't spout the above to make your point when its clearly not the case. Ricky Burns & his type reducing boxing to an even more minority sport? Don't make me laugh boxing itself is doing that.

You always bring up Ricky Burns as if he is the prototype. The guys a decent fighter but not an elite and not particularly thrilling to watch.

There are plenty of boxers with big followings that dont go around badmouthing everyone and acting like morons.

If people like guys with Hayes persona thats fine but its hardly like the alternative is Ricky Burns.

Look there are no shades of grey, bad boys sell good guys don't that is why Scott Harrison's comeback fight was scheduled for Wembley Stadium, such was the demand for us to see him.

OK, look at Ward. Supreme talent, but as boring as can be. He can't draw flies. With his style, he needs to develop a character other than the God fearing guy who is ever so humble.

Look at Floyd, probably the most talented boxer after RJJ for a generation. If he were to have the same personality as Ward, he would not be the box office draw that he is.

No matter how you market Ward, he wouldn't sell. If Ward had the personality of Haye, that guy would be huge.

Although I like boxers with charisma, Haye is just a fool. He's an idiot who thinks he is everyone's favourite boxer.

Number 1, he hasn't got an entertaining style. Yes he has power, skills and very fast hands, but throws 30 punches per round potshotting and doesn't push the fight

2, he isnt as good as he thinks he is. Although a talented cruiser, he's done nothing to show he's an elite boxer at heavyweight.

3, he isn't funny, he laughs at his own jokes over and over again and bar the comment about by the time Harrison throws the led thand he'll be at the after party, little of what he said has been humerous

rowley wrote:Look there are no shades of grey, bad boys sell good guys don't that is why Scott Harrison's comeback fight was scheduled for Wembley Stadium, such was the demand for us to see him.

Exactly & the reason why the likes of Leonard, ODLh, Mosely & Manny have spent all their careers missing out on ppv's in Vegas being stuck in provincial Leisure centers.

sohotnot wrote:

azania wrote:Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.

Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

That's rubbish & you know it. ODLH, Mosely, Manny & Tyson in his early days are all examples of classy boxers that didn't have big mouths & were big box office, Hagler, Hearns & Leonard from earlier times. So you like controversial, classless loudmouths, no problem but don't spout the above to make your point when its clearly not the case. Ricky Burns & his type reducing boxing to an even more minority sport? Don't make me laugh boxing itself is doing that.

Its not a question of what I like. I want boxing to make back page headlines again. ODLH was brilliantly marketed as the golden boy. Mosely is not a draw, sorry but he isn't. The opponent makes it for him. Manny was made by ODLH and became huge being sold as this little guy fighting huge guys and winning in style (ignoring that he is sometimes bugger than the guys he fights due to stips).

Tyson was a bigger draw later due to his behaviour. Look at the McNeeley fight and his purse. Hearns didn't badmouth his opponent. He just said he would beat them in a cold manner. Hagler was sold as a destructive force and he delivered.

Talent sells most of the time. But people like a personality and generally most will pay to see the villan get beaten.

WHU_Champo_League_in_7Yrs wrote:Although I like boxers with charisma, Haye is just a fool. He's an idiot who thinks he is everyone's favourite boxer.

Number 1, he hasn't got an entertaining style. Yes he has power, skills and very fast hands, but throws 30 punches per round potshotting and doesn't push the fight

2, he isnt as good as he thinks he is. Although a talented cruiser, he's done nothing to show he's an elite boxer at heavyweight.

3, he isn't funny, he laughs at his own jokes over and over again and bar the comment about by the time Harrison throws the led thand he'll be at the after party, little of what he said has been humerous

He is anything but a fool. And you are spot on that he isn't as good as he probably thinks he is. But his attitude is designed to get tongues wagging and to pay for his fights. Guess what? Its working. Who is the fool there? I dont for one second believe Haye thinks he is everyone's favourite boxer.

If Floyd had kept to his original persona as the good, clean living Pretty Boy, he would still be rich. But his bad boy image has ensured that when he fights its an event. He is not the most exciting fighter out there. Manny generates twice the excitement Floyd does. But many pay to see Floyd get beaten. Love him or hate him, but pay him.

azania wrote:

sohotnot wrote:

azania wrote:Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.

Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

That's rubbish & you know it. ODLH, Mosely, Manny & Tyson in his early days are all examples of classy boxers that didn't have big mouths & were big box office, Hagler, Hearns & Leonard from earlier times. So you like controversial, classless loudmouths, no problem but don't spout the above to make your point when its clearly not the case. Ricky Burns & his type reducing boxing to an even more minority sport? Don't make me laugh boxing itself is doing that.

Its not a question of what I like. I want boxing to make back page headlines again. ODLH was brilliantly marketed as the golden boy. Mosely is not a draw, sorry but he isn't. The opponent makes it for him. Manny was made by ODLH and became huge being sold as this little guy fighting huge guys and winning in style (ignoring that he is sometimes bugger than the guys he fights due to stips).

Tyson was a bigger draw later due to his behaviour. Look at the McNeeley fight and his purse. Hearns didn't badmouth his opponent. He just said he would beat them in a cold manner. Hagler was sold as a destructive force and he delivered.

Talent sells most of the time. But people like a personality and generally most will pay to see the villan get beaten.

Mosely was never a big draw, are you serious? Manny was always a rated fighter & popular way before the ODLH fight. The problem is always the same in boxing for the smaller guys, the bulk of the paying public it would seem would prefer to watch boring or 2nd rate HW's than exciting & talented little guys. I think the whole Team Manny made him what he has become in recent years by moving through the weights & at times fighting the 'right opponent'.

With regards to a comment you made in an earlier post regarding Ward & Mayweather without the 'personality' not selling I think you have raised a point that in today's media driven boxing world personality is being pushed over talent & when said personality doesn't deliver the public either feel cheated or cant understand what all the fuss is about & lose interest.

Hopkins could talk for America but has never been a big draw no matter how many flags he tears up, opponents he slaps and fighters he disses.

Its not as straight foreward as being loudmouth and selling and being humble and being a box office flop. You need to have the talent, style and the fights available to make you a success.

When Mayweather and Pacquiao retire the sport will turn to someone else to be the draw and guys like Ward will be in the spotlight more, especially if he rises to the coveted p4p number 1 spot.

The one thing being overlooked with Haye is he is a British heavyweight of a modicum of talent, that marks him out as something of an exception, British heavyweights with even a squeak of a chance of competing on the world stage sell, look at Bruno, you would struggle to find a more affable, humble or accomodating personality than Frank and he was loved like perhaps no heavy before or since.

sohotnot wrote:

azania wrote:

sohotnot wrote:

azania wrote:Ali did what he did for self promotion. He said that as long as people paid to see him he didn't care. That's the bottom line.

Classy boxers dont make good box office. Its the loud mouths we talk about and who generate most interest in boxing.

Haye is funny. Cringe-worthy but funny and that people who dont like his persona comment about him means what he's doing is working.

You want Ricky Burns type fighters, have them but dont complain when boxing is reduced to an even more minority sport.

That's rubbish & you know it. ODLH, Mosely, Manny & Tyson in his early days are all examples of classy boxers that didn't have big mouths & were big box office, Hagler, Hearns & Leonard from earlier times. So you like controversial, classless loudmouths, no problem but don't spout the above to make your point when its clearly not the case. Ricky Burns & his type reducing boxing to an even more minority sport? Don't make me laugh boxing itself is doing that.

Its not a question of what I like. I want boxing to make back page headlines again. ODLH was brilliantly marketed as the golden boy. Mosely is not a draw, sorry but he isn't. The opponent makes it for him. Manny was made by ODLH and became huge being sold as this little guy fighting huge guys and winning in style (ignoring that he is sometimes bugger than the guys he fights due to stips).

Tyson was a bigger draw later due to his behaviour. Look at the McNeeley fight and his purse. Hearns didn't badmouth his opponent. He just said he would beat them in a cold manner. Hagler was sold as a destructive force and he delivered.

Talent sells most of the time. But people like a personality and generally most will pay to see the villan get beaten.

Mosely was never a big draw, are you serious? Manny was always a rated fighter & popular way before the ODLH fight. The problem is always the same in boxing for the smaller guys, the bulk of the paying public it would seem would prefer to watch boring or 2nd rate HW's than exciting & talented little guys. I think the whole Team Manny made him what he has become in recent years by moving through the weights & at times fighting the 'right opponent'.

With regards to a comment you made in an earlier post regarding Ward & Mayweather without the 'personality' not selling I think you have raised a point that in today's media driven boxing world personality is being pushed over talent & when said personality doesn't deliver the public either feel cheated or cant understand what all the fuss is about & lose interest.

Very serious. Mosely was never a big draw. It was always his opponents ie Oscar and Pac. He had the talent but not the style or personality. His fight with Forrest (RIP) was so poorly attended they had to give away half the tickets in a small arena.

Boxing is competing with several sports for PPV and more importantly tv scheduling. It needs characters people can identify with whether they love or hate them but have strong feelings one way or the other. I enjoy watching ward and appreciate his skills, but my goodness, the kid is deadly boring.

Outside of boxing I enjoy football and tennis. But if a fight with Manny and Garcia is in competiton with the euro champ finals, I'd watch the footie live instead.

manos de piedra wrote:Hopkins could talk for America but has never been a big draw no matter how many flags he tears up, opponents he slaps and fighters he disses.

Its not as straight foreward as being loudmouth and selling and being humble and being a box office flop. You need to have the talent, style and the fights available to make you a success.

When Mayweather and Pacquiao retire the sport will turn to someone else to be the draw and guys like Ward will be in the spotlight more, especially if he rises to the coveted p4p number 1 spot.

Hopkins is very boring in fights. People can see that. Always has been boring also.

Of course its not as black and white as loudmouth selling etc. Talent first and foremost. But a loudmouth with talent is better for boxing overall than a talent with no personality who always defers to his promoter.

- Mouth - Talent - PPV Star

Haye - Yes - No - No
Mayweather - Yes - Yes - Yes
Ward - No - Yes - No
Pacquiao - No - Yes - Yes
Chisora - No - No - No
Klitschko - No - Yes - Yes
Cotto - No - Yes - Yes
Froch - No - Yes - No
Khan - Yes - Yes - Yes
Brook - No - Yes - No
Bradley - No - Yes - No
Harrison (Audley) - Yes - No - No
Mosely - No - Yes - No
Alvarez - No - Yes - Yes
Martinez - Yes - Yes - No
Berto - No - Yes - No
Ortiz - Yes - Yes - No
Povetkin - No - No - No
Burns - No - Yes - No

Just a few boxers off the top of my head.

Az its pretty clear unless you disagree with my post in its entirety that Floyd is one of the few people who actually sells PPV by having a mouth (Khan is th only other?). The other massive stars (Pac, Alvarez, K2) are all humble and have bags of talent and they sell at PPV level.

Haye effectively killed PPV boxing in the UK (no bad thing) - so his mouth doesn't sell fights at all, it puts more people off when he fails to deliver.

I think he's good for boxing, but only if he returns to the snarling animal in the ring we saw at cruiser.

Apologies on the formatting of my post - it looked a lot better in the white box

azania wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Hopkins could talk for America but has never been a big draw no matter how many flags he tears up, opponents he slaps and fighters he disses.

Its not as straight foreward as being loudmouth and selling and being humble and being a box office flop. You need to have the talent, style and the fights available to make you a success.

When Mayweather and Pacquiao retire the sport will turn to someone else to be the draw and guys like Ward will be in the spotlight more, especially if he rises to the coveted p4p number 1 spot.

Hopkins is very boring in fights. People can see that. Always has been boring also.

Of course its not as black and white as loudmouth selling etc. Talent first and foremost. But a loudmouth with talent is better for boxing overall than a talent with no personality who always defers to his promoter.

Yes but if you turn everything into either Floyd Mayweather or Ricky Burns it has the effect of making it look very black and white.

There are clearly lots of examples of fighters with less than controversial personalities that have been very popular.

rowley wrote:The one thing being overlooked with Haye is he is a British heavyweight of a modicum of talent, that marks him out as something of an exception, British heavyweights with even a squeak of a chance of competing on the world stage sell, look at Bruno, you would struggle to find a more affable, humble or accomodating personality than Frank and he was loved like perhaps no heavy before or since.

True, Haye didn't stop being a talented fighter simply because he was outclassed last time out. Sadly, his antics and the nonsense that seems to have followed him around for the last couple of years (admittedly much of it, his own making) do seem to have overshadowed the fact that he is a decent fighter with many of the attributes that would have made him a respectable World Champion had he not been around in the era of gigantic HW's.

Seems fashionable to write Haye off as merely a "persona" these days but the facts are that even with his defeat to Wlad, he's still potentially one of the better HW's operating today. Doesn't make him a bad fighter, just not as good as the very best.

I dont disagree in its entirety. But look at the ppv numbers? In a recession Floyd still did over 1.2m. I dare say many paid to see him lose.

Floyd is one of the few boxers who can sell regardless of who the opponent it. And his fights are often dreary affairs. Skillful but boring.

Pernell. Superb boxer and a ATG top 25 imo. Outside of hardcore boxing fans, who knows him? Everyone knows ODLH though because of his image.

K2 sell in eastern europe only. Their fights are recorded and shown in USA days later.

Haye is not the ost exciting HW around. But his mouth is. People paid in droves to watch the Valuev and Audley fights because of his mouth. Can't be because of his skills and delivering exciting fights.

Khan's mouth doesn't sell fights. Khan can say the exact same thing Pac says and he'll get mullered for it on here. He is exciting and delivers exciting fights. But he's no big ppv draw in USA.

Haye was a big deal Britain due to the partisan nature of support here. Hes no bigger in the U.S than the Klitschkos are with or without his mouth.

The Americans certainly didnt flock to his fights with Valuev and Audley anymore than they would to a Klitschko fight.

There's no real proof that he is one of the better heavyweights. The only impressive result of his heavyweight career was Valuev and it could be argued he was lucky to get away with the win given how he approached the fight. He was lucky that Valuev had probably run out of Get Out of Jail Free cards given the controversy surrounding his fight with Holyfield.

As for Haye being able to sell fights through his "persona" I can appreciate if he was humble and polite he would sell less. The problem I have with Haye is that there's nothing at all cartoonish about his bad man persona. He does not wear a black and white stripey shirt and black eye mask, does not have an evil laugh for after he taunts his opponents, nor does he stroke a fluffy white Cat. Put quite simply he's a villain, a genuinely horrible guy.

Haye is a boring HW hence he won't do big PPV in the UK. Too many casual fans have been burned by him in the past.

He is also delusional. His lack of self awareness is astounding.

I would be walking around permanently pink with embarressment if I behaved like him. The guy has no shame and doesn't consider for a second that he might be in the wrong.

manos de piedra wrote:Haye was a big deal Britain due to the partisan nature of support here. Hes no bigger in the U.S than the Klitschkos are with or without his mouth.

The Americans certainly didnt flock to his fights with Valuev and Audley anymore than they would to a Klitschko fight.

Had Haye won, he would have been a bigger attraction in USA that K2. Plus Haye spends more time there and is probably better known.

Super D Boon wrote:There's no real proof that he is one of the better heavyweights. The only impressive result of his heavyweight career was Valuev and it could be argued he was lucky to get away with the win given how he approached the fight. He was lucky that Valuev had probably run out of Get Out of Jail Free cards given the controversy surrounding his fight with Holyfield.

As for Haye being able to sell fights through his "persona" I can appreciate if he was humble and polite he would sell less. The problem I have with Haye is that there's nothing at all cartoonish about his bad man persona. He does not wear a black and white stripey shirt and black eye mask, does not have an evil laugh for after he taunts his opponents, nor does he stroke a fluffy white Cat. Put quite simply he's a villain, a genuinely horrible guy.

Sigh!

I guess you know him better than me than Aza?

Super D Boon wrote:I guess you know him better than me than Aza?

Thins is I take the public utterances of boxers with a pinch of salt. I know why they say what they say. Public and private are two worlds.

azania wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Haye was a big deal Britain due to the partisan nature of support here. Hes no bigger in the U.S than the Klitschkos are with or without his mouth.

The Americans certainly didnt flock to his fights with Valuev and Audley anymore than they would to a Klitschko fight.

Had Haye won, he would have been a bigger attraction in USA that K2. Plus Haye spends more time there and is probably better known.

The Klitschkos have residences in the U.S. They are U.S citizens. I doubt Haye spends more time there than them and I doubt hes any better known. Less known if I had to bet.

The fact he didnt win is the point, it takes more than a loud mouth to sell. the Americans have a pretty proven history to not taking to non U.S heavyweights. Even if Haye had won, I cant see him being significantly any more popular in the U.S than the Klitschkos. America wont get behind the heavyweight division again until one of their own is back on top.

azania wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:I guess you know him better than me than Aza?

Thins is I take the public utterances of boxers with a pinch of salt. I know why they say what they say. Public and private are two worlds.

Haye wasn't even selling a fight after his explanations on TV of the Munich Melee. He shows no class whatsoever, Chisora has more class and he's a clown too. Haye is a prat............FACT!

Super D Boon wrote:

azania wrote:

Super D Boon wrote:I guess you know him better than me than Aza?

Thins is I take the public utterances of boxers with a pinch of salt. I know why they say what they say. Public and private are two worlds.

Haye wasn't even selling a fight after his explanations on TV of the Munich Melee. He shows no class whatsoever, Chisora has more class and he's a clown too. Haye is a prat............FACT!

Ok. A rich prat because you paid to see him fight. Strange world we live in.

alma wrote:Malignaggi is probably my favourite all round fighter I have to say. Talented in the ring although obviously not the greatest out there, he is a great talker too but doesn't resort to petty insults, as far as I'm aware. Always entertaining in and out of the ring

Paulie is funny. Typical New York wise guy attitude. Pity he has brittle hands. I wonder how many knock outs he would have scored with good hands.

Oh and he is quick witted and dishes out barbed insults. His timing is better tough. Haye is more of a wanabe "intelligent" gangsta/hard man/pretty boy kind of guy.

manos de piedra wrote:

azania wrote:

manos de piedra wrote:Haye was a big deal Britain due to the partisan nature of support here. Hes no bigger in the U.S than the Klitschkos are with or without his mouth.

The Americans certainly didnt flock to his fights with Valuev and Audley anymore than they would to a Klitschko fight.

Had Haye won, he would have been a bigger attraction in USA that K2. Plus Haye spends more time there and is probably better known.

The Klitschkos have residences in the U.S. They are U.S citizens. I doubt Haye spends more time there than them and I doubt hes any better known. Less known if I had to bet.

The fact he didnt win is the point, it takes more than a loud mouth to sell. the Americans have a pretty proven history to not taking to non U.S heavyweights. Even if Haye had won, I cant see him being significantly any more popular in the U.S than the Klitschkos. America wont get behind the heavyweight division again until one of their own is back on top.

The pointis, had he won he would have made bigger waves than K2. He fought in USA earlier in his career and is familiar with the playboy mansion and its residents. He would be easier to market than K2 who come across as classy and not to well greased robots. Some may like that, but as they dont deliver exciting fights, they need something else.

I dont think Haye would have been particularly bigger than the Klitschkos had he won. Americas disintrest in the division stems from not having any decent fighters of their own it, rather than individual personalities.

Ah yes, Haye "would have" been huge in America, "if" he'd won. A couple of key words in there, Az.

As for these "exciting fights" you keep mentioning for some strange reason, I suppose Haye "would" have delivered them, "if" he hadn't broken his hand against Valuev, "if" his sparring before Ruiz hadn't been curtailed early, "if" he hadn't bet on the third round against Harrison, "if" he hadn't had a broken toe against Wladimir....

88Chris05 wrote:Ah yes, Haye "would have" been huge in America, "if" he'd won. A couple of key words in there, Az.

As for these "exciting fights" you keep mentioning for some strange reason, I suppose Haye "would" have delivered them, "if" he hadn't broken his hand against Valuev, "if" his sparring before Ruiz hadn't been curtailed early, "if" he hadn't bet on the third round against Harrison, "if" he hadn't had a broken toe against Wladimir....

Why the need to exaggerate or flat out lie? I have not once said Haye would have been huge in USA. I said he would have made bigger waves that K2. SImply because he would have jumped in front of any passing camera to promote his fight.

Where have I described him as exciting also? I wouldn't mind if you were misrepresenting what I wrote. But you just seem to want to lie.

Jeez louis.

Sorry, Az.

Az reels some of you in so easily

You keep building up Haye and how great he is for boxing.

I haven't said he was great for boxing. I said he would be better for boxing than K2. He is a more interesting character. Fair enough you like the humble/classy guys. If you get a humble/classy guy who is not that exciting in the ring, would that be good for boxing and would it make the back pages? Burns is the typical prototype. Better all round boxer than Haye (imo) but exceedingly boring.

You say that his vile personality is what we need.

Horses for courses. I take what he says with all the salt in the dead sea. You take it as his true personality. Who is the gullible one. I bet you that you will watch his next fight with interest. His sale's pitch has worked on you. He wants an opinion be it negative or positive. Hook line and sinker.

You have also said, however, that the Klitschkos not providing exciting fights is a primary reason as to why they haven't really transcended the sport worldwide.

Boring fights and boring personalities are the primary reason why they haven't transcended. Not one, but both. A bad combination and they have it in abundance. Vit's fight against Chisora was their most exciting fight and that was because of Chisora making the fight otherwise they would have been content with their usual jab jab jab jab jab jab right cross.

My point, quite simply, was that Haye doesn't provide exciting fights either.

I agree. But he provides exciting build up which gains interest and column inches. Floyd hardly provides exciting fights but his personality guarantees huge audiences and column inches.

So with all of that evidence taken in to consideration, on what basis is Haye the vital ingredient to the survival of boxing as a major sport of sorts which you paint him as?

More exaggeration. Never said he was the vital ingredient for the survival of the sport. Try not to project as you often get it very wrong. My words are there without a hidden agenda or slight of hand. I don't hide behind weaponised English.

azania wrote:I don't hide behind weaponised English.

Oh I don't know, Az. Not sure anyone else could roll out a word such as 'weaponised' the way you can!

Fine and dignified response, to be fair. Don't agree with much of it, but that's besides the point. Also, upon reflection, that post of mine wasn't the most diplomatic, so I will get rid as well as offering an apology. That's a begrudging apology, mind you!

Sorry but that interview was hilarious.

I can imagine the celebrations that would happen on here should Haye lose.

I dont really agree with the boring fight argument as to why the Klitschkos arent popular in the U.S. Ironically most of their best fights have happened there.

Vitali v Lewis - good tear up
Vitali v Johnson - 2 round blow out
Vitali v Williams - massacre
Vitali v Sanders - decent scrap

Wlad v Mercer/Peter II/Brewster 1 were all in the U.S and were not boring fights.