David Haye gave us all reason to be cheerful

The hype has gone into overload after David Haye’s WBA heavyweight title win over Nikolay Valuev and I am more than happy for David to have his moment in the spotlight. But not everyone else is. While we should be overjoyed that boxing is pushing its way onto the back page and not being throttled by the football, some will have you believe that the wool is being pulled over your eyes.

Now no one, least of all Haye, is really claiming that our new world champion is the reincarnation of Muhammad Ali. Yet there is a dangerous fascination to downplay any modern achievement when comparing it to the past. The good old days will always be the best for some, particularly those with only a cursory knowledge of the sport’s history.

Let’s put a few things in place here. Firstly, nearly everyone tipped Valuev to win and they didn’t tip him because they had no idea who Valuev was. Valuev was a known commodity, never the greatest boxer in the world but a guy who knew his size well. As one American writer brilliantly put it when Valuev beat Monte Barrett in Chicago a few years ago: “He may be one-dimensional, but what a dimension.”

The Valuev we saw in Nuremberg on Saturday night seemed to me one that was on the slide. Aged 36 and with his build, there was always going to be a point that he went into physical decline and a year out since his poor performance against Evander Holyfield probably didn’t help. Haye also did the same hit and run job that Ruslan Chagaev did a few years ago.

Still, those who now criticise Valuev are totally out of place. Sure some have given the big guy stick for years, but most were happy to write off the chances of Haye. I did so myself, having little faith that the Haye who had been talking of knockouts and loves a good war, could actually box on the backfoot for a whole 12 rounds. Haye stuck to Adam Booth’s plan brilliantly and he deserves tons of credit for that.

Haye silenced a lot of doubters, me included. And I am already looking forward to the next chapter in his heavyweight story. If nothing else, it was a great night for British boxing, which hopefully went a long way to proving to those TV companies that seem to need convincing, of the crossover appeal of our sport.

Comments

[David McCann]

I actually did think Haye would win. I just didn't rate Valuev, he's another Primo Carnera (but even slower).

David did a great job, and we should all give him respect for that. But I still think we shouldn't blow it out of perspective.

The problem with boxing in general (and the heavy boys in paticular) is that we have too many guys claiming to be 'World Champion'. Think about it, many of us can name every heavyweight champion from 1900 to the early 80s. Then the picture all becomes a bit foggy with the belts being passed from one forgetable champion to another (with the exception of Holmes). Then Tyson unifies the belts and once again we have the one and only 'Heavyweight Champion'. But then Bowe dumps his belt in the bin, and hey presto the belts are passed backwards and forwards like a game of pass the parcle. I think you know what I mean "Oh, is Holyfield champ again? I thought it was Ruiz....but didn't Klitschko get beaten by Lewis? Blah, blah, blah!"

There should be one, and only one HW Champ. One man who we can all say is the top fighter in the world. Maybe Haye will be that man, if he is then we can talk about him with Ali, Frazier, Tyson, Holyfield, and Lewis. If not, he will be more on a par with Berbick, Tate, and Smith.

Only time will tell.

[Steve Hunt]

I couldn't agree more, Ron.

[Paul Wickes]

I had no doubt that Haye COULD box a 12 round fight. The question was always, WOULD he?

A lot of shrewd experts whose opinions I respect picked Haye inside schedule. I wasn't convinced. I also wasn't convinced that Haye would get a fair shake in Germany. I was delighted to be proved wrong.

What a delightful irony it would be if David Haye won BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Why irony? Frank Warren would have a field day - saying Amir Khan was more deserving. Why don't people take to Khan? I really don't know. He's taken two risky fights this year and won them both well. However, he's never take a really outrageous risk, such has boxing a tough champion in his own backyard.

David Haye has.

Twice.

[David McCann]

I know what you mean, Paul. I can't place my finger on why we don't seem that bothered about Amir Khan. He's a nice guy, and he's come on in leaps and bounds since his loss. But people just don't seem to talk about him.

I felt much the same way about Joe Calzague. A great fighter, but I just didn't feel that big fight excitement when he was fighting.

I'd like to know who does the PR for these guys. You never seem to hear about them between fights. In the 90s we heard about Eubank, Benn, Bruno, Hamed etc, all the time.

[John Papi]

Lucky boy, Haye. The truth will come out when he fights either of the Klitschko brothers.

[Steve]

I have to take issue with the part where it says nearly everyone tipped Valuev to win.

Haye opened the fight the betting favorite and come fight time, although the numbers had dropped, he was still favored to win. Browse some of the top boxing forums, such as boxrec's, and you will see the majority of fans thought Haye would win by points.

So when the author says nearly everyone tipped Valuev to win, he is very incorrect.

[Ron Lewis]

At fight time, Valuev was favourite with nearly every bookmaker. I did a check from ringside.
Regarding tipping, I was not talking about boxing forums, I was talking about tips by experts and journalists. I know of only three journalists that tipped Haye - Mike Costello, Kevin Mitchell and Pat Sheehan.

[Steve]

Ok, well my mistake if the odds were tightened up at the time of the bell, but Haye opened the favorite and was still the favorite a day before the fight, which was admittedly the last time I checked. I just think its a little extreme to say nearly everyone thought Valuev would win. There was a large amount of people who expected Haye to take it, it was virtually a 50/50 fight.

[Simon Sturn]

Hopefully Haye will win sports personality of the year at maximum embarrassment to the BBC