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Haye turning a few heads

David Haye has been turning a few heads in the past few days. I bumped into him in Las Vegas a week ago at the Calzaghe-Hopkins fight, where he did not remove his sunglasses and seemed to have a small group of women following hi around.
Then he bumped into Wladimir Klitschko back in London and he made an impression on the WBO and IBF heavyweight champion, even if it was not a particularly positive one.

BBC screens Haye v Maccarinelli

For those of you who missed out on seeing David Haye's demolition of Enzo Maccarinelli last weekend, the BBC is continuing its encouraging trend of showing big fights a week on. The action - it's listed as highlights, but I'm sure it will be the whole thing - will be shown on BBC2 at 12.30pm on Sunday.

Can Haye be a big hit with the heavyweights?

It was impossible to ask anything more of David Haye in the way he beat Enzo Maccarinelli on Sunday morning. Speed and power make a lethal combination - that is a lesson that could be applied to any era of boxing.  But does he have the size, power, strength and power to be the best heavyweight - the next two years we will have fun finding out.
Haye's heavyweight debut, when he demolished Tomasz Bonin in 105 seconds at Wembley last year, showed that the 27-year-old Londoner has the power to flatten a certain level of heavyweight, although he will have to remove bigger and better obstacles than the Pole if he is going to fulfil his dreams.

David Haye makes light work of Enzo Maccarinelli

By Brian Doogan, Sunday Times Boxing Correspondent

David Haye won the battle of big punchers at the O2 Arena with a destructive second-round stoppage of Enzo Maccarinelli in the early hours of this morning. It meant he added Maccarinelli's World Boxing Organisation (WBO) cruiserweight title to those of the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Council (WBC) and The Ring, which he already held.

With former world cruiserweight champion and heavyweight titleholder Evander Holyfield ringside, the 27-year-old champion from south London could not have produced a more emphatic performance.

Haye lost his balance early after his Welsh opponent connected with a left hook but he grazed Maccarinelli's chin with a left hook of his own before missing with his vaunted right hand. Despite both men's bad intentions, no real damage was inflicted in the first round, which Haye edged.

A right hand to Maccarinelli's jaw a minute into the second left the Welshman clearly hurt. Haye followed up with two left hooks to the body before another right wobbled Maccarinelli badly in a neutral corner. The Swansea man did not go down and Haye kept punching, before a final overhand right put Maccarinelli down and through the ropes. He rose to his feet but his legs were gone. After completing the mandatory eight-count referee John Keane waved the fight over. Maccarinelli protested mildly but the official's decision was the correct one.

This was Haye's last fight at cruiserweight. He is set to campaign as a heavyweight in future, aiming to become Britain's first world champion at that weight since Lennox Lewis. For a considerable period he has made huge demands of his body to boil down to the cruiserweight limit of 14st4lb. His mission is to emulate Holyfield, who managed to overcome the charge that he was a synthetic heavyweight through sheer force of his will. It was Haye's 21st win in 22 fights, and the 20th to end in a stoppage. For Maccarinelli, it was his second defeat against 28 wins and he must now try to resurrect his career as a cruiserweight.

On the undercard, Dagenham's Kevin Mitchell recorded his 26th straight win, to take the British super featherweight title from Carl Johanneson in a ninth-round stoppage. It was the toughest bout of the 23-year-old's career. Johanneson was on the verge of stopping him in round six before Mitchell rallied and floored the Yorkshireman in the ninth. A flurry of punches then persuaded the referee to intervene.

London notes (2)

Joe Calzaghe, unsurprisingly, is picking his friend and sparring partner, Enzo Maccarinelli to beat David Haye. "As far as I'm concerned, Enzo has the speed, power and everything needed to win this fight," Calzaghe, who will be ringside tonight, said. "Haye looked good against [Jean-Marc] Mormeck, but Mormeck is Mormeck, he's not Enzo Maccarinelli.
While Haye has made a big deal about staying on US time for the late start, Calzaghe is not expecting Maccarinelli to sleep in. "He's like me, so he'll be up early," Joe said. "You always want to lie in but the adrenalin and excitement kicks in and you can't get back to sleep. That's what happened when I fought Jeff Lacy. Have a cold shower at about 11pm and he'll be fine."

Maccarinelli the pick - if he can get past three rounds

I remember the day that the Haye-Maccarinelli fight was announced, I was asked instantly for my opinion of the outcome. I decided to be cagey and opted not to name my pick. About four weeks ago, I was again asked my opinion for the programme - I never replied, I was that torn as to the outcome.
Well, the time has come to pick a winner and my choice, for what it's worth, is Enzo Maccarinelli, providing he can get past the first three rounds.

Haye running on his own time

The gaggle of visiting schoolchildren on their way to the Tutankhamun exhibition probably wouldn't have recognised him, but the scrum of cameramen and reporters were waiting for David Haye, who eventually did show up at the O2 yesterday, albeit too late for his press conference with Enzo Maccarinelli.

Maccarinelli growing into his role as a world champion

About the only cruiserweight unhappy that the limit for the division moved up from 13st 8lb to 14st 4lb a couple of years ago was Enzo Maccarinelli. Despite being 6ft 4in, he made the weight easily. But the 27-year-old WBO champion if filling out. Since switching trainers from Charlie Pearson to Enzo Calzaghe two years ago, Maccarinelli has filled out and is no longer the skinny guy who went into his training camp already on the limit.

Haye decides to sleep through press conference

David Haye has thrown a spanner in the works ahead of Saturday's big fight against Enzo Maccarinelli. Thursday is supposed to be the head-to-head press conference, but Haye says he is not going to turn up, because he is planning to be asleep.

London notes

Enzo Calzaghe is a busy man these days with three world champions in his Cwmcarn gym, all of whom are in action in the next two months. On Wednesday, Enzo was at the Peacock gym in Canning Town, East London, to take Enzo Maccarinelli through his paces on the pads for the benefit of the media. But he couldn't hang about after, as he was straight back across London to Paddington for a train back to Wales for an evening session with his other two world champions. Gavin Rees is defending his WBA light-welterweight title against Andreas Kotelnik at Cardiff International Arena on March 22, while Enzo's son Joe is facing Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on April 19.

Haye hoping to make a big impression in America

There are few more image-conscious boxers than David Haye, that is why, many say, he does his training in a plush West End gym rather than the normal facility-challenged boxing training establishments. The Third Space, within a few yards of Piccadilly Circus, must be nice, it costs a whopping £118 per month to be a member, but it does have a swimming pool, climbing wall, flotation tank and something called a hypoxic chamber - many boxing gyms are considered plush if they have a working toilet.

Calzaghe goes in search of a hoodie

Joe Calzaghe turned up for the start of his three-date US media tour in New York on Tuesday with Bernard Hopkins wearing a smart suit (albeit combined with a Planet Hollywood T-shirt). It moves on to Los Angeles and, while Calzaghe may not be planning to sink to Hopkins's level regarding the trash talk, he is certainly planning to dress down a bit - he's asked for a hoodie.

Enzo honoured in America

It is getting to the stage where Joe Calzaghe (left in picture) could have fewer awards than his dad, Enzo (right in picture). Coach of the year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, voted trainer of the year by The Ring magazine, he has now been voted trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. I only hope the timing works out for him.

More titles, or no belts at all - what is the way forward?

I am sure like a lot of others, I winced when watching post-bout interview on ITV4 after the WBU welterweight title bout between Michael Jennings (left) and Ross Minter. It had been a great domestic scrap, Minter's aggressive style mixing well with the boxing skills on the move of Jennings. After, the pair were particularly respectful to each other and Minter said he knew it would be tough because Jennings was "a world champion". Some may put the pair up for the British Boxing Board of Control's sportsmanship award, others would want Minter up before the Board on a charge of bringing the sport into disrepute.

Haye brings in May as sparring partner

The night I saw Johnny Nelson flatten Rudiger May in Essen, was the last time I expected to be writing about the German. May, 33, has two defeats since Nelson stopped him in seven rounds for the WBO cruiserweight title in 2004 but still retains ambitions of reaching the top will at least get to share a ring with the world No 1 cruiserweight David Haye over the next few weeks.

Mitchell has plenty of reasons to stay positive

Kevin Mitchell has every reason to be a bit fed up ahead of what was supposed to be a big night for him at York Hall this evening.  2007 was a pretty wasted year, 2008 was meant to be when it all came together for him. But it was never going to be that easy.

Is the price worth the risk for Haye?

"I haven't had a proper meal in 17 weeks. A lot of experts said I was crazy taking that much weight off, but to secure my place in British boxing history, it was worth taking that gamble.

"It was a risk I took one time. The way people get brain damage is when they are violently dehydrated. What's the point of having money if you end up in hospital."

Those were the words of David Haye in his dressing room a few minutes after he won the WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles in Paris in November when he revealed he had lost 14lb in ten days, virtually starving himself before the fight. But despite all that Haye has agreed to face Enzo Maccarinelli for Haye's WBC and WBA titles, and Maccarinelli's WBO belt at the O2 Arena, London. What has changed his mind?

Haye v Macc - on the spot predictions

No sooner had the David Haye v Enzo Maccarinelli cruiserweight title unification match been announced than I had Setanta Sports News on the phone to me asking me to go on air. "On the phone will be fine," they said "In ten minutes?"

Of course, the promise of a fee (later retracted) quickly sealed the deal and I'm quite keen on Setanta these days (having nearly forgotten about the row I had with their call centre when trying to get my dad signed up to it six months ago). But Setanta are investing in boxing - it's their money that has helped pay for this fight on March 8 - and that makes them OK in my book.

Is Hide for real this time?

After David Haye stopped Jean-Marc Mormeck in November to win the WBC and WBA titles, the cruiserweight division, with Enzo Maccarinelli as WBO champion, seemed hot as anything. Then Haye said he was moving up to heavyweight and a cold chill spread into the room. Now it looks like Frank Warren has made the Haye-Maccarinelli match for all three titles and the hot air blower is heating up again.

But Haye and Maccarinelli are not the only two British cruiserweights on fire at the moment - across the North Sea, Herbie Hide is re-emerging as a menacing presence.

Cunningham now top of Maccarinelli's list

It was the big fight Britain wanted and never got and even Enzo Maccarinelli, the WBO cruiserweight champion, is resigning himself to the fact that he may never get David Haye, the WBC and WBA champion, into the ring.

Hatton beats Calzaghe

Ricky Hatton was the biggest winner at Monday night's British Boxing Board of Control Awards Dinner when he was named Boxer of the Year, beating his fellow nominees Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli and David Haye.

Haye keeps title ... for now

Despite the promise that he is to move up to heavyweight, the possibility that he might yet defend the WBC and WBA cruiserweight titles he won by stopping Jean-Marc Mormeck at the weekend in Paris.

Watch Haye beat Mormeck

You've read the reports, now see the action for yourself...

Haye holding all the cards

David Haye wore Union Jack sequined shorts, Frank Maloney dug out one of his Union Jack suits and it was a great weekend to be a follower of British boxing. Somewhere on the other side of the Channel, Enzo Maccarinelli must have had mixed thoughts.

Setanta buy Mormeck-Haye

News is just filtering through to me (well I just got sent a text) that Setanta have bought the rights to show Jean-Marc Mormeck v David Haye, one of the most exciting fights of the year, live on Saturday night.

Haye-Mormeck lacking a broadcaster

Three days to one of the biggest fights of the year and, as of yet, there are no plans to show David Haye's challenge for Jean Marc Mormeck's WBC and WBA cuiserweight titles on television in the UK.

Haye's happy

David Haye's WBC and WBA cruiserweight title challenge against Jean-Marc Mormeck, the champion, has met a few problems along the way.

First it was put back from its original September date to Saturday November 10. Then there were problems with the contracts, then no one seemed to know who was promoting the show as no tickets had gone on sale, or whether it would be on television, and no one knew who was handling the accreditation.

The trouble with Enzo

It pays to be a bit cynical in boxing, especially if you pay any heed to the ratings of the main governing bodies. The new WBO cruiserweight rankings, that were unveiled at the weekend, include Mohamed Azzaoui, fresh in at No 14. The move comes just 24 hours after Azzaoui was announced as the new challenger to face Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO’s title on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe’s megafight with Mikkel Kessler.