By Gabriel Princewill
David Haye, the former WBA heavyweight champion, will have to show his mettle and stop Bellew at the 02 arena this Saturday. The Londoner in the last chance Salon where he faces his former conqueror in a bid to save his career.
Haye, once a heralded cruiser-weight, who ambitiously stepped up in weight to win the heavyweight title in 2008, faces a real test on Saturday at the 02 in London. He desperately seeks redemption after being humiliated by a man he loathes and greatly detests. A man whose boxing ability he derided before their first encounter in 2017. Haye who once said he could knock Bellew out with a jab, found himself on the canvass after what was a bad night in the office.
The Londoner’s had overtly undermined Tony Bellew last time out, discrediting his opponent’s strengths, in what eventually led to the embarrassment of his life. However, his saving grace was the fact viewers knew he was injured in the fight and still fought valiantly despite the hamper to his Achillis hill. Bellew dismisses Hay’e excuses a she promises to end Haye’s career with a master class which could make Bellew a big and legitimate name in boxing.
Whilst it is commonly accepted that Haye ruptured his Achilles Hill during his last fight, he still suffers the discredit arsing from the fact he was emphatically stopped in the most humiliating fashion. Haye had notably been lethal in his pre-fight rhetoric, drawing criticism against his boundless taste for excessive verbal blows.
His promise to hospitalize Tony Bellew ominously backfired, and this rematch is ostensibly the platform for him to rectify his failings last time . Notwithstanding the fact 37 year old Haye was relatively incapacitated following the injury he sustained, there are some school of thoughts which attribute the mishap to a reflection of his degenerating body.
David Haye cannot subscribe to this thinking that his advancing age of 37 can excuse a failed performance on Saturday night. He does not, and will be acutely conscious of the fact he must deliver a sound performance to revive his aspirations in the sport. Boxing is replete with examples of former champions advancing in age who have excelled against good opponents , George Foreman was 45 years of age when he regained the world heavyweight title by knocking out 26 year old Michael Moore in 1994 at the M.G.M Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
Bernard Hopkins at 49 years of age still holds a world title belt, and more recently, Wladimir Klitschko also gave Britain’s star attraction, Anthony Joshua, a torrid time in their heavyweight clash, almost stopping the Londoner before Joshua eventually prevailed in the 11th round.
Age can sometimes be a hindering and adverse factor in the performance of a fighter, but not for top class fighters. Haye will not be excused if Haye looses on Saturday night. If Haye is anything close to his former self, defeat to Bellew will invariably define Bellew’s class and competence, or mean Haye was never as good as we thought he was. Bellew is a decent and competent boxer with world class honours in the cruiser weight division , but is he shouldn’t be a tough match for a focused Haye.
Last time, Bellew demonstrated a good sense of timing and distance, boxing smartly in their last encounter, and making Haye miss frustratingly at times. Haye will take charge this time unless he wants to make Bellew a celebrated name in boxing. There is real needle and hostility between the pair, the hate each others personalities deeply.
We should expect a terrific fight, potentially tactical and tentative to begin with, but later exploding into a thrilling exchange by two men fighting greatly for their pride. The venom between the pair is real, they will put everything on the line for this fight. Bellew became a a regular guest with Sky Sports Network , somewhat displacing Haye, who once filled this post.
Bellew is flying high in spirit and will give it his best. A motivated Haye should superimpose himself on Bellew and should see him off in four or five rounds. Haye’s expression of his plan to stretch the fight as long as possible may be a ploy to give Bellew a false sense of security.
Because the longer the fight goes, the more comparable their relative abilities will appear, and the more unpredictable the fight will be. It could go the full distance if Bellew is as good as he confidence portrays.
