Hayemaker the hero
Brit has saved boxing, claims former promoter Maloney
Last updated: 23rd March 2010
Haye: has saved the world by winning the WBA belt, says Maloney
A British or an American heavyweight champion is what boxing needs and I think David Haye has saved boxing in a way by winning the world title.
Frank Maloney
Quotes of the week
David Haye has single-handedly saved boxing...
That is the view of his one-time promoter Frank Maloney, who guided Lennox Lewis to the top of the world some 17 years ago.
WBA boss Haye still has some way to go before emulating the last unified world heavyweight champion but fellow Londoner Maloney believes he has already dragged the sport - and its heavyweight division - out of the doldrums.
In the seven years since Lewis retired the four recognised belts have been passed around with only the Klitschko brothers, Vitali and Wladimir, establishing themselves as genuine forces.
But Maloney believes Haye has the talent and the charisma to eclipse the giant Ukrainians.
"Boxing is about heavyweight boxing. If you've got a heavyweight champion, boxing is here," he told skysports.com.
"People recognise David Haye; they don't recognise these Eastern European champions.
"A British or an American heavyweight champion is what boxing needs and I think David Haye has saved boxing in a way by winning the world title.
"Who knows the Beast From The East (Nikolai Valuev)? He's a nice fella, but he doesn't speak English - and you need a heavyweight that the British and American public can associate with."
History
Haye saw fights with both Klitschkos fall through before he toppled Valuev and has upset them with his infamous t-shirt, depicting him holding the severed heads of both siblings.
But between them the brothers have the rest of the heavyweight division tied up. Wladimir successfully defended his WBO and IBF titles against Eddie Chambers on Saturday night, while Vitali - who was Lewis' last opponent - holds the WBC version.
And Maloney says that if they can get past the bad blood, his former charge can build on his legacy by beating either.
"The fight that will cement David's place in history will be one of the Klitschko's," he said.
"Lennox had those fights: he became Britain's first heavyweight world champion for 100 years which made history; then he fought Frank Bruno, who was the darling of the British public; then he went on and beat Holyfield to become unified champion.
"If David can beat Vitali Klitschko he's established, because Vitali Klitschko is seen as the supreme heavyweight out there - even if half the world don't know who he is!"
Comments (7)
Dan Thomson says...
David can beat Wladimir. I've no doubt about that. Klitschko is an excellent boxer with frightening power and a terrific jab, but he is not unbeatable. Haye is quick enough to cause Wlad problems and has the KO power to get to Klitschko's chin, which may still be a weakness. People talk about Haye's chin, but lets not forget Wlad was laid out spectacularly by big punchers who got inside his guard. Haye has heavyweight power and if he catches Wlad clean on the chin it's lights out. This is easier said than done however as Wlad's defense is 100 times better now than it was, but his chin is still obviously a concern because he fights with a safety first, defensive style almost exclusively and only goes on the offensive when he has his opponent worn down i.e. the 12th rd KO of Chambers. This is because he is still not 100% confident in his own chin. I really think Haye can rattle Wlad early and test his chin. His best chance is by early KO. If Haye fights Vitali its a different fight because VK has a great chin, but he's slower and less mobile. Haye could outpoint him thanks to his movement almost like with Valuev - only it would be 50 times tougher. Haye could do it though. i'm not saying he will win either fight, but he's definitely got the potential to beat them both and he's undisputably one of the most exciting fighters in the world already. If he beats either Klitschko he'd become an absolute superstar overnight!
Posted 15:53 23rd March 2010
Robert Griffith says...
Wladimir Klitschko is the King. In nearly 6 years since his last defeat he has absolutely walked over everyone in his path. Wladimir is on a run that few in the history in the sport could even dream of. Going on 6 years and he has possible not lost a round. The way Wlad controls fight is scary. When Wlad and Haye meet up (if Haye ever mans up) Wlad will without a doubt win by KO. In closing I will say that Wladimir Klitschko will never get the respect or the admiration he deserves from the English speaking world. Let me be frank, Americans, Brits, Canadians, etc have a certain image of what the heavyweight champ should look like. Wladimir invariably does not fit that image. Therefor, there will be those detrractors that make up excuse after excuse as to why this 6'7 248 pound fighting machine reigns supreme. That being said, I have followed the sport of boxing for many a year and I have NEVER seen such a big man display the quickness of hand and foot as Wladimir Klitschko.
Posted 04:45 23rd March 2010
Craig Foxall says...
Haye is the best out of a bad bunch, I cant see many people who will challenge him at the moment and can see him becoming an undisputed world champion but that dose not mean he will be an all time great because he wont, he is an average fighter who is in the right place at the right time.
Posted 06:18 22nd March 2010
Eric Dunn says...
David Haye would be destroyed by either Klitschko. Haye needs to fight a contender instead of fighting circus people or has beens. How about Arreola or Solis? If he can defeat these two, then he deserves a shot against the Ks.
Posted 04:54 22nd March 2010
Ryan Burdon says...
Obviously Mr Maloney has been busy promoting his own fighters or Iam sure he would have realised it's the welterweight division that has been the saviour of boxing over the last 2 years. It's been Manny Pacquiao and Floyd mayweather jr who have kept the boxing fan's tuned in rather than swich over to the UFC. What David Haye is doing will hopefully result in him bringing back the good old days when the Heavy weight division was something to get excited about. ''Good luck to him''
Posted 21:52 21st March 2010
Lee Toops says...
Would agree with Frank here, though only in part. A boxer is only as 'good' as the competition, for as Roy Jones Jnr and numerous other boxers have demonstrated you can be world class only if the competition is up to scratch. That is the brutal reality boxers face regardless of how technically brilliant, how lively or how brutal they are compared to those in the Boxing Hall of Fame. However having said this we can only admire what David Haye is at least attempting to achieve; to pave the way for a new and exciting era that boxing fans have been waiting far too long for. Whether David's hyping of matches has its desired effect on boxers is questionable (as it largely depends on the competition once again to lap it up and to rise to that challenge), but whatever happens what cannot be denied is the fact he tried his very best in terms of extracurricular activities away from the actual ring itself. We don't see many boxers like this come to think of it. Many are up for the challenge but soon sink to a level on-par with the opposition and this is something that I hope never happens to Haye, for he has already proven he deserves far more for trying to 'big them up'. Even the Klitschko brothers are guilty of having been reduced to the level of the competitors around them - it's kind of inevitable though Haye is attempting to prove otherwise. I am not sucking up to Haye for I feel he still has a great deal to learn, but we should all of us give credit where credit is due and hope that we will once again enter into another 'Golden Age' of heavyweight boxing.
Posted 20:35 21st March 2010
British Boxers says...
Frank is correct, Haye brings a breath of fresh air to Boxing and boxing needs an exciting heavyweight division, always have had. Recently the heavyweight division as been at best boring! And it isnt so much the Klitschko's dominence in an un-exciting manner, it's that there is just nobody to challenge them or make it interesting. David has got the talent to get them to sit up, for the fans to take note and an interest in the world heavyweight scene again, that has been gavering dust on my shelf since Lennox Lewis retired. What a great opportunity for David Haye to become the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.
Posted 19:08 21st March 2010