By Frank Mullin: David Haye talks the biggest talk in boxing, and his incessant jabbering in the run-up to the fight with Wladimir Klitschko was both ridiculous and gripping. Every opportunity the Haymaker got, he told anyone that would listen with absolute confidence that he was going to knock-out Dr. Steelhammer.
Eventually, lots of people, like bewildered cattle, started to believe him; and as the first bell rang to signify the start of his fight with Klitschko, I’d say most boxing fans were sure that Haye could pull off what many before him had failed to do.
But, with the dust settled and the bruises fading, the Londoner must feel like a bit of a fool. What the fans got in Germany on that evening was a demonstration of inevitability: the big Ukrainian simply did what he always does, and jabbed his way through a relatively easy contest. None of the brawling and chaos promised by Haye was on display: he was just rhythmically beaten-up by the bigger, more experienced fighter.
Success is hard to measure, though, and though David was clearly embarrassed by what had happened – so much so that he got “that toe” out – the Haymaker was paid handsomely – getting the elusive 50/50 split from the notoriously tight-fisted Klitschko – and he got to fight a genuine World Champion in front of a huge crowd and TV audience. And the fact-of-the-matter is this: he didn’t deserve to be there in the first place.
For a man with few heavyweight fights under-his-belt – some would argue few professional fights full stop – he was making some big noises. But Haye knew this was his only weapon in the battle to rise to the top of the division, because his record had virtually nothing to suggest he deserved to get there on merit.
Admittedly, the Valuev victory was impressive considering the size difference, but Valuev is a pretty average heavyweight: he’s slow and doesn’t punch particularly hard despite being so much bigger than all other boxers (and humans, for that matter).
And Haye’s big left towards the end of that fight, the one that looked to have rocked the Russian monster, gave lots of fight fans the taste of possibility… “is he powerful enough to clear-up the division?” some were asking.
Beating Jean-Marc Mormeck was also impressive, but this was down at cruiserweight, and so was flimsy evidence during Haye’s case to fight Klitschko.
Aside from these, though, Haye had nothing professionally to offer as justification for his elevated position in the boxing ranks. Everything else had ranged from the average – beating the glass-jawed Enzo Maccarinelli – to the completely pointless – disposing of Audley Harrison in what looked more like an angry dance-off than a boxing fight.
So, his reputation was built on his ability to shamelessly promote his limited experiences in the ring and boxing capabilities; and his aggressive verbal attacks on his opponents, which the media wolfed-down. Had he kept his trash-talking out of proceedings and attempted to quietly ease his way in to the heavyweight division, he probably would never have got the Valuev shot, let alone a shot at the current King of the big men.
And when David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko finally met, the natural order of things was re-established. After a lengthy wait, some powerful national anthems and a ring entrance littered with drunken Brits, Dr. Steelhammer firmly put the Haymaker in his rightful place, and reminded the World that your mouth, regardless of its size, is no help in the boxing ring.