David Haye is one of British boxing’s biggest stars.
Very few fighters are as entertaining both in and out of the ring as David Haye (28-4, 26ko’s).
Whilst many are talking about ‘The Hayemaker’s’ savage persona in ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here All Stars, us boxing fans already knew this.
The outspoken Haye is one of very few fighters in the modern generation that has truly transcended boxing.
Yes his personality played a vital part in that, but without his in the ring antics, none of this would’ve happened.
From South London, David Haye went on to become just one of three people to win world titles at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
He’s in good company in that remark, with the other two being Evander Holyfield (44-10-2, 29ko’s) and Oleksandr Usyk (24-0, 16ko’s).
In a recent interview with SunSport, Haye ranked his toughest opponents in these categories: jab, right hand, left hand, defence, footwork and power.
Jab
David Haye stated: “Definitely the best jab was Vladimir Klitschko”.
“He had a very long, educated jab”.
The jab was a large part of the Ukrainians decade long reign at the top of the sport.
Right hand
“Lolenga Mock”.
“There was a guy called Lolenga Mock that I got decked when I was in my like fourth or fifth fight and he hit me with an overhand right, right on the temple and it wiped me out”.
Mock was Haye’s 7th opponent and the first man to put him on the canvas.
The Hayemaker used his powers of recoveries to turn the fight around and win by technical knockout in the 4th round.
Left Hand
“That’s Jean-Marc Mormeck, the left hook”.
“He threw it short. He got in close and threw it short so I didn’t see it and that was definitely the problem”.
“That was a big problem for me, that one, but once again I managed it”
In another fight where Haye hit the canvas, but this was was a lot higher magnitude.
Once again Haye responded viciously, becoming WBC cruiserweight champion with a 7th round TKO.
Defence
“I’d say that’s probably a mixture of Tony Bellew and Klitschko, for very, very different reasons”.
“Bellew was able to read the action, read the fight. His defence is based on what he knows you’re gonna do and he has something set behind it, whereas Wladimir for instance, was very good defensively”.
Tony Bellew has often admitted that David Haye was a far more accomplished fighter, but styles make fights and the scousers style was able to counter Haye on his way to two famous stoppage victories to close the curtain on the Hayemakers career.
Footwork
“Once again, I’d say Wladimir Klitschko”.
“He was just kind of on the outside, but if he saw something, he’d be able to spring and cover a lot of ground because he’s so big and long”.
Power
“I’d say Nikolai Valuev. Of the few shots I did take from Valuev, it was like noticeably different, the weight”.
“He didn’t have to load up because he’s so big, 7ft and 150 kg, he doesn’t have to load up the punches, he’s just naturally bigger, so he kind of just flicks his arm out and him flicking his arm out is the same as someone loading up”.
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