The Haymaker is back

The Haymaker is back
by Danny Richardson

Last night, in what was the biggest grudge match boxing has seen in years, David 'Hayemaker' Haye produced a fantastic performance to knock out the tough Dereck Chisora, at a packed out Upton Park Stadium in London. Haye, who improved is record to 26-2, became the first man to knock down and stop 'Del Boy' who slipped to 4 defeats in his professional career, despite giving a brave performance. Haye must surely now be in the frame for a fight with Vitali Klitschko, who himself failed to stop Chisora in February. But will the aging older Klitschko brother want a fight against a rejuvenated Haye? Who knows, but Haye certainly impressed last night.

It was supposed to be a bad tempered affair - particularly after all the animosity between the fighters in the build up. Since their infamous brawl in Munich, both Haye and Chisora had traded insults, and it looked for the entire world that the fight would explode into something nasty last night, and I myself believed something nasty would happen. But, credit to both fighters, the fight was generally clean, and the respect between both men following the stoppage was great to see. They put on a fantastic show for the fans, and some of their credibility is surely restored.

It was Haye that took the early advantage. Looking focused on his way to the ring, walking in to his trademark song "Ain't no stopping us now" you got the feeling that the Hayemaker meant business. Chisora, entering to the Gladiator theme, looked as frightening as ever in his gown, his eyes the only part of his body on show. When the first bell rang, fireworks were expected.

Haye came out fast, utilising his speed and throwing lightning jabs and right hands. Chisora bobbed and weaved, continually coming forward behind his crossed guard, throwing chopping over hand rights which had little or no effect on Haye. Haye switched the attack from head to body, whipping round body shots, obviously keen to back Chisora up. On the inside, both men wrestled, but it was Haye who shoved Chisora back onto the ropes, despite being the lighter man by 30 plus pounds. Haye was wasting energy by doing this, but nevertheless, he produced the classier work, stealing the round.

The second and third rounds followed a similar pattern. Chisora had some success, landing the odd right hand, but struggling to pin the Hayemaker down, who wore trainers instead of the traditional boxing boots to aid his movement. Haye looked slightly off with his movement at times, slipping and tripping over Chisora's feet, who constantly came forward. And, after the bell sounded at the end of the third round, Haye was caught with a big left hook from Chisora, leaving him momentarily stunned as he began to breathe slightly heavier. However, that was the last success Chisora had in the fight, and the only nastiness between the pair.

In the fourth, Haye's class began to tell as he landed a stunning left hook while seemingly off balance, which caught Chisora clean on the chin, halting his come forward approach. At this stage, it seemed that Haye had the power to rock 'Del Boy', who had never been down before in his professional career. In what turned out to be a thrilling round, both men threw hard shots, attempting to blast one another out, the fight we all expected. Despite breathing heavily, it seemed Haye had the all important edge, coming off the better man in each exchange. You sensed the end would come.

And in the fifth round, comfortably ahead on the scorecards, Haye exploded an absolute peach of a left hook onto the chin of Chisora, and a right hand to follow sent the Londoner straight to the canvas, the explosiveness of Haye sending Chisora to where he had never been before, on the deck. A beautiful shot, Chisora was clearly on unsteady legs, as he rose to beat the count against all odds, showing his heart. He bravely tried to continue, attempting to have a shoot out with Haye, but to no avail. The Hayemaker landed a succession of right and left hooks to the head, the final left hand of the night sending Chisora to the canvas once more. Bravely trying to get up, Chisora looked well out of it, with referee Luis Pabon wisely waved off the fight, sending the Upton Park crowd into pandemonium, as well as myself. The Hayemaker was back.

I have to admit, I am a huge fan of David Haye and I always have been. He does have a love/hate personality, but whether you like him or not, he brings entertainment in almost every fight, and last night was no different. After all the talk before hand, Haye and Chisora put on a show for the fans and in my opinion restored some of their credibility. Last night was a success, whether you like to admit that or not. Also, I have to give credit to Chisora. The respect he showed for Haye after the fight was commendable, showing that at the end of the day, settling their differences in the ring was the best cause of action. Chisora knew he had been beaten by the better man, and Haye was respectful of Chisora in the aftermath of the fight too. For that, you have to give both men credit.

But back to Haye, and he showed what he is all about last night. He was dragged into a shoot out at times, but his speed and more importantly, his power, was too much for Chisora. In the lead up to the fight, there was a hell of a lot of talk about how solid Chisora's chin was, the general view being that as Vitali Klitschko couldn't knock 'Del Boy' out, there was no way Haye could.

But, as I correctly predicted, in the fifth round Haye unloaded a phenomenal shot that would have sent anyone straight to the deck. Just before the first knockdown, Haye landed a straight one two before ducking under Chisora's oncoming attack, and that's when I knew Haye's class and power was starting to tell. The left hand which marked the beginning of the end though was a beautiful shot, and you have to give Haye credit for getting Chisora out of there. Yes, Chisora doesn't hold wins over a big name like Haye does, nor as he constantly competed at the level Haye has. But this man gave Vitali Klitschko the toughest fight of his career since Lennox Lewis, and Haye took him out in spectacular fashion.

Chisora did himself proud though, he came to fight as he always does. I'm not going to change my opinion on him, I don't like him as a person and I think he's a lunatic, but I have a new respect for him following last night, and he deserves some credit. I don't think he'll ever be at the top of the heavyweight division, but he'll come to fight no matter who he faces.

He was just outclassed last night, boxing is all about levels, and Haye is a level above. Chisora is at a European level, and bar the two Klitschko's, Haye is one of the best out there. Although after last night, I would strongly back him to give Vitali Klitschko a hell of a battle, and I would bet that the speed and explosiveness of Haye's shots would give Klitschko a massive problem. I'm not saying he would win because Haye does have his flaws, but he would give him a fight that's for sure.

There has been a lot of talk about a fight between the pair, but if I'm totally honest, I don't see the fight coming off. Klitschko is coming towards the end of his career; in fact his September date with Manuel Charr (who gate crashed the post fight press conference, laughably calling out Haye) could be his last ever, before he goes off into the world of politics. But will the fighter in him want to shut Haye up? Of course, which is why the fight could come off. But, my gut feeling is that we won't see the fight take place, which is disappointing, because it's a fight a lot of people want to see.

Haye won't face anyone bar a Klitschko though. The fight with Chisora was a grudge match, and that's why it took place. Haye would have too much experience for the likes of David Price and Tyson Fury at this stage, and I don't see Haye facing an American prospect either. The likes of Deontay Wilder and Seth Mitchell are rated highly across the pond, but Haye would see that as a step back. It's a Klitschko or bust.

As for Chisora, he may want a rematch with Tyson Fury or Robert Helenius. Those losses will surely plague him, so don't be surprised if he goes for either of those too. There is of course a possible meeting with David Price, or indeed Audley Harrison, in a fight where I'd actually want Chisora to win. There are possibilities out there, but he'll want to stay active, albeit at a domestic level. He has to rebuild now, although he'll be back.

But, final say on Haye, and I'm over the moon he got the win last night. He has restored some of his own credibility, as well as that of boxing, after a sell out night in London. There are those who still don't agree with the fight, and those who don't like either fighter. But, last night was a great night for British boxing in my opinion, and the respect between both men after was great to see. After all the events in Munich, the Haye/Chisora chapter can finally be closed, with Haye and boxing coming out as the winners.

www.FightMuseumLV.com