19.10.06 – By James Slater: London’s David “Hayemaker” Haye is one win away from a shot at cruiserweight ruler O’Neil Bell’s world title. If Haye beats the undefeated Italian, Giacobbe Fragomeni in his next fight he will become the mandatory challenger for Bell’s WBC version of the title. And with all due respect to the man who will be challenging David for his European title at York Hall, Bethnal Green in London on November the 17th, he shouldn’t be expected to derail the world title hopes of the big puncher from Bermondsey..
At thirty-seven years of age and with only nine KO’s from his twenty-one wins, Fragomeni is a fighter of a calibre that, quite simply, Haye should look spectacular against. And doing just that will surely be something that will be on David’s mind come fight time. We all know how dreary his last fight, against the survival minded Ismail Abdoul, was.
The negative press accorded a fighter who beforehand could be relied upon for all-out action will no doubt have stung the twenty-six year old. As such he will be looking to put the lights out on Fragomeni. If he does so, his crowd pleasing reputation will receive a huge shot in the arm, and his dreams of world glory will be on their way.
Really then, the fight on the 17th of next month is the most important one in the, now eighteen fight, career of “The Hayemaker.” With only one defeat on his record, coming to the now retired Carl Thompson, David finds himself in a great position. Indeed, he may even be considered somewhat lucky to be opposed, in a fight that is an official eliminator for a genuine world title, by a fighter holding only the perceived modest threat level of the Italian. But all fighters need luck, and after the impressive way Haye regrouped after the learning experience that was his fifth round TKO loss to the teak-tough Thompson, he more than deserves the chance he has got. So, will he do as expected and crush Fragomeni and go on to his first world title shot?
Let’s face it, he should. If he cannot beat the unbeaten, yet untested – certainly against anyone near the level of Haye – Italian, then what chance will he have with the proven Bell? I know Fragomeni defeated Haye as an amateur, but the pro game is virtually an entirely different sport.
How many great fighters in history lost, as amateurs, to guys they subsequently flattened in professional contests? There are quite a few indeed. I believe we will see a much different David Haye from the one we saw purposely holding back against Abdoul last time out. Now armed with the knowledge that he can go twelve rounds if necessary, “The Hayemaker” will enter the elimination bout with the intention of letting go with some punches akin to his powerful sounding nickname. This means bad news for the decade plus older man, who, adding to his disadvantages, stands at Five feet and nine inches compared to his opponent’s six feet and three inches. He too has been in with the ultra-durable Abdoul, also winning on points. But aside from Frederic Serrat, the Frenchman who retired the veteran Thompson, there are no other recognisable names on Giacobbe’s record. In short, he is in over his head against David, and the all-business European champion will make him realise this very quickly.
In the style we had all grown accustomed prior to the Abdoul snoozer, Haye will avenge his loss as an amateur and take out his man in the fifth. As he does, he will pave the way for a potential fight of the year with the man who is currently the world’s number one cruiserweight – O’Neil Bell.