10.03.08 – Andrew Walker Early Sunday morning in the O2 Arena London, WBA-WBC World Cruiserweight Champion David Haye 21-1-0 destroyed WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Enzo Maccarinelli 28-2-0 inside two rounds. Although the fight was billed as “bombs away” with the suggestion being that both of these fighters possessed the power to end the fight with just a single punch I never thought that it would really happen. My thinking was that in this fight we had two fighters at the top of their game who would take each other to a place neither had been to before in the boxing ring..
A fight that would be brutal and bloody but with both men leaving the ring with honour intact despite one of them having to lose. Instead we got a display off what happens when a carefully matched “World Champion” meets the real deal. Now before you dismiss me as a Haymaker fan boy let me set the record straight. I’m no fan of David Haye and I really rated Enzo Maccarinelli before this fight took place. I thought it would be a tough fight but I saw Enzo Maccarinelli out working the classier Haye to take a split decision.
What transpired was exactly what David Haye said would happen. He claimed he was in a different class to Enzo and it would show on the night with an early finish and it did. Haye looked completely relaxed as he made his way to the ring, a look of confidence on his face like he knew he was in for an easy (and rewarding) nights work. Enzo looked nervous on his way to the ring but what really told for me was when the bell sounded for the first round he did very little and backed away from Haye showing his power total respect.
In contrast Haye marched forward with scant regard for whatever the Welshman could throw at him and soon found his range. Enzo caught Haye but too little effect, whilst as soon as Haye connected Enzo was gone. After the fight a disappointed Enzo Maccarinelli reflected that he did every thing he was told not to but I feel if the pair of them fought again another ten times it would end in the same way.. David Haye is simply in a higher class then Enzo Maccarinelli and all the heart, work and training in the world simply will not change that.
This does not mean I think Enzo Maccarinelli is a “bum” now. Just not as good as I first thought he was before this fight. I still think Enzo can reclaim a version of a belt at Cruiserweight but you have to think that IBF World Cruiserweight Champion Steve Cunningham would fancy his chances with Enzo now a lot more then he already did. As for David Haye his future looks very bright now he is stepping up to the Heavyweight division where his speed and skill will earn him even more money and glory then he has now.
Whilst Haye believes that he can clean house within three years at Heavyweight I think that it will take far longer then that for him to become the undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. Politics aside he will need at least five fights at Heavyweight to get ranked high enough to get a shot probably more and even if he does can you really see him taking out Wladimir Klitschko? I think a 225 pound Haye would beat most of the current crop of heavies but Wlad, although boring to watch is certainly no “bum” who has plenty of speed and skill of his own.
Be a good fight though wouldn’t it?