25.09.08 – After months of speculation and numerous pull-outs, former world cruiserweight champion David ‘The Hayemaker’ Haye has today been able to officially name the heavyweight opponent he will face on November 15 at The O2 in North Greenwich. The chosen heavyweight is New York contender Monte ‘Two Gunz’ Barrett, ranked at number six by the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and a former WBC and WBA world heavyweight title challenger..
The fight – scheduled for 10 rounds and screened live and exclusively by Setanta Sports – will pit the man considered the future of the heavyweight division against a man, in Barrett, who has fought a who’s who of recent heavyweight contenders and champions.
The 37-year-old Barrett sports a record of 34-6 (20 KO), including a stunning first-round knockout of Tye Fields in his most recent, nationally-televised fight. Renowned for his durability, cute skills and dangerous right hand, Barrett has shared ring duties with such title-holding luminaries as Wladimir Klitschko, Hasim Rahman and Nicolay Valuev. Barrett also applied the first career defeats to the unbeaten records of Dominic Guinn and Owen Beck. A pro heavyweight since August 1996, Barrett appears to be the ideal barometer of Haye’s hopes as a heavyweight.
“Barrett is pretty much a perfect opponent,” says Haye, 21-1 (20 KO). “He’s a an exciting heavyweight who always puts up a good fight. At the same time, though, he’s also a dangerous heavyweight who has surprised many other up and coming heavyweights. Nobody can ever take anything for granted with Barrett. There haven’t been many boring Monte Barrett fights and I’m sure he’ll be there swinging on November 15.”
As well as remaining dangerous at 37, Barrett also holds a ‘name’ that has been in and around the heavyweight top 10 for the best part of a decade.
“Monte Barrett is a guy that everyone knows,” explains Haye. “He’s fought on all the major US TV networks and his last win over Tye Fields was shown live over here in the UK on Setanta Sports. People know what they’re getting with Barrett. He’s been fighting world-class heavyweights and hanging with them for years. When I beat Monte better than anybody has before, people will start to realise I’m serious about becoming world heavyweight champion.”
Most men that have beaten Barrett have gone on to win versions of the world heavyweight title. The ones that lose to Monte, however, are now nowhere to be seen. A master in the art of snapping unbeaten records and exposing hyped heavyweight contenders, Barrett can’t wait to examine the abilities of Britain’s leading heavyweight player.
“Haye’s caught my attention with all the talk he’s been giving,” says Barrett. “David Haye will be in real deep water coming up to heavyweight, because he’s not bringing any power with him – he may bring a little speed – but he’s going to get annihilated when he fights me because I’m a seasoned guy who’s hungry. I’m not just hungry – I’m desperate. And when you’re desperate you do desperate things. I mean, I don’t wash up when I’m in training camp – I don’t change my clothes. All I do is train and fight. You ask my trainer and he’ll tell you – before the Fields fight I was hitting the wall. I was ready to go.”
The road warrior Barrett is no stranger to the role of underdog and has no fears boxing away from home. He’s been there before.
“I love the U.K,” says Barrett. “Also, I’ve got to redeem myself. The last time I was in the U.K I lost to (Wladimir) Klitschko. You could say I’m not that great against big guys, but Haye isn’t a big guy himself. I’ll get redemption this time in the U.K.”
*** To purchase tickets for HAYEMAKER2: ‘One Hayemaker vs. Two Gunz’’ contact the Box Office on 08448560202. For further information on Haye’s heavyweight curtain raiser or any other forthcoming Hayemaker shows, log on to the official website, http://www.hayemaker.com/..