The heavyweight division has an allure that the other divisions in boxing do not, it entices individuals from all walks of life and on March 4 we witnessed why. Tony Bellew upset the odds when he dispatched David Haye in the 11th round of there much anticipated heavyweight clash. Haye looked off the pace from the first bell and struggled to land anything significant on his opponent throughout. Despite not being at his vintage best, Haye seemed to be winning the fight up until the sixth round. A simple slip appeared to twist Haye’s ankle and any cause for concern was verified when his movement began to diminish greatly. Bellew capitalised and piled on the pressure knowing the victory was suddenly well within his reach. Haye to his credit survived several knock downs to hobble his way into the 11th round but Bellew was in no mood to show his altruistic side. He unleashed an offensive onslaught that knocked Haye down once more and having seen enough, Haye’s team waved the white towel. The war of words between the two culminated into an entertaining fight and as both men embraced each other in the ring, any remaining bad blood was wiped away and only respect remained. Bellew talked retirement and another outing at heavyweight but with a world title at cruiserweight, he has several options going forward. In war, the victor receives the spoils and the loser tends to leave empty handed and that may be a reality that now faces Haye. Any prior ideas about a heavyweight come back now lie in tatters and with his body once again breaking down, could this be the end of the line for Haye’s boxing career?
We currently reside in a boxing age where losses are considered black marks on a fighters career. An unbeaten record is highly sought after and perpetuated through any means necessary. Haye has tasted defeat twice before against Carl Thompson and Wladamir Klitschko. The Thompson loss was early in Haye’s career whilst the Klitschko defeat was at the height of his heavyweight career. Unlike those previous defeats, the Bellew loss may be the most impactful. There was much made of Haye’s Miami training camp going into the fight and questions were asked about his shoulder injury. Haye dismissed any notion of him being impaired and even postulated that he was a superior fighter now. That was quickly proven to be bravado as Haye seemed off the pace and anything but his best on fight night. Prior to suffering an injury, Haye was struggling to land anything of note against Bellew and when he did throw he looked desperate and slow. Perhaps some of that could be down to underestimating his opponent but the same speed and sharpness that made him a dangerous fighter was gone. There certainly didn’t seem to be any issues with his heart but at this level that isn’t enough. Bellew was Haye’s first competitive fight in over 5 years and it showed but it also showed how far off Haye is from the current heavyweight crop. Struggling against top level guys is palatable but being made to look average by a cruiserweight is a damning evaluation. There are certainly variables that should be mentioned that may affect where he goes from here. Could he have won the fight if he didn’t suffer an injury? Was Haye injured coming into this fight? Was his shoulder causing him issues? Did a possible injury impair his training? They all hold validity but at this stage of his career, is he capable of genuinely competing against the best?
The next move in Haye’s career will ultimately rest on his shoulders but he is currently in check mate with his queen in Bellew’s pocket. If retirement is on the table, a fair well fight against an opponent such as Shannon Briggs would earn him a commendable financial send off. A unified cruiserweight world champion and a world heavyweight champion are accolades that only a few can ever parade. His style and ability made him one of the most talented boxers this country has ever produced and if this is the end, the history books will only strengthen those statements. If Haye chooses to continue, returning to the very top seems highly improbable and although his legacy currently remains unscathed, the road ahead will not be so kind.
The Combat Council 