Wladimir Klitschko vs David Haye Is Today's Biggest Fight
by Nate Wilcox on Jul 2, 2011 4:13 PM EDT
in Boxing
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MMA fans aren't going to like hearing this, but despite UFC 132 being a pretty stacked card with a title fight, there's really no contest between it and the big heavyweight boxing title fight between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye.
Here's why this fight matters:
- David Haye is the brightest and best hope to take the lineal titles away from the Klitschko brothers in years.
- The WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring Heavyweight titles are on the line.
- Haye is a charismatic English speaker who could potentially help carry heavyweight boxing back into relevance in the U.S.
- Klitschko and his older brother (and WBC champ) Vitali are the most dominant heavyweight boxers of the decade, no question.
Today at 4:45 pm EDT on HBO, Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye end three years of trash talk and grandstanding when they take to a soggy ring in Hamburg, Germany, to contest the world heavyweight championship.Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO) is going for the 50th knockout win of his career as he defends the championship against an opponent that has gotten under his skin like none before ever have, and the first in years that many feel is a legitimate threat to his crown. Haye (25-1, 23 KO) may in many ways be the rest of the world's last chance at beating Wladimir Klitschko, at least before Wladimir gets old.
The Sky Box Office broadcast starts at 3 pm EDT, and since I know many of our UK readers will be watching that way, the thread is up in time for you guys to get us started, and for your discussion pleasure.
There isn't a whole lot more to say about this one. It's been three years in the making and we're finally here. Klitschko and Haye head-to-head today in one of the biggest fights of 2011, and the most significant heavyweight battle in almost a decade.
Like it or not, the Klitchkos are the heirs to the legacy of Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey and Jack Johnson -- the boxing heavyweight champion as the baddest man in the world. MMA may have put a major dent in that reputation, but there's no doubt that boxing is still relevant and the heavyweight king is one of the world's most important martial artists.
If you're wondering who to root for, David Haye is a big MMA fan and a sometime training partner of Michael Bisping.
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UFC puts on great cards that put boxing to shame for the most part..
But absolutely nothing beats a huge boxing main event.
Creator of the FightMatrix rating system [http://www.fightmatrix.com].
I second that motion.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Jul 2, 2011 9:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Haye also had Mostapha Al Turk and James Thompson as bodyguards!
And LOL at Klitschko being the baddest man in the same world that Cain Velasquez lives in! :-)
Also living in the same world as
Dos Santos, Reem, Carwin, Werdum (Minus the recent shitty performance) etc. – Shit, I’m sure even the lower rated Heavyweights with reasonable wrestling and JuiJitsu could take out the Klitchkos…but I dig where Nate is coming from. This does seem like a pretty awesome matchup, and definitely the biggest non-MMA combat event in a while.
"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"
by RearNakedChoker on Jul 2, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't watch a ton of boxing
and avoided Kitctchko fights just because I heard they are boring
But… 50th knockout? Christ… how is a fighter who 49 KO’s out of 53 fights boring?
like I said, I haven’t seena Kiltchko fight (i’ll watch the smaller guys but not HW’s).
Not all KOs are made equal.
Some of those came after he jabbed his opposition half to death through 11 rounds and then finally opened up in the 12th after being berated by his cornerman.
Cooper! Get two coffins. Wait...better make it three.
Chief Editor of Nobody Gives a Fuck About Your Blog
by lowellthehammer on Jul 2, 2011 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
He lumbers through 10 rounds of tedium against inferior opposition
Before unleashing bigass KOs.
So close and yet so far. The story of my sports fandom.
Wlad racked up a ton of KO's with a much-less reserved style
He’s since become a conservative machine with a concussive jab.
Think Semmy Schilt without the kicks
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Jul 2, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
there you go.
some people don’t have the prettiest styles.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Jul 2, 2011 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I just checked the TV guide and apparently this fight card is live for free on one of my basic cable channels! So I will definitely be watching that, even though I’m normally not a huge boxing fan.
If Im remembering correctly,
You’re Canadian, eh?
If you’re in the states, what channel is showing it?
"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"
by RearNakedChoker on Jul 2, 2011 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions
No, no. I’m Swedish! It’s on TV10 here, but obviously that won’t help you.
by Horselover Fat on Jul 2, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions
My bad! I'll never make that mistake again!
You’re right, it won’t help me, but I appreciate the specific answer anyways. :)
"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"
by RearNakedChoker on Jul 2, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey, no problem!
I’ve also lived a couple of years in Norway, so you can keep that as pointless trivia as well if you like.
by Horselover Fat on Jul 2, 2011 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Cool
I’ll remember you as Norweigish or Swegian. :P
"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"
by RearNakedChoker on Jul 2, 2011 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Haye is also apparently being cornered by James Thompson of all people.
Contributor at cagepages.com Come check us out.
Head Kick Legend
Are there DVDs of Wlad we don't know about?
@scb0212
The Machiavellian.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 2, 2011 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup, and Mostapha Al-Turk.
I think they’re his security team, lol.
So if Haye wins, would a match with Vitali determine a real and true undisputed HW champ? How long has it been that’s happened?
It would unify the belts, yeah.
There hasn’t been a fully unified title since Spinks if I’m not mistaken (although Tyson and Lennox were both undisputed champs for all intents and purposes).
Cooper! Get two coffins. Wait...better make it three.
Chief Editor of Nobody Gives a Fuck About Your Blog
by lowellthehammer on Jul 2, 2011 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Boxing is slowly dying
This may hold them up for a little longer, but I don’t see much of a future for the sport as a whole. That said, I’m not really an expert, but this seems to be the only relevant fight in a while.
Let the fighters fight, let the referees ref, but dear God, don't let the judges judge.
The problem I have with boxing is that the events really do only focus on the main event, whereas with UFC events you get a whole main card of fights that matter, plus for some fans, prelims are great to watch too.
by YPG on Jul 2, 2011 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah,
they actually just had a concert and an elaborate walk in sequence on the HBO broadcast. They only showed Klitscho/ Haye.
Xtreme Couture- The best never rest! The girl in my av is Kari Sweets (you're welcome).
"I swear it upon Zeus an outstanding runner cannot be the equal of an average wrestler."
-Socrates
by ElliotMatheny on Jul 2, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe this fight is important ...
But this HBO coverage feels like some real end-of-empire shit.
Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I've understood the art, a punch is just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. -- Bruce Lee
It's really thanks to Germany
Klitschko fights are mega events there
Lol James thompson is walking his fellow Brit out.
David will be ko like him.
by malo on Jul 2, 2011 5:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
HURRY UP HAYE AND GET IN THERE
So you can be humbled so fucking harshly.
Watching the fight/entrances on HBO now.
It may just be me confusing one bald, muscled up British guy with another, but I think James Thompson is escorting Haye to the ring.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
I think
those are his British fans.
Before I studied the art, a punch to me was just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. After I learned the art, a punch was no longer a punch, a kick no longer a kick. Now that I've understood the art, a punch is just like a punch, a kick just like a kick. -- Bruce Lee
Jesus it takes a half-hour for them to even get to the ring.
GSP - A machine designed specifically to stop Jon Fitch from ever becoming champion.
Follow me on Twitter @zakkree so I can pretend I have friends!
this is one of the first boxing events ever to be broadcasted live on dutch TV (for free)
so im watching :)
haye is not going win
the biggest thing on him is mouth. which is going be power jabbed to death by klitschko. to those who say that he and his brother are boring fighters yet like gsp should kill yourself. they have the fundamentals in boxing down. which thay acquired later in there careers. have power and alot of heart. they can be knocked down they can be hurt but they don’t stop fighting.
I missed the James Thompson sighting.. but continued MMA sightings: “Stitch” Duran is one of the cut men, and Adelaide Byrd is one of the judges.
Ok, I just started watching as Klitschko was making his way to the ring. I’m pretty disappointed that I missed James Thompson.
by Horselover Fat on Jul 2, 2011 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Haye is so out of Wlad's league
He has probably attempted more takedowns than landed punches.
So close and yet so far. The story of my sports fandom.
Hmmmmmmm.
If you’re wondering who to root for, David Haye is a big MMA fan and a sometime training partner of Michael Bisping.
I see.
Go Klitschko!!!!!!!!!!
Learn JiuJitsu.
by RolloTomasi on Jul 2, 2011 5:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Exactly my thoughts. Training with one of the most hated fighters won’t help him.
by tremblay6 on Jul 2, 2011 5:42 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Heh, Haye is settling in.
But Klitschko has taken all of Haye’s punches very well.
So close and yet so far. The story of my sports fandom.
Haye looks like a dork out there at times
He’s practicing Brock Lesnar’s disco dance.
So close and yet so far. The story of my sports fandom.
I don’t get why he took a point from Klitschko. It’s Hayes own fault for getting so damn low and falling down. I’m no expert on boxing but that’s what it looks like to me, poor balance by Hayes.
He was warned 2 or 3 times.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
God, I hate Larry Merchant.
Its like watching a fight being called by my 90 year old grandfather who has kidney stones.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Actually, I can't stand anyone on HBO's boxing team besides Roy Jones and Harold Ledderman.
Roy is the only one calling this like a professional right now.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
I like boxing and grew up a fan. I am also a fan of the Klitsckos, who have been entertaining for the most part. That said, there is a reason that the events are held in Europe, there is a reason that some of the events are not shown on American TV at all, even mid afternoon, there is a reason that there is little depth of competition. I’m not saying MMA is killing boxing, because i don’t think that is true. I will say boxing is waning and there are countless reasons for it. To deny that would seem crazy. I think a good first step to regaining its past glory, will be when some of the old guys who run things, move on. At this point, they almost seem to be holding the sport down.
Its mainly LHW-HW.
Its not any more or less profitable to do MMA vs. Boxing for the lighter classes. The thing killing LHW, Cruiserweight, and HW is that if you have ANY athletic ability and size whatsoever, you’re going to play football or basketball before you take a punch.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
Larry Merchant makes Frank Shamrock sound like Stephen Quadros.
So close and yet so far. The story of my sports fandom.
David's movements are sloopy
He is getting ko in this round.
by malo on Jul 2, 2011 6:00 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
so dissapointing
wheres the warrior spirit? why are so many boxers content to lose and not willing to take a risk to win?
well, in this case, styles make fights. Haye fights way too small and was way too reactionary tonight to be effective, and the 50-50 purse split probably wasn’t a bad consolation prize in his head. probably made $15,000,000+ tonight.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
lol cause they aren’t warriors they are boxers
i’m not even trying to imply that mma fighters are warriors either
none ot them are warriors tbh
hell no some boxers are warriors
Klitschko vs lewis while he was crying about Klitschko’s eye. he was steady coming back to crush his butt. the stopped teh figth becaus eof the eye but if they didn’t lewis would have been taken out. the fact he retired after that fight he knew what would have happened in a rematch
Could Tonight Be the Night MMA Kills Boxing?
After watching this fight, if UFC 132 turns out to be an outstanding card, could this be the night? If the sports media actually takes note of the poor showing and hopeful payoff that will come with such a stacked card, we may just be witnessing a historic day in combat sports.
Old people don't watch the UFC or MMA (for the most part)
we gotta wait a few years for the “Old guard” to go away, once that happens MMA will rule.
Learn JiuJitsu.
by RolloTomasi on Jul 2, 2011 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
are you shitting me.
c’mon man, HW boxing has been on life support since Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschko. when Mayweather or Pacquiao fail to draw 750K-1Milion buys per fight and Jose Aldo or Dominic Cruz draw 1Million buys for their title fights, then boxing has been killed.
"A guy in Texas came up to me and told me ‘Frye you're not mixed martial arts, you're no holds barred’, and I said you're god damn right partner." ~ Don Frye
You know just because isnt popular in your neck of the woods or your country doesnt mean its not popular elsewhere.
Newsflash for you. Theres a whole world out there. The U.S is not the measuring stick on whether a sport is popular or is dying or whatever nonsense youre trying to get across.
The stadium was filled with about 50k people. Wait until the ratings come in from the UK and Germany and all across Europe. Wlad and VItali make 20 million dollars a fight. Do you understand that? Do you know what that entails?
by younghispanic on Jul 2, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Today's Biggest Fight
Also probably today’s worst fight.
Terrible fight
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Yet another British fighter that talks too much shit.
Cough cough bisping cough cough Paul Daley cough cough Ricky Hatton cough cough Prince Nassir hamed.
by malo on Jul 2, 2011 6:25 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Prince Naseem
Had 4 world championship belts. For as much as I hated his pre-fight antics, the man could definitely box.
Did you hit him in the bean bag? There’s no shame in attacking a criminal’s bean bag.
by RonSwanson on Jul 2, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
For sure,
I always loved me some Prince Naseem, dude had an awesome style.
Also, your screen name is awesome. You should have Swanson’s Pyramid of Greatness as your avatar :
"The path to enlightenment is through suffering"
by RearNakedChoker on Jul 2, 2011 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
I haven't watched a HW boxing match in a long time...
Stuck at home, dealing with a back injury…figured what the hell…especially since my idiot roommate is gone, so I can actually use the TV.
Good to see that I haven’t been missing anything. Don’t get me wrong, still love the sweet science when it comes to lighter weight classes, but for the life of me, I don’t understand how someone can watch that fight and not be disgusted.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
why are people
sitting around hoping for boxing to die?
why do boxing fans HAVE to go to MMA? let them like what they like. i don’t NEED for other people to get into MMA. i wish for the sport to become legit and to grow but i don’t NEED it. i’m just as happy watching it now as when i first starting watching and didn’t even realize the UFC was even popular.
by Roy r.l. on Jul 2, 2011 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Was that Werdum in there with Klitschko?
He loses to Overeem and gets an immediate title shot in boxing? Whats up with that?
Wait, that wasn’t Fabricio flopping to guard constantly? Looked like Haye was training with Vlade Divac for this fight. Sorry but for a fight that was supposed to re-energize people towards heavyweight boxing again this fight was a flop (pun intended)
Hope no one spent money on this
Haye ran out of steam half way through. Boxing is too limited. I’d just love to see Klitchko get thai kicked and double legged. He’d be finished in the first round.
Boxing decides who the best jabber is in the world. Leave the best fighting to MMA.
So much truth here.
A true MMA fan from the great state of Arkansas.
Proud BElitest.
by MMArazorback on Jul 2, 2011 7:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
oh my god how wrong you are. the jab is the set up and the klitchko's have power jabs.
not only that what you saw was a true heavyweight versus a bloated light heavyweight. haye never had a chance in his fight.
by BIGNAT on Jul 3, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
How wrong you are kid. Haye had a lot of movement and was trying to bait Wladamir so he could counter. Wladamir did a great job given Haye’s fighting style and strategy to pick him apart with a notorious stiff jab. He also has a vicious left hook and a devastating right. Wladamir’s older brother Vitali is considered to be the better boxer, and was a pretty solid kickboxer back in the day.
Best Heavyweight jabbers in the world
I guarantee 90% of the very top MMA fighters could last more than a round, maybe more than 2 or 3 rounds in Boxing if they stayed conservative and covered up against the Boxing champs where as the majority of top Boxing fighters wouldn’t last a round in MMA against MMA champs.
MMA is more effective, and more interesting to watch. Boxing has gone from fight sport to points sport and it’s become pointless to watch.
also for the argument
boxing is not boring just to many people are use to the personas that go with boxers. also styles make fights and figther type boxers are a dying breed in the high spots in the sport. the sluggers are getting beat by the boxers. check out bernard hopkins last fight a champ who was just a big young tree chopper who was high on power but low in boxing skills. that young man got humbled hopefully he goes back and work on his fundamentals.
That fight was awesome…with a capital NOT.
A true MMA fan from the great state of Arkansas.
Proud BElitest.
by MMArazorback on Jul 2, 2011 7:38 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
So you thought you’d follow it up with the most idiotic comment?
The title is fine. Biggest does not necessarily mean the best or most exciting.
"A champion is someone who gets up when he can't." - Jack Dempsey
by Jack.Barrington on Jul 3, 2011 4:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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