Lee Haskins Wins Title Defense & George Groves Gives David Haye a Black Eye!
Last weekend Lee Haskins, 33-3, 14 KO’s retained his IBF super bantamweight title by beating Ivan Morales, 29-2, 17 KO’s on points. In the end this was a contest that Haskins dominated from the first bell to the last. It had been suggested that Morales was not the calibre of opponent that should be in the ring with a world champion and being one of those who thought Morales might not last, I was surprised and delighted when the Mexican heritage kicked in and we got a bit of a contest.
It has to be said that Haskins was never in trouble and managed the fight well; like a champion in fact. Just to remind us of how inexperienced, Morales was, it was the first time that he had gone beyond 8 rounds and the superior experience that Haskins possesses was enough to see him through. Coupled with the awkward stance, even for a southpaw and an awkward style that troubles most opponents, Haskins turned that win into a very comfortable one.
The mandatory challenger is now the UK’s Stuart Hall, 20-4-2, 7 KO’s and to add some spice, these two met 4 years ago for the European title. Haskins came out on top after that one and he believes that he shall manage the same result though perhaps thinks he can stop Hall this time rather than win on points as he did in 2012. All in all, with this win it means the UK still has over 10 world champions…
Possibly the weirdest thing I heard this week was that George Groves, 23-3, 18 KO’s had given David Haye, 27-2, 25 KO’s a black eye. As he prepares for his fight against little (make that not) known Arnold Gjergjaj, Haye likes to finish off his training camp by taking on fighters who are from a smaller weight division so that his speed is… well… up to speed.
When it was announced as Haye’s second fight in his comeback on his world glory trail, there were no gasps and there was little fanfare, most folk asked Arnold who? Having seen this BIG cobra at the press events there is certainly a look of a guy who is after more than a pay day. According to no other than Lennox Lewis there are some other issues that may be lying ahead for Haye. He is questioning whether the new body shape that Haye has unveiled might actually stop his ability to use his speed in the fight. Slowing him down might make him an easier target and therefore vulnerable.
There is further vulnerability in the fact that Haye has moved from being just the fighter and main draw to being a promoter and this, his second bill, is beginning to fill up. It all depends though, upon the spectacle at its head. We might be willing to accept that a good Haye bout along with Shannon Briggs 59-6-1, 52 KO’s showing us what he can do would merit spending some money but Haye needs to keep his momentum going with a statement. Should Haye win and Briggs do so to, then Haye and Briggs’s next fights are made; they face each other – we would need another statement.
As a pathway to a world title shot this seems a little troubling. OK Anthony Joshua 16-0 16 KO’s hardly struggled to get his IBF belt but Haye would, in most people’s opinions, need a better category of opponent than either Gjergjaj or Briggs if he is to seriously trouble the likes of Joshua or Fury or Wilder.
This does, however, ignore the wily nature of one of the best operators in this division; Haye himself. He is well aware that his fights need to grow his reputation and finding guys we have not known beforehand to fight builds his confidence in the ring as well as the ability to shout as long as he keeps knocking these guys down. He is showing us that he is a level above them. If he manages to get past both Gjergjaj and Briggs then who knows which names is next as an opponent.
Haye himself has talked of this being a tough fight which he believes may go the distance. Perhaps believing that he needs the competitive rounds, Haye is looking to develop his profile as well as get back on track with his craft to make a real title fight happen. He can see that whoever wins between Tyson Fury 25-0, 18 KO’s and Wladimir Klitschko, 64-4, 53 KO’s and whatever happens with Deontay Wilder ,36-0 35 KO’s there shall be a gateway fight to Anthony Joshua. He reckons that Joshua shall take on Fury or Klitschko, beat them and look towards Wilder. Once that circus is out and done, then Haye will be sitting pretty as the only serious candidate that makes box office sense. Of course there are many slips tween cup and lip and one of those could come in the shape of an unbeaten boxer called Arnold. I don’t think it will and think Haye shall manage to see him off within the first 6 rounds but in the heavyweight field there are many true stories that make the fiction look… well fictional…
[si-contact-form form=’2′]