David Haye… Haye and The Pinky Toe Are Here to Stay & Ricky Burns Goes for his 3rd Title this Weekend

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By Donald “Braveheart” Stewart

“Possibly the weirdest thing I heard this week was that George Groves, 23-3, 18 KO’s had given David Haye, 28-2, 26 KO’s a black eye.”

I wrote that last week. Had I been some kind of God or even pretended to be one I could not have known just how prophetic or even ironic I was being. That is because I saw not one but two of the strangest heavyweight fights in one night. Let me start with the first ever defeat of the man they call “The Cobra”. Arnold Gjergjaj, 29-1, 21 KO’s was meant to be a test. David Haye was supposed to show us how much he could fight, ready to be a contender, meant to be in the ring with world level guys as he lasted the rounds against an opponent who could fight. In the end it lasted for a round and a half… And even that short many in the crowd were struggling to fight sleep… Inside the arena there were boos. Online there was vitriol.

David Haye, as I have written before is a very clever man. But even a very, very clever man cannot force people to line up to be knocked out. It has become so woeful that Haye has been forced into taking on guys who are looking for a payday rather than coming to compete in a contest – I did think Gjerjaj was different – how wrong was I? Could I be any more wrong?

In fairness to the two guys who lined up across from Haye, they have never met anyone of Haye’s caliber, which is why we had never heard of this or his previous opponent. Neither were being mentioned in the same sentence as possible contenders for a world title so it would hardly be surprising if a former world champion got them out of there in less than three rounds – combined – would it?

Haye has been talking and developing his persona as a realistic contender for a world title fight against the likes of Anthony Joshua, 16-0 16 KO’s. preparing himself for the opportunity has been the biggest test of his 2016 as he tries to find the contests that shall challenge him and prove to the punters that he has something worth taking.

If he doesn’t manage to find stiffer opposition then he shall not be tested enough, the punters will not follow enough and there shall be doubts not just creeping but exploding in the minds of the ticket paying public. In steps Shannon Briggs, 60-6-1, 53 KO’s. The Let’s Go Champ former heavyweight champion of the world won his fight in less than 1 round. Unlike Haye’s triumph this did prove a point. Briggs can punch. Briggs is looking damn tidy. Briggs could cause anyone serious trouble. In short – Briggs walks that walk.

That Haye is left joining a circus for another fight is not his fault. There are plenty heavyweights out there who simply do not want to meet him. He is a dangerous fighter who could ruin many of them and stop their assault to the top. What Briggs provides though is the opportunity to get into the ring with a truly dangerous fighter. It means that Haye might have a real battle on his hands. Should he come through it, as I think he would, then chasing the serious heavyweights out there becomes a matter for them rather than Haye. Just now too many people expect Haye to do the business. At the moment he can’t find decent guys against whom to show he means business.

Already that distinction is being blurred by some commentators and certainly by the fans. It is therefore critical he has a decent contest against Briggs and then stands and says I want you… Then they have to respond. At the minute all that is happening is that Haye is talking and hoping someone out there will listen; the boxing public want someone to pay really good attention.

And so to this weekend. It’s going to be a cracker. Scotland’s very own Ricky Burns, 39-5-1, 13 KO’s, goes into battle to become the very first Scottish boxer to EVER hold world titles at 3 different weights. It is easy to underestimate the level of achievement that this qualifies for but there are quite a few trying.

Burns has battled a broken jaw, bankruptcy and legal battles against his former promoter, Frank Warren, whilst his star has shone less brightly over the last few years. He is now free of all of that nonsense to concentrate on what he does best – fighting. His opponent, Michelle Di Rocco, 40-1-1, 18 KO’s, is an Italian with little to tell us he is a serious contender on his record. After 42 fights it can be seen that he has not fought anyone who has come close to the ability and experience of Ricky Burns. I expect Burns shall come through this and be crowned at the end of the night. I would even expect a stoppage somewhere in the middle rounds – such is the gulf in ability between these two.

It is for the WBO super lightweight belt that Adrian Broner, 32-2, 24 KO’s, gave up on the scales. Burns has already spoken of his desire to offer a fight with Broner afterwards. First though it’s Di Rocco who shall feel the world rock on Saturday as Scotland is ready to say welcome back to Burns…

Also on the undercard is the massive British title fight at super lightweight between Willie Limond, 39-4, 11 KO’s, and Tyrone Nurse, 32-2-1, 6 KO’s. This is an old fashioned England Vs Scotland fight and all of us would love a Burns/ Limond 1-2 at the end of the night… I think we might get it…

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