Timing is everything so the old saying goes and it could be the reason I again just miss out on my latest piece of work being published. I’m in the wilderness waiting to hear from the editors of Britain’s two main boxing publications, wondering where my emailed article has snaked off to, which if any of the recipients grant it a peek when it pings in their inbox.
The tightness of deadlines mean that there’s more chance of it being given a run out by Claude Abrams, however neither he nor his staff got back to me last time I took a punt, whereas Glyn Leach always breaks the bad news with a much appreciated email, unfortunately his magazine’s March issue has been brought forward so it’s going to be tricky.
Timing is a strange thing and I’m starting to wonder if one well timed punch will eradicate all of the surmising, pontificating and navel gazing of boxing pundits the world over as they go into hyper drive this week and try to pick a winner in the Haye versus Maccarinelli blockbuster.
As a tipster, I’m usually dependably useless, but I’m doing well of late, I got Pavlik on points over Taylor last week and also went for Vasquez to nick a points verdict over Marquez last night, largely against the status quo, who couldn’t see a distance fight in both clashes.
Everything points to Haye, he has a bright future, he’s slick, personable, charismatic- hell he’s talking up becoming the heavyweight champ. He’s the fashionable guy, the trendsetter; he looks like a thoroughbred racehorse to big Enzo’s carthorse. I’m getting the niggles though, I think I’ve been here before.
Isn’t this a similar scenario to the flash, brash Nigel Benn taking on the rather less heralded but solid and tough Michael Watson? Watson called himself ‘The Force’ and he certainly was that night in that tent in Finsbury Park. Watson let Benn blow himself out in the early rounds, then dragged him into deep water before stopping him with perfectly placed punches, shots the Dark Destroyer could no longer shrug off in his depleted state.
Haye worries me. This is a guy who’s stamina problems saw him toppled in only five rounds by the grizzled Carl Thompson, a man who’s trainer counts his punches round by round to ensure he doesn’t gas himself out. He’s coming down to an unnatural weight, a weight he admitted crippled him last time out, for a win he feels is in the bag, turn up and get the W is Haye’s mindset.
Enzo alternatively, is training for a war. Spurred on every step of the way by Calzaghe’s father he is pounding the Welsh hillside training his body for a long haul fight. He must be looking to take Haye into the later rounds, a territory ‘The Hayemaker’ has looked decidedly dicey. He doesn’t hit as hard as Haye, his star doesn’t glitter as brightly, he hasn’t the amateur pedigree of his opponent but he may just have his tactics spot on.
As of today I’m still picking Haye to win, by knockout. I’m ignoring the doubts over his stamina, doubts about his chin, his mindset. I’m ignoring the fact that his more limited opponent, who at times has resembled a club fighter is training for the fight of his life, in one of the most successful gyms of recent times.
It has to be Haye doesn’t it? Boxing needs him, needs him to win in style then go chasing those big Soviets a few pounds north. He’s going to take on the world just as Benn should have almost 20 years ago before he ran into Watson. Conjecture, best laid plans and common sense should fly out of the window when these two Cruiserweight juggernauts clash next weekend and one well placed shot could be all it needs. Timing is everything.
