Boxing

HAYE VS. BARRETT: THE AFTERMATH

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20 November 2008

DAVID'S DIARY 
David Haye writes exclusively for the 'News'

AFTER A good eight months of talking and nearly as long training, I finally made good on my promise to enter the heavyweight division with a massive splash last weekend. On Saturday (November 15) night at The O2, in front of 10,000 fans and Vitali Klitschko, I managed to destroy Monte 'Two Gunz' Barrett in the fifth round.

It was just the kind of fight and just the kind of performance I needed to make the rest of the heavyweight division sit up and take note. Hopefully now they'll realise I'm not just any ordinary cruiserweight looking to make some money as a heavyweight. I'm moving up to heavyweight with one intention, and that's to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It's a dream I've had since I was three years of age, and I'm not going to stop until I fulfil it.

Saturday night was all about winning and looking good doing it. We brought in Barrett as an opponent because he throws bombs and comes to fight. We knew he wouldn't stink the joint out or try and mess me about. He was always going to be right in front of me letting his hands go. That makes for an exciting fight. People don't come and watch me to see boring decisions or lots of mauling and hugging. I'm in the knockout business. My fights will either end with my opponent sparked out or me sparked out.

Thankfully, on Saturday it was Barrett who ended up on the deck. We started out fairly cautiously in the opening round and then, as Barrett tried to turn the heat on, it was just bombs away. Barrett was swinging for the fences from the second round on and I was doing a good job of catching him in between swings. I was landing more left-hooks than I've ever done before and seemed to be hurting him with every shot I landed. I don't think there's much doubt now that my power has transferred up to heavyweight.

Although I felt faster and stronger than probably ever before, I also felt Barrett's punches - the few that he landed - more than ever before. It was after the first left-hook in the first round that I realised I wasn't dealing with cruiserweights any more. I could feel Barrett's knuckles through the glove every time he threw a shot. He was heavy-handed and he buzzed me a few times. I knew it would be like that.

Any heavyweight that comes to fight and comes to throw his hands like Barrett will get some sort of success against me. I don't look to become negative when someone 'brings it'. I meet fire with fire. That's what I did Saturday night. My trainer Adam Booth wasn't happy with those tactics, but I managed to pull out the win and the crowd seemed to love it. In the end, Barrett couldn't deal with the speed or the firepower.

It's going to the same story when I eventually get either of the Klitschkos in the ring. It was great to have older brother Vitali there at ringside to see me demolish Barrett. He seems really keen on fighting me at some point next year, which is fantastic news. I'm gunning for his baby brother, Wladimir, first but Vitali will have every opportunity to avenge his brother's defeat when I knock him out.

Next year I'd love to get my hands on both Klitschkos. I'll knock out Wladimir in the summer and then defend the titles against his brother at the end of the year. That would be a dream scenario for me.

Whatever way it pans out, I'm just happy to be in the hat now. The Klitschkos are as interested in fighting me as I am interested in fighting them. They need a nemesis. They need an opponent that excites the public. They won't get that with guys like Hasim Rahman, Alexander Povetkin, Tony Thompson and Juan Carlos Gomez. Nobody cares about those guys. The Klitschkos could go on knocking those kind of guys over until they're into their fifties and nobody would give a damn.

The Klitschkos need 'The Hayemaker'. They need someone to play the ying to their yang. The Creed to their Drago. I want their belts. They need my trash talk and charisma. The heavyweight division needs the fight. Haye against Klitschko - whichever one - will undoubtedly be the biggest fight the heavyweight division has seen since Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson in 2002. I'm ready for it.

There has already been talk of doing it in football stadiums - Stamford Bridge and Wembley Stadium have been mentioned. I'd be over the moon to fight at either of those stadiums. I'll throw another one into the hat - Millwall's The Den. I've been a Millwall lad all my life and would love nothing more than to fight for the world heavyweight title at The Den. The Den has acted as the stage for many unlicensed scuffles in the past and it would be great to give the fans something organised between the two best heavyweights in the world.

I was delighted with the noise and the turnout on Saturday night. My fans came out in force and gave me a great reception as I came to the ring. I'd imagine that noise and that support could be multiplied by about 10 should I be making my way to the ring against either of the Klitschkos.

I've got no doubt Haye against a Klitschko will become a reality in 2009. It's all about deciding which one I'm going to bowl over first. Saturday's semi-final with Barrett is over. The final awaits in '09.

Thanks for all the support!

David Haye
AKA The Hayemaker.

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