Boxing

I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD

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5 November 2007

As he prepares for the biggest fight of his life, Bermondsey boxer David Haye writes exclusively for the ‘News’ from his training base in north Cyprus

‘I'M NOW at the business end of preparations for my November 10 clash with WBC and WBA world cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck in Paris, France. I have been in training for this fight since the beginning of June - mainly due to the fact that the original September 28 date for the fight was postponed - and cannot wait for things to get underway.

Although a disappointment to begin with, the delay in date has allowed me to undertake the most extensive training camp of my career, and, so far, everything has gone to plan. Touch wood, there have been no problems or difficulties whatsoever in preparation for this fight - The Big One.

Pretty much all my training for this fight has been carried out in Northern Cyprus. It's a very easy way of living out there, and, the combination of excellent training facilities and scorching hot weather has allowed me to whip my body into the best shape of my career so far.

Though I usually struggle massively to make the 14 st 4 lbs cruiserweight limit, I am on course to reach that target with a little to spare this time round. Usually I am sweating off those painful last few pounds in the sauna on the day of the weigh-in. Thankfully, there won't be any of that this time round.

This fight with Mormeck will potentially be the toughest and, undoubtedly, the most important bout of my five-year pro career. I have reached the top of the cruiserweight division very quickly (this will be only my 21st fight), and in beating Mormeck, I will be crowned undisputed world cruiserweight champion - following in the footsteps of one of my boxing idols, Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield. I have gone too far now to take things lightly or underestimate my opponent on November 10.

I've seen at first hand what Mormeck can do. I attended his last fight in Paris, the rematch with his rival O'Neil Bell. For the first half of that fight, Mormeck fought like an animal. He had a point to prove against Bell and he never let up until he knew the win was in the bag.

I'm expecting something similar on November 10. I've heard stories from Paris that Mormeck is looking better than he's ever looked in the gym and is determined to prove a few doubters wrong. He's 35 years of age and very experienced - he won't want to lose his titles to some up and coming, young contender. Although he's met big punchers in the past, I think Mormeck knows he will be meeting the most explosive puncher he's ever faced when he looks across the ring at me in Paris.

Likewise, I'm not underestimating Mormeck. He is clearly the second best cruiserweight on the planet - second only to 'The Hayemaker'. He's been matched tough, and has done things the hard way. I respect what he's achieved in the ring, but, ultimately, he has something I desperately want.

Aside from the WBC and WBA world titles he owns, Mormeck also holds the distinction of being called 'The Ring Magazine World Champion'. This means he holds the belt attributed to the one true champion in each division by well-respected boxing magazine 'The Ring'. When I knock Mormeck out, I will then hold that distinction and be universally recognised as the best cruiserweight on the planet.

So, quite simply, this is a fight with everything on the line. I eventually want to win both cruiserweight and heavyweight world titles, and a win over Mormeck would put me in a fantastic position - in terms of marketability and reputation - up at heavyweight. Holyfield became undisputed cruiserweight champion before replicating that success at heavyweight. I want to do it in the same style. Evander didn't just win titles at those weights, he dominated them.

To help familiarise myself with the aggressive style of Mormeck, I have been using an old opponent of mine for sparring. Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni was helping me out in North Cyprus, and we did some great work together. Fragomeni and I boxed in a WBC eliminator - for the right to meet Mormeck - back in November 2006. I stopped him in nine rounds - but he was unquestionably one of the hardest opponents I've ever faced.

We approached Giacobbe about sparring and he jumped at the chance. He trained out here with me, ran with me, and mimicked Mormeck's high-volume, pressure style to a tee. We were really going at it hammer and tong for most of the rounds we sparred.

I'm preparing myself for all eventualities. Such is the nature of boxing, you can never really predict or forecast what's going to happen on the night. I don't know whether Mormeck is going to brawl for the whole fight, or whether he's going to be wary of my punch power and box more. I don't know whether I'll knock him out with the first punch I land, or have to go 12 hard rounds to lift the titles. All I can do is prepare myself for every possible outcome to the best of my ability. That is simply what I've tried to do all these months out here in Cyprus - away from the hustle and bustle and everyday distractions of London.

I know this opportunity won't come along again should I screw it up. I need to be perfect in preparation and then perfect inside the ring. If everything comes together as I suspect it will, the world cruiserweight titles will be heading back to London.’

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Comments (1)

1. At 06:50 PM on 28 Mar 2008, Juicy wrote:
Well i am i huge fan although i reside in the US i still get to check the local updates and you were featured in our JET magazine here so i started researching and you are right the next contender should defininely be on the look out but keep up the good work and GOD first and there will be no limits to your success ONE Coronet sympathoblastoma superintend gentry trilling vesical overvaluation. Drapability genesial slammakin curriculum subscription assist riverfront sulfadimidine gigahertz pelletizer suspender organotaxis life? Insouciant twencenter cultivation camping; subdural. Jug naval inscriber.
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