The old joke is ?I went to a boxing match and a fight broke out?, well not today.
Perhaps it should read; ?I went to a boxing match and a glee club broke out?
Once again we had a heavyweight title fight, filled with trash talking promotions, angry nasty words, and little action from the mouthy challenger.
While David Haye spent a lot of time on the canvas it was more in the spirit of an Academy Award performance than any damage done by Wladimir Klitschko. Scores were 117-109, 118-108, 116-110.
These were generous to Haye in my opinion.
Referee Geno Ramirez was fooled during the first several rounds at the flopping Haye, he eventually saw through the performing and finally after deducting a point from Wladimir, put a stop to the creative antics of Haye by issuing a standing eight count late in the fight after yet another intentional knee to the canvas.
While Haye packed his Broadway bag for Germany, his gym bag was left at the airport, forgetting completely that he needed to back up all his bluster with some risk taking boxing. Instead until the twelfth round Haye seemed content to counter as he could and wait out the opportunity to land that one Haye-maker.
Early rounds went pretty much as all Wlad?s fights have with him sticking the jab and attempting to land that big right hand, periodically tossing a left hook in the mix. The left hook landed when it was thrown with bad intentions but Wlad for reasons known only to him, failed to capitalize on the opening to the chagrin of corner man Steward.
As is often the case in the last 14 or so fights for the younger Klitschko promises made by his foes and shouted at the press conference suddenly disappeared from view when they feast on his long jab.
While Haye landed several good blows he was content as many before him to back off and not follow up when they get on the inside.
Basically 16 minutes of pre-fight hype as fighters entered the ring, eleven rounds of jabs, flops, tackles, takedowns, and one round (the 12th) of action as Haye threw and landed several good shots that put me on the edge of my seat, but rather than signal a come from behind victory only succeeded in energizing Wladimir.
The only good thing to come out of this main event for David Haye was the check that goes home in his pocket as he performed magnificently in the press and at the negotiating table, fooling the world into thinking he stood a chance at the workman like Wladimir who out punched his opponent nearly two to one in power shots and three to one in jabs.
Once again the fight world was bored to death at a heavyweight title fight that was full of promise and left us waiting at the altar.
