Boxing Betting: David Haye v Monte Barrett

Boxing Betting / Alex Steedman / 09 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Hayemaker steps up to the heavyweight next Saturday when he meets American Monte Barrett. Alex Steedman gives us his verdict...

"And David put his hand in his bag, and took hence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine (Goliath) in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead, and he fell upon his face to the earth." Samuel Book 1, Chapter 17 Verse 49.

Since records began and bullies strutted the earth, smaller men have been standing up to - and beating - bigger guys. Middleweight Stanley Ketchel once knocked over the great Jack Johnson, Mike Tyson was the scourge of the 'big men' in the 90's while Evander Holyfield remains the template of perfection for those, like David Haye, looking to bridge the gap between Cruiser and Heavyweight. Now Haye is no Lilliputian, though he's no Klitschko-like Gulliver either, so his move up comes with the added fascination of size, weight and just how Haye will measure up against the behemoths.

In terms of pure size, Haye and Monte Barrett are similar moulds; both 6' 3'' with a 78" reach. The American hovers around the 220lb mark, a stone-and-a-half above the cruiser limit where Haye has mainly campaigned.

But when Haye dipped his toes into heavy waters last April, he blitzed the world ranked Tomasz Bonin in the 1st round, weighing 217lbs. He's had eight months to recuperate, then rebuild upon that expansive frame of his and I expect the Londoner to come in around 225, maybe slightly heavier than that and likely bigger than Barrett.

Barrett himself is the archytypal gatekeeper to the division - get past him and you probably belong in the top 10, struggle and the future looks decidedly mid-west. He's the perfect springboard for Haye, providing the Brit wins. Barrett has lost six times and with names like Vladimir Klitschko and Hasim Rahman among those, its usually to the better guys.

He exposed the padded record and flawed technique of the hopeless Tye Fields in one round this June, showing composure when windmills were winging towards him. But at 37, some eight years older than Haye, this is no more than a decent payday and the chance to puncture a growing reputation.

And that is always a possibility with the one punch power of the heavyweights. I loved Haye's line on Setanta Sports last month about probably having to retire if he loses this fight, his point being that if he can't beat Monte Barrett then what hope against the Klitschkos. Objectively put but Haye could still cop a stray punch and go on to dominate this division. It's the nature of the beast. But there is no doubting Haye's quality and that he deserves to dine at the top table.

All of his form suggests as much. He wrested the WBA/WBC Cruiserweight belts from a 'proper' world champion in Jean Marc Mormeck with a mature away performance last November, having previously ground down tough Italian Giacobbe Fragomeni, two of 20 KOs on a 21 win ledger. Fragomeni has subsequently won the EU and WBC belts vacated by Haye. The Maccarinelli blow out iced the cake for Haye in March and time will probably prove that a significant scalp.

Indeed, watching almost every heavy match up recently - and that includes the pedestrian affair between the returning Vitali Klitshcko and the truly awful Samuel Peter - has made me wonder what David Haye will do against these sleep walking old boys. Hold that thought for now for Barrett brings a degree of durability to the test. Admittedly Vlad Klitschko had him down five times en route to a 7th round KO in 2000, so and an early Haye stoppage - a statement of intent perhaps - is a distinct possibility.

But Barrett went the distance with Rahman in 2005 and the following year seccumbed only in the 11th under the leaning insistance of the towering Nikolai Valuev. Not form to give the 'Hayemaker' nightmares but enough to suggest Barrett can probably conive his way into the second half of the fight.

You also have to wonder about Haye's approach, tactically. His team got it spot on for Mormeck, will they be as patient in this brave new world? Or will Haye's positive attitude lean him down a more aggressive path? I'm inclined to think that a combination of those factors will lead us to stoppage for Haye, just beyond half way.

Verdict: David Haye to win
Method: Knockout
Tip: Over/under rounds 7-12