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'This time you are going to see the real Hayemaker'
David Haye has been ridiculing the heavyweight division since he unified the cruiserweight titles and decided to move up.
- AP
- Published: 23:41 November 15, 2008
London: David Haye has been ridiculing the heavyweight division since he unified the cruiserweight titles and decided to move up.
Now the British fighter gets the chance to test his speed and punching power in his first heavyweight fight against American Monte Barrett, who has been in the ring with some of the biggest champions around - Wladimir Klitschko and Nikolai Valuev.
Tall, with a big right hand but a suspect chin, Haye (21-1) believes that he is a natural to thrive in the heavyweight division. He wants eventually to take on the likes of the 2.13-metre Valuev and the Klitschko brothers.
Overweight 'chumps'
The British fighter, who stands 1.90 metres, says many of the current heavyweights are overweight "chumps" who have been around for too long. At age 28, he believes he has time on his side.
"People thought I was an exciting, entertaining fighter at cruiserweight but you haven't seen anything yet," Haye said ahead of Saturday's non-title fight at London's 02 Arena.
"I had to take off 30 pounds [13.5 kilos] every time I had to get down to cruiserweight and I don't have to do that any more. I was still good enough to become undisputed champion at cruiserweight, the No.1 in the world. This time you are going to see the real 'Hayemaker."'
Barrett (34-6) has lost to Wladimir Klitschko, Valuev and Hasim Rahman, who knocked out Lennox Lewis.
"He was a monster," Barrett said of Klitschko, who floored him five times in London before the fight was stopped in the seventh round. He went the 12-round distance with Rahman and was stopped in 11 by Valuev.
"David was a good cruiserweight but I see him as an average heavyweight. You're going to see just how average he is when I expose him," Barrett said.
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