HAYE VS. MACARINELLI TO BE SCREENED BY SHOWTIME
Posted on | January 7, 2008 | 1 Comment
David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli’s explosive cruiserweight unfication fight will be screened by Showtime in America, promoter Frank Warren confirmed today at a press conference at the O2 Arena.
Both boxers came face to face for the first time since signing to fight on March 8 in London at the O2, which Warren promised would be the modern day equivalent of a “cockpit”.
And as well as catching the interest in the UK – there is currently an unprecedented demand for tickets – it is also big business in the States, with Showtime televising the fight.
Setanta Sports screen it live in the UK.
Today both boxers promised television viewers – and those lucky enough to be in the audience – an explosive fight to rival anything seen in the British ring.
Posing with a detonator and fake sticks of dynamite, Warren promised that it would be “bombs away” come fight night.
“This is the biggest fight domestically since Nigel Benn fought Chris Eubank, and it will be a better fight,” said Warren.
That’s beacause between them, Haye and Maccarinelli have stopped 40 of their 50 opponents – 15 have gone in the first round – and both have been on the floor.
“Our records speak for themselves, we are both the best at our weight, we both love to score knockouts, we have both shown vulnerability and that we have got big hearts,” said Haye.
“I’m excited about this fight. People have consistently asked when it was going to happen, and now it is on. I’m happy, the fans are happy and people are going to have a great night’s entertainment.”
Maccarinelli added: “This is a fight everyone wants to see. You’ve got two boys who look to fight the same way, they look to take the other person out.
“If it doesn’t finish early then you are going to see 12 of the most brutal rounds ever witnessed in a British boxing ring, and that’s a fact.”
Haye added: “I’ll second that.”
Meanwhile Haye insisted that he had not taken the fight because of money, but to cement his legacy as the best in the world – and also dismissed concerns about making the 14’4 cruiserweight limit.
“It?s not about the money,” said the 27-year-old Londoner, who will come to the ring with a 20-1 (19) record and the WBA and WBC cruiserweight titles.
“I want to be the undisputed number one,” said Haye.
“I was looking at going to heavyweight, and we had Hasim Rahman lined up, but I said to Adam Booth do what you can to make the Maccarinelli fight.
“In 50 years time when I?m looking back at everything, I?ll say I fought the best around. This is the fight everyone wants to see. No one looks at the record books and says he was tight at the weight ? who cares? Enzo Maccarinelli is a big name, it?s a flat 50-50 fight.
“I?ve been getting e-mails from fans of mine saying don?t take the fight, but it’s the best fight out there for me.”
Until the fight was unexpectedly announced just after Christmas, no one believed Haye would remain at cruiserweight following his win over Jean Marc Mormeck to lift the WBC and WBA titles.
Before that contest, Haye insisted that the strain of making cruiserweight was adversely affecting his career, and it would be his last fight at 14’4.
Once more he expects to move up to heavyweight after beating Maccarinelli – but said the weight would not be a factor against the 27-year-old Welshman.
“I didn?t go too mad over Christmas and didn?t get too high in terms of weight, I looked after myself and stayed healthy,” said Haye.
“I thought there was a 10% chance of this fight coming off, so I took that into account.
“I?ll have to make a sacrifice for a couple of months. The fight is made and my weight is great, I don?t think that is going to be a factor.
“It?s 100% under control. I live a good clean lifestyle. Don?t worry about the weight too much. Everything is under control.”
Maccarinelli, the WBO champion, has long hankered after a fight with Haye, but insisted he won’t be awed by his reputation as a puncher
“Come fight night I?m going to be bringing everything I?ve got,” said the Swansea fighter, who is 28-1 (21).
“The fight is not a risk. I want to be the man at cruiserweight and do that I have to beat David Haye.
“Speaking as a fan, it?s the fight I want to see, two guys fighting the same way, trying to rip each other?s head off.
“Like me, David Haye will try and impose himself in the centre of that ring. He can punch, but as I?ve said, I want to be the man and to do that I have to beat him.
“I’m capable of stepping on the gas from the first round, and that’s what I’ll be looking to do.
“People have been saying that Haye is stronger than me, faster than me, fitter than me, punches harder than me, is the better boxer, but I don’t believe that, and on March 8 we will find out.
“It took Joe Calzaghe 10 years to get his unfication fight, and getting mine inside two years, with so much of my career ahead of me, is fantastic.”