Big fights have always been boxings best life line. The boxers change, the venues change and the fans change. There’s one thing that doesn’t change, the fans love Champion vs Champion fights. So a British Champion vs A Russian Champion was an easy sell and it sold, quickly.
Havey enjoyed cult like status coming into the fight. He was expected to come in with a smart game plan which he would skilfully execute. He bought speed, experience and ring generalship to the table.
Kuznetsoz was truly feared. People continuously reminded me that one of his opponents had died. I would reply “It’s true, Kuznetsov does have power, but Havey can defend so well”. Kuznetsov would bring power, youth and fear to the table.
The rumour mill was in full force in the build up. I had heard that the fight was off, then on, then off, and so on. I had heard that Kuznetsov couldn’t fight because of trouble with the law. I had heard that Havey had a bad injury and would need to pull out. I didn’t believe the fight would happen. It frustrated me because I could see that this fight had so much potential. Kuznetsov is a pressure fighter and Havey is at his weakest against that style. Havey is a long range counter puncher and Kuznetsov is rumoured to hate counter punchers. In spite of all that was said, the fight happened.
No one could have expected just how badly Havey would look. He boxed awfully and threw minimal amount of combinations. My colleague put it best “Havey doesn’t even look like a shadow of the man he was 5 months ago”. On that night, Havey summed up what a great Champion does. Against the Russian, he seemed uninterested and below average. Far from being the top man, he didn’t even look like he deserved to be in the same ring as the top fighters.
During the first round it looked set to be a good fight. Havey surprised everyone by starting right handed and peppered the Russian with his jab. He evaded trouble with ambitious head movement and fast feet. The second round was more relaxed and both men cruised. Havey lost round 3 but didn’t take many shots. So it was a surprise when Haveys corner were frantic at the end of the round when he sat on the stool. Maybe Havey wasn’t sticking to the the plan. It was all downhill from there.
by the 5th round Havey was being beaten to the punch but continued throwing single shots, and rarely. Kuznetsov landed a big right to the temple that seemed to buzz Havey. More shots followed. Havey moved his head with effectiveness but kept his hands by his waist. After a few more head shots, and with Havey on the brink of being knocked out, the ref jumped in to the rescue and waved the fight off. Holding the Brit upright, the ref pulled his gumsheild out. Havey looked at the ref with disbelief and said “what have you done” The ref replied “it’s over. The last thing a brave fighter needs is a brave referee” Havey said “you stopped that too early ref. You didn’t even give me a chance to get off the ropes”. the ref sympathised “better too early than too late”.
i think Havey looked his age in there. He didn’t seem to have the fire inside him that we have seen before. I’m not a fan but I respect him for many reasons. He has always been willing to fight anyone. He could have jumped on the rumour mill and claimed he lost because of injury. He didn’t do that, he admitted it wasn’t his night and I will always respect him for taking that loss like a man. Unless Havey can turn back the aging process, he should retire. I don’t think he was fit enough for the fight and have never seen him box so terribly. It was sad to see. Kuznetsov was just so much better than Havey. In fact, it wasn’t even close. His post fight interview.
“How are you feeling right now”?
Havey “I’ve had better days, but I’ve also had worse days. It hurts but it happens”.
“Did you have an injury? You didn’t seem to use your right arm much and you started orthodox. You didn’t revert back to southpaw even when things were going wrong”
Havey “I wanted to catch him off guard. I know people will be shocked and they will look for an explanation. There was no injury. I can’t be on form every time. There’s nothing else to it. He was good and I had an off night. The better man on the night won. I won’t make excuses but I will congratulate him”.
“Could you have done better? You didn’t seem yourself”.
Havey “I can always do better, even when I win. On a different night I could have done better. Tonight he was better. I will take it on the chin. I take full responsibility”.
“Did you agree with the referees decision to stop the fight? You did look like you were about to go down”.
Havey “It’s his job. If something bad happens then he’s to blame. My career is not his concern but my health is. I believe he had only good intentions. If I had it my way I would have continued. Even if I was about to go down, I would have wanted to go down like a man”.
“What happens next?”
Havey “I don’t know. I will sit down with my team and my family to see what their thoughts are. Then I will enjoy the summer. There is a rematch clause. Right now I want that. If I fight again it will be the rematch next”
“Thanks Champ”.
Havey “Can I just say thank you to everyone that came tonight. I wish I could have given you the result you wanted. As always, thank you to my wife for the constant support. I won’t ever dodge the dangerous fighters. I don’t mind picking up a loss in the process of fighting the people that you all want me to fight.”
Kuznetsov wins via TKO round 5.
O.G.Bond
English Boxing Union 