I've personally never been a fan of Haye, and I always hear how he's "the second greatest cruiserweight after Holyfield". Granted it's not a historically deep division and hasn't been around that long but I still don't buy that. I think Qawi mashes him up. What say yous?
Qawi was always generally regarded as the division's all-time #2 as far as I was aware. I think any attempt to credit Haye with that distinction is just revisionism based on his subsequent success at HW. I certainly don't think getting embarrassed by an ancient Carl Thompson and rallying from a near stoppage loss to beat Mormeck outweighs demolitions of Piet Crous and Leon Spinks and an epic SD loss to the division's GOAT. Weak chin + poor stamina/workrate are certainly not ideal attributes when facing a human steamroller, I agree.
To be fair it's not so much boxing forums where I hear it, but I've heard it said many times on Sky Sports, via commentators etc. Any YouTube video featuring Haye will have a comment saying it too. I think it's become a narrative amongst casual fans over here due to Sky's influence, hell I even saw a video where Usyk said it too, and I think Usyk clearly rates higher than Haye.
Qawi from Spinks or Holyfield I beats the shit outta Haye. Haye went life and death, and went down vs the poor man's verison of Qawi, who could spell head-movement if you gave him all the letters. Qawi baits, counters and swarms David until he gassed, then he glasses. Haye doesn't even have a puncher's chance, since Qawi took big shots of George Foreman, Holyfield, Spinks, etc; without, or before succumbing.
Agreed with all. Qawi beats the shit out him. I'd love to be a color commentator and asked about my prediction before the fight. "Well what i see happening is Dwight Qawi beating the shit out of David Haye."
Qawi busts him up. Just a better, more skilled fighter. UK broadcasts/writers would always say ridiculous things overhyping Haye. One writer seriously said he was the fastest HW since Ali.
If Haye somehow won, it would literally be because he put on like 15 lbs after the weigh-in The UK broadcasters are even worse when they lose. When Haye lost to Thompson the commentators said his "career was in tatters". Or when Bruno lost to Bonecrusher after winning every round Harry Carpenter immediately says "The Bruno story is virtually over!"
In that case, I think it's definitely a case of regional bias. Most people arguing for Haye probably don't know and/or care who Qawi even was.
