By Dan Horlock

David Haye’s date with destiny nears ever closer, as the European Cruiserweight Champion counts down the days until 17th November when he will meet the unbeaten Italian, Giacobbe Fragomeni, 37, in what is effectively an eliminator to see who will face O’Neill Bell for the WBC title next year.

As fate would have it, the 26-year-old’s next opponent is the same man that denied the Briton the opportunity of competing in the 2000 Olympics by beating him at an Olympic qualifying tournament in 1999.

And according to Haye the memory of that defeat is still extremely vivid, “That was pretty hard to stomach because I'd trained my whole life gearing up for the 2000 Olympics. I was 19 years old and he was the guy who stopped me getting there. It's always been on my mind. Getting the chance to get revenge over him in a WBC final eliminator means so much to me.” 

Since turning professional in 2002, a year after he became the world amateur silver medallist, Haye quickly set about making a name for himself as one of the most ferocious hitters in the sport, obliterating his first ten opponents in just twenty rounds.

But in recent months fellow British Cruiserweight and new WBO Champion, Enzo Maccarinelli, has been making all the headlines while the ‘Hayemaker’ has become a virtually forgotten man.

The Welshman, who recently returned home after a successful promotional tour in the U.S.A with his gym-mate Joe Calzaghe, has declared that he too wants to fight O’Neill Bell and with his raised profile in the U.S he’s become a far more attractive option for the Jamaican.

Indeed, promoter Frank Warren has been doing a good job of championing Enzo stateside, claiming that he is “the hardest-punching fighter in the world.” A statement that will not sit well with the renowned power-puncher from Bermondsey, South London.

Neither will Warren’s insinuation that Haye has been running scared of his charge for sometime, “He (Haye) didn’t even want to fight Mark Hobson”, a man that Maccarinelli took just one round to dispose of, in the second meeting between the pair, last month.

However, it is Warren’s damning assessment that Haye is a “good on-top fighter but he doesn’t like being hit” that really bites down to the core.

Haye, the former model, is known to be a regular on the minor celebrity circuit, holidaying in the party resort of Agia Napa, Cyprus, and by befriending the likes of Jade Goody, the former Big Brother reality television contestant, opens himself up to this sort of cheap shot.

Warren is not alone in his thoughts about the Londoner though, as there have been whispers amongst the boxing fraternity for sometime now about Haye and his inability to take a punch.

Against Fragomeni, Haye will have the opportunity to dispel these beliefs, as the Italian has already outlined his intentions, stating that he is, “coming to London to fight” – making it the perfect stage for the ‘Hayemaker’ to perform.

And perform he must, as Haye’s last showing, a disappointing points victory over Abdoul, left many pundits sceptical as to whether he can cut it at a higher level.

Certainly his exciting boxing style will win him admirers wherever he fights, as at times Haye can be reminiscent of the legendary Mike Tyson in his prime. Slick, aggressive, easy-on-the-eye and unbelievably powerful, Haye possesses all the attributes any top fighter should have – 16 KO’s in 18 professional fights tells its own story.

Pinpointing the heavyweight division as the place where he eventually wants to be there is no doubt that Haye’s all action approach would bring something that has been desperately missing at Heavyweight level for sometime – Entertainment.

But Haye still has a lot to prove as a Cruiserweight, specifically, to show that he has more than just a clobbering right hand in his armoury. Against better opposition, which Fragomeni unquestionably is, he will need to show much more guile and technique than he has ever managed before if he is to emerge victorious.

A win on the 17th November for David Haye will mean that once again he will be spoken of as one of British Boxing’s great hopes, and it will be he that will face Bell, with the proposed bout set for February next year. However, he would be wise not to underestimate his undefeated opponent, who, at 37, is realistically looking at his last chance at a world title shot.