Haye Entertains and Khan Defeated In Strange Day for British Boxing

15/07/2012

It had to be one of the strangest days in British Boxing’s recent history. David Haye v Dereck Chisora at Upton park followed by Amir Khan’s latest British Invasion in Las Vegas, against American Danny Garcia.

It looked a boon for gamblers with the outcomes of both fights as predictable as the winners of the 2012/13 SPL. Khan would demolish Garcia, an unheralded boxer fighting above himself in his bout with the lightning quick Bolton fighter.

And the other predictable outcome?

David Haye’s fight would somehow shortchange the British boxing consumer. The fighter, still trying to shake-off the laughable episode forever known as Toegate, isn’t exactly a trusted brand. Many were reluctant to shell out another pay per view buy on Haye.

A sideshow cobbled together on a new channel and officiated by representatives of the great fighting nation of Luxembourg. This was bound to be a disaster. And anything but entertaining.

Saturday’s first shock was that David Haye and Dereck Chisora gave us a good fight. Haye went for the early knockout, he had predicted such in countless pre-match interviews, to no avail.

Chisora marched on. Took his punishment and hung in there. The gulf in class widened as the match went on. It may have reminded viewers of the first UFC where street brawlers took on professional boxers, Jiu Jitsu specialists took on Kung Fu masters. It was a technician versus a brawler. A pugilist versus a fighter.

But it was a good fight and for that we were shocked. And grateful.

Khan’s fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino was always the more significant of the British bout duo. And it’s conclusion was all the more shocking for that reason.

Few if any experts gave Danny Garcia a chance. His father made some questionable comments in the buildup about Khan’s ethnicity. This may have swayed some neutrals to Khan’s corner.

The first two or three rounds everything looked to be going to plan. Freddie Roach had drilled him well. Khan was finding inroads with his superior quickness.

Twenty seconds left in the third round Khan’s World collapsed. His knees buckled and he hit the canvas, not for the last time in the match.

Khan came out in the fourth still shaky from the left that had floored him. Khan had more bottle than an Irn Bru factory. He gave everything but Garcia kept stinging him and Khan’s chin let him down, not for the first time in his career. He hit the canvas again and the ref ended it.

Carl Froch, showing the restraint that is his hallmark, has already come out suggesting Khan should retire. Not surprisingly Khan disagrees. He wants a rematch.

It is difficult to see where he goes from here.