Boxing: Haye shows credentials for world title tilt

It is possible that David Haye will look back on Saturday night and wonder what all the fuss was about.

Haye made the move from cruiserweight to heavyweight in front of nearly 10,000 people at the O2 Arena in London in a fight that had six knockdowns and was over in the fifth round.

It came to an inevitable end after Haye had been dropped after being caught off balance. He regained his feet, fixed his opponent Monte Barrett with a grin, and a few seconds laterconnected cleanly to take him out.

Barrett entered the ring with a top 10 ranking but was never in Saturday's fight and there were many people who suggested that Barrett would actually be a test. In the end Haye's speed was simply too much and Barrett was made to look slow and vulnerable.

In rounds one and two Haye boxed sensibly behind an unusually high guard, but it was obvious from the start of round three that his new found maturity was running out and his impatience was taking over.

Barrett was dropped for the first time by a looping left hook that made him bounce before crashing to the canvas. It is possible that he never fully regained control of his legs from that point.

The second knockdown, in round three, was most probably caused by the top of Haye's head when it crashed against Barrett's chin, but boxing, especially heavyweight boxing, is a tough old business and, short of knees in the groin, just about anything counts.

Barrett survived the round but was twice sent reeling in round four, but amazingly was still trying to land a final punch of his own.

Haye, even when Barrett looked totally shot, was still looking for a sensible ending and not a reckless last move, which could have had dire consequences.

Round five was clearly going to be the final round but it was fairly disturbing when Haye, with his feet in a bad position, was clipped and dropped. As he hit the canvas Barrett connected with a left-hook, which landed flush and forced the referee Richie Davies to deduct a point for an illegal punch.

Barrett took his point deduction with a beaten look on his face and a few seconds later he was in dreamland. The official time was 1 minute 28 seconds of round five.

At ringside, half of the heavyweight act that is the Klitschko brothers, Vitali, was impressed with Haye's speed, but there was a knowing smile on his enormous face. Haye, you see, has a verbal agreement to meet either Vitali or his younger brother Vladimir next year. Between the two brothers, they own three of the world heavyweight titles, and it is said that their mother is a proud woman.

Haye will take a break later this week but there will be a day of furious talk with Klitschko's people to find a few potential dates for the fights next year. Both the Klitschko brothers have manadatory defences to take care of and Haye is likely to have one more fight in March before a world title challenge.

On Saturday Haye proved beyond doubt that he is one of the, if not the, most exciting heavyweights in the world. Next year we will find out if he can alter the title and make it world champion.