Haye v Enzo - UK fight, US time by Ian McNeilly Jan 10th 2008

The cruiserweight unification bout between WBC/WBA champion David Haye and WBO title holder Enzo Maccarinelli will take place in the early hours of Sunday 9th March to suit American television audiences. As with Joe Calzaghe v Mikkel Kessler - a fight which should have had little interest to notoriously insular American sports fans - British fight fans will have to get the Swan Vestas at the ready to assist viewing. Once again, this shows the huge influence the dollar bill has in boxing these days. First bell for the main event at London's O2 Arena will be shortly after 2am. "The exciting announcement for stateside boxing fans was made just days after SHOWTIME announced plans to air the fight on a delay basis," positively beamed a press release from the US cable channel. "Delivering the best boxing has to offer on a regular basis, free to our subscribers is my number one priority," said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Sports & Event Programming, SHOWTIME. "Thanks to Frank Warren and European television network Setanta Sports for helping SHOWTIME deliver this marquee fight live to a US audience." Will there ever again be a fight of true world significance involving a British boxer which will be staged at a time to suit 95% of the fans who want to see it? Not whilst US money talks. Ching-ching. Yawn.

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Its a big 1 Jan 10th 2008, 13:38:29 by I cant wait for this one, Enzo's biggest fight & best oppoinent to date without a doubt. I honestly think Haye would have beaten Enzo 2 years ago, But the move to the calzaghe camp has done Enzo the world good. Enzo has changed and improved so much. I'm putting my money on Enzo to win rounds 8/9 he'l have to much speed and for haye. BUT WATCH OUT FOR HAYES BIG RIGHT HAND. My view on the 2 am start is - If we stay up to watch the big fights that we want to see. Then they should do the same to watch our fights.   USA- Rules the World???? Jan 10th 2008, 03:39:32 by sugarrayginge I am really looking forward to the fight we should see some serious shots being fired from both fighters. Its a risky fight for Haye, he obviously has alot more to lose. If he loses to Macca, what will that do for his future heavyweight career? Haye has said that if Big Mac tries to stand toe to toe with Haye then Macca will be knocked out in round one! As for the 2am start, well it was inevitable. The US believe that they run the World from Washington even their baseball is called the World Series-it only has American sides in it. British boxing has boomed over the last couple of years and instead of embracing that fact, promotors & fighters seem more interested in cracking America. We should stand tall and make America look up at our sport stars and acheivements. Come on Frank its a british event make the Americans wait at the back of the queue for once. Prediction Haye win KO 5th (I think the World Series is actually named after a newspaper who originally sponsored it. Completely agree with your patriotism! - Ed.)