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In recent months it has been said many times, British Boxing needs to have some big fights, more importantly the respective weight divisions needs to have its best fighters, fighting each other to sort out the "True" number
ones.
A fighter who has created a lot of discussion in the last couple of years is David Haye. So many people have an opinion on him, there are indeed so many arguments for and against of how good he really is. Can Haye mix it with the very best cruiserweights in this country such as Johnny Nelson, Carl Thompson, Mark Hobson and Enzo Maccarinelli.
In the last couple of weeks the British Boxing Board Of Control mandated David Haye to fight Sheffield hardman John "Buster" Keeton in an eliminator to see who will be suitable to fight the current British Champion Mark Hobson. Doghouseboxing.com caught up with Keeton to see what he had to say. He was far from complimentary concerning Haye, in fact he went as far as to say he had never rated Haye, and naturally he said he would be be the man to knock Haye out to completely destroy the myth that Haye is any form of "name" or prospect in the cruiserweight division.
Keeton has struggled throughout his career to make a name for himself despite showing promise on a number of occasions that he was about to make a break through into the big time, losses against Terry Dunstan in a British title shot and then two defeats at the hands of Bruce Scott seem to have scuppered any chances of Keeton making decent money and securing a reputable belt around his waist.
However, when I interviewed Keeton I was struck on how determined he was to finally make a name for himself, this is what he had to say:
Spud: John, hello, it is good to speak to you again, the last time I seen you fight was your comeback fight against Paul Bonson earlier this year in Bradford. The Boxing Board have ordered a fight between yourself and David Haye in an eliminator for Mark Hobson's British Title. How do you feel about fighting one of the top prospects in the country?
Keeton: Firstly I really want the fight, any time, any place. I am ready to fight David Haye to destroy the myth that he is a top fighter. It really annoys me that yourself Spud and others can call him a prospect, who is he? what has he done to deserve and warrant the mantle of being called one of the top young fighters in this country? who has David Haye beaten that will send shockwaves through the boxing world?
Concerning me fighting him, you get word to his camp that I am ready to fight him. Fighters like me do not get many chances, so I am going to grab this chance by the scruff of the neck by knocking David Haye out.
Spud: Are you saying you are ready to fight David Haye as early as
March, say for instance on the undercard of the Clinton Woods/Rico Hoye
fight in Sheffield on 4th March?
Keeton: Yes, I will fight Haye anytime. I live 10 minutes from the Magna
Centre where Clinton is fighting on the 4th. You hear so many times, Adam
Booth whinging he cannot find decent opponents for David, what will his
excuse be this time. Come on Spud, look at David's opponent this Friday, he
is fighting Gary Delaney who I beat when Gary was at his best. The only
opponents David Haye fights are people who are not given a chance to
prepare.
So I will repeat I am ready to fight David Haye, I hope Adam Booth will show
some balls and put his so called fighter in with me on 4th March. Haye and
Booth annoy me, they are like "The Crankies" or the "Little and Large" of
the boxing world.
Spud: What makes you think you can beat David Haye? He could argue what have you done to make people think you can beat him?
Keeton: I sparred with David Haye only last year. It was at Dennis Hobson's gym. I had to go into the gym on my own because Johnny Nelson was going to come into my corner to help me out but they wouldn't let him in!
So many people said Haye can punch, I do not think so. I have been in with fighters like Bruce Scott, now there is a fighter who I respect and who can definitely punch.
So when myself and David sparred, he did his normal thing which he is getting a reputation for. He came rushing out in the first 2 rounds, throwing bombs trying to take me out. All I did was tuck up, take everything he threw. In my opinion after 2 rounds Haye had "shot his load", in the 3rd round I started to throw and catch him with my own shots, I felt I came back at him strongly.
But that was it. After the 3rd round Adam Booth called the spar off, we were meant to do 6 rounds, but Booth said David had a shoulder injury or something like that. What was worse I was meant to comeback the next day but they cried off that as well.
Spud: So without wanting to state the obvious are you saying you do not buy into the hype or media coverage surrounding David Haye?
Keeton: I never have. I have been in boxing far too long to get hoodwinked into the hype surrounding a fighter until he has proved his worth in the ring. I will ask the fans on your site, What has David Haye done to make them think he is a prospect?
Going back to my spar with David, I saw flaws in him which made me think he is a fighter waiting to be knocked out. Since that spar I have fancied the fight with Haye ever since. Don't get me wrong David is sharp and has a good range of punches but that is as far as the compliments go.
Spud: How do you think your career has gone thus far?
Keeton: I have backed myself into a corner. At this moment in time I cannot get a fight anywhere, no one wants to fight me.
I have matured a lot now. I know what it takes to get to the top one way or another I will get there.
Spud: Who do you think are the best Domestic Cruiserweights?
Keeton: Outside of Johnny and Carl Thompson, I do not really rate any of them. I have got to say I have a lot of respect for Mark Hobson and Bruce Scott. Mark Hobson is a nice guy and he can box, he has also got a good chin.
Spud: Who would you see winning the fight between Mark Hobson and Enzo
Maccarinelli?
Keeton: Enzo can punch. But, Mark as I have said can box well and has that good chin, so I would shade in favour of Mark Hobson.
Spud: As you have stated you have a great respect for Mark Hobson, if you beat David Haye there is a good chance you could fight Mark for his titles, does this hold any fears for you?
Keeton: I do not fear anyone in the British rankings, all of them are beatable, I have been in this sport for too long to worry about anyone. I just want to fight to prove myself.
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© Copyright / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2005
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Interview by Spud Woollatt (January 19, 2005) 
