Haye - trying to cash in on the football fans

[mbrockett]

first of all, i think haye is great, i'm not slagging him off. he's done a great job on the promotional front which is good for him and good for uk boxing.
however, i've read each of the almost twice-daily stories on him on the bbc website and its becoming clear he's going to be using his support of millwall to get more fans. much in the footsteps of hatton and murray. i've heard millwall mentioned a couple of times since that fight, and now even referred to as 'beloved millwall' and he went on the pitch at half time.
just starting a discussion - is it fair promotional game/ exploitation of millwall fans/ a sign there will be more violence in the crowd than in the ring at his future fights?

[Mazallan]

No.

[calumbo]

well he is a millwall fan apparently so i dont see any harm in trying to gain support from them.
Heck at rangers weve had a snooker player on the pitch at half time(cant remember which one, not a big fan).

If hes to hit big numbers and get big attendaces he needs to widen his audience and obviously gaining supportform football fans ala Hatton will be good for him.
Although millwall are potentially some of the worst football fans for violence in the uk..

[Losfer_Words]

I don't blame him, to be completely honest, and I agree with you:good. A lot of people will now travel to see him just because he is a 'name' now that he has joined a very small, elite club of British HW World Champs. 'HW Champ' is a huge title to those not normally into boxing, as well as the loyal fanbase, and it's quite amazing sitting back and realising what it means to the casual fan; case and point, my Auntie never watches boxing but was a huge 'fan' of Lewis- I fully expect people to now be fans of Haye and Haye as a character rather than be converted boxing fans.

I do find it quite funny that all these new fans have no idea about what he did at cruiser, but who cares? Haye becoming a huge name is only good for British boxing, IMO:good.

[GazOC]

I wouldn't call it "exploitation", even most Millwall fans are adults who can make their own decisions.

[Beeston Brawler]

I wouldn't go that far, Gaz :lol:

[GazOC]

"some" then?

[icemax]

I wouldn't go that far, Gaz :lol:

Millwall are the only club that a Leeds fan can feel superior about :deal

And to answer the question, it is completely fair game. I'm a Donny fan and we have had boxers parading around at half-time showing off their bauble (Witter, and some other British titlist that I can't remember the name of)

[TheUzi]

There was a lot of Millwall fans at the fight on Saturday,some were scrapping with security after the Haye fight as they were attempting to reach the ring.

I,100 percent believe had Haye not got the nod on saturday, all hell would've broken loose and am fearful for future fights involving him as its guaranteed to kick off.

[Beeston Brawler]

Most Leeds fans are wankers as well guys, so I willingly accept any criticism that flies my way.

I actually stopped going to games about six years ago because all I ever heard was......

''Stand up, if you hate Man U....''

''Who's that dying on the runway, who's that dying in the snow....''

The last game I went to was the Millwall playoff game, went out for a few in the afternoon with a mate and a few of his workmates, one of them found out that I wasn't particularly interested in Man Utd and started on me, getting himself locked up for the night for drunk and disorderly - and missing the match :lol:

They cause trouble every time they come here, the authorities should stop them coming. My grandad nearly got trampled by a horse because three hooligans ran up their drive and climbed over the back fence - the copper followed them all the way, cunt :-(

[achillesthegreat]

definitey working. my millwall work mate started telling me about haye being at the game yesterday etc

definitely get the millwall fans behind you.

[SteelTownCobra]

What's he supposed to do?

I played football the following day and 50% of the lads were talking about the fight, and that's in Scunthorpe. I can barely get an opinion on Cotto/Pacquiao.

Haye's profile has sky-rocketed. His next few fights (assuming he keeps winning) are going to do big numbers. He's transcended the sport of boxing already in this country from that one fight alone.

[Jack Dempsey]

A HW Title fight at the home of Super Millwall, its gonna be sweet!!!!

[indie_uk1]

Nothing wrong with getting casual fans following the sport, we cant complain that tv isnt interested in the sport then complain when one fighters popularity rockets as a result of the casual fan.

Davids been on soccer am several times, and has never hidden from his love of football. Hayes appeal is he's a very down to earth guy who has come good. Football and other popular sports like these kind of people

[slip&counter]

more the merrier.

Haye is a genuine Millwall/football fan though.

[jc]

I think its smart to cash on football fans, the demographic is the same so why not?

The reason Hatton got so big so quicxk was because he was at maine road every week, came to ring with Blue moon and had sky blue shorts on...

As for Millwall fans kickin off at fights, i think this is a genuine possibility and we likely happen...

[AndrewFFC]

Yeah, blatantly trying to cash in on Millwalls, vast, vast fanbase.

[NO MAS]

Why shouldn'y he...? it is fair game.. If he could put 20, 000 in the O2, there is no reason why hw could not put 30,000 in The Den...:good

Never been to The New Den, but went to the old Den at New Cross Gate a few times...that subway up to the away end was mad at full time...:scaredas:

[Bodysnatcher]

There was a lot of Millwall fans at the fight on Saturday,some were scrapping with security after the Haye fight as they were attempting to reach the ring.

I,100 percent believe had Haye not got the nod on saturday, all hell would've broken loose and am fearful for future fights involving him as its guaranteed to kick off.

Putting Millwall fans into a German boxing crowd reminds me of that scene in Withnail and I when they gatecrash that pensioners' tea shop and start loudly demanding some booze...

[maniac]

cashing in? he is a lifelong millwall fan who goes on the pitch after winning the title

sure he's got a big following amongst them already judging by the the enzo & barrett fights

[AndrewFFC]

cashing in? he is a lifelong millwall fan who goes on the pitch after winning the title

sure he's got a big following amongst them already judging by the the enzo & barrett fights

He was seen trying to sell fake versions of his title belt out of his car boot after the game.

[rusticraver]

Hopefully he'll start fighting in the states so the pikey scum can't afford it.

Most of them are racist beyond belief it makes me laugh.

Yes i'm a west ham fan

[BigEars]

Heck at rangers weve had a snooker player on the pitch at half time(cant remember which one, not a big fan).


I'd guess Graham Dott, he's a very boring man tbf so I doubt most would remember who he is.

[Govanmauler]

Its just amusing to see Haye on the news and all over the papers. I'm so used to boxing being ignored its like seeing one of your mates on the telly when it gets a mention !

[alba]

i would go down to millwell and sort them out -edinburgh style

[kosaros]

first of all, i think haye is great, i'm not slagging him off. he's done a great job on the promotional front which is good for him and good for uk boxing.
however, i've read each of the almost twice-daily stories on him on the bbc website and its becoming clear he's going to be using his support of millwall to get more fans. much in the footsteps of hatton and murray. i've heard millwall mentioned a couple of times since that fight, and now even referred to as 'beloved millwall' and he went on the pitch at half time.
just starting a discussion - is it fair promotional game/ exploitation of millwall fans/ a sign there will be more violence in the crowd than in the ring at his future fights?

And?

Millwall were also used by Haye to promote the Enzo fight as well (I think it was Swansea - Enzo's team - against Millwall on the day of the fight).

[doggyland]

Yeah, blatantly trying to cash in on Millwalls, vast, vast fanbase.


The 'fanbase' is definitely more vast than anything Fulham could muster.:deal

[AndrewFFC]

The 'fanbase' is definitely more vast than anything Fulham could muster.:deal

We can only dream of drawing 8k a game :hey

[doggyland]

We can only dream of drawing 8k a game :hey


You're premier league mate...You're from SE London - you know the fanbase is bigger than Fulham's....Circumstances have fukked Millwall.
Fulham are a tidy club - but your fanbase all actually go to the Cottage - which is commendable and the best scenario a club could hope for...But Millwall have a bigger fanbase but no cunt goes due to getting branded a racist by any cunt who has ever read a tabloid but never had the bottle to go to a match in SE15 or SE16 . The New Den is in a shit location too - Barnaby shut/Golden Lion/EJs shut - no pubs, no fun :good

[AndrewFFC]

You're premier league mate...You're from SE London - you know the fanbase is bigger than Fulham's....Circumstances have fukked Millwall.
Fulham are a tidy club - but your fanbase all actually go to the Cottage - which is commendable and the best scenario a club could hope for...But Millwall have a bigger fanbase but no cunt goes due to getting branded a racist by any cunt who has ever read a tabloid but never had the bottle to go to a match in SE15 or SE16 . The New Den is in a shit location too - Barnaby shut/Golden Lion/EJs shut - no pubs, no fun :good


Millwall have tons of half followers who will turn out for a big game.

Apart from that Ive been to games at the Den where only 2 stands have been open to home fans.

[kieron]

Why the hell not. It could be to the benefit of all if Tv companies take notice of the popularity it could bring more boxing to our screens. I say good on him and do not consider it exploitation, just good marketing

[zico2010]

Its not like there are millions of millwall fans out there waiting to jump on the bandwagon. Ive seen plenty of boxers at Celtic Park, guys just like to apperar at their teams stadium and the fans usually give them a great reception.

[king s]

He has always supported millwall and has always said he has wanted to fight at the den.

[safc1990]

It usually works so why not? Tony Jeffries is already a huge name up here and sometimes even gets a chant as we usually see him in a box not there from where I sit. And we've also had Sugar Ray Leonard on the pitch at half-time on one occasion. :hey