Tyson says Haye needs Klitschko fight
The one and only Mike Tyson is a firm believer in David Haye, the WBA heavyweight champion, but believes he has to test himself against the Klitschko brothers before he can call himself the best of the best.
While Haye made a primary title defence of his title against John Ruiz earlier this year, he has yet to agree to a date with the Ukrainian born Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Instead, Haye has received criticism from many for failing to secure a next bout, and for allegedly avoiding the Klitschkos. In recent weeks he has been involved in verbal disputes with Audley Harrison, and reports suggest a November 13 date for the two. The fight would be a big draw in the UK.
Tyson, the youngest heavyweight champ in history, said: "I cannot see Haye versus Harrison being anything other than a warm-up fight and David does not need warm-ups at this stage of his career."
Tyson continued, "He won the title fair and square in beating Nikolai Valuev and defended it well against Ruiz, so now it has to be time for the Klitschkos. They are the opponents he should be facing.”
Haye boasts 24 victories in 25 bouts, with 22 KOs. He is the first British heavyweight to win a heavyweight title since Lennox Lewis.
"I'm a big David Haye fan as he has the charisma and smarts to be the best heavyweight out there, but he is not going to prove that by beating Harrison. Haye needs to lighten up the heavyweight division and he can become its saviour by fighting and beating the best. That is the only way to do it in boxing," Tyson opined.
There has been speculation that Tyson will come out of retirement to compete again. He made headlines recently for saying that his life was a waste and that he’d like to dedicate it to doing good deeds. In November 1986 Tyson won the WBC heavyweight title at just 20 years old, and unified it within a year.
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