Who wants to fight David Haye?
So, after years of nothing happening in the heavyweight division, David Haye explodes on to the scene with his trash-talking and rapid hand-speed, secures the WBA strap in double-quick time, but then cannot find a decent challenger, what a conundrum.
Poor old David Haye. Never fear though, there are fighters around, let’s take a closer look at the possibilities.
The Klitschkos
If we are honest this is the only fight worth seeing in the unlimited weight class. Not really sure why it hasn’t happened to be honest. All that siblings Vitali and Wladimir talk about these days is Haye and all Haye’s camp talks about are the Klitschkos, yet they don’t fight. It’s reminiscent of bygone playground days when you would tell a girl she was silly, but really you fancied her.
They have been attacking each other creatively though through the medium of YouTube videos and nasty t-shirts, which makes you wonder if the aggression has fizzled out of boxing a bit these days. The only arts and crafts anyone wants to see is their names drawn out on a contract, and this fight needs to happen to restore credibility to the heavyweights and there is even a potential series in it.
Haye actually pulled out of a scheduled 2009 meeting with Wladimir with a back injury, also the collapse of TV channel Setanta probably played a part in that as he wouldn’t have made too much coin off the back of it.
The huge Klitschkos have ruled the division with an iron-fist for around a decade now; their powerful display’s sitting behind rock solid jabs has flummoxed everyone they have come across, but it is boring, jab-jab-jab-jab-jab-jab, enough!
In the fast and fancy Haye they have a genuine challenge and their contrasting styles could produce an exciting spectacle not seen in the heavyweights for years.
However rows over promoters, venues, purses and which brother to take on has shelved this fight for the foreseeable future and levelled accusations of ducking to both camps. Everyone involved should be ashamed for not making this happen. Hopefully they will sort it out soon.
Ruslan Chagaev
Second best in terms of the current batch of heavyweights, but hardly a household name with the casual fan and probably not a money spinner outside continental Europe. Definitely not one the Americans would care for. Chagaev has been calling out Haye lately and at 6ft 1in the Uzbekistani in size terms would be on par with “The Hayemaker”.
Chagaev is a solid unit, has a decent chin, is a southpaw who can pepper opponents with his left, but may come undone against Haye’s hand-speed. He has a reasonable power, but not spectacular and is quite slow; the former WBA champion’s only defeat so far came at the hands of Wladimir Klitschko in a very dull tie.
He is the mandatory challenger to Haye’s title after his win over Kali Meehan on Saturday.
Evander Holyfield
Yes that’s right “The Real Deal” is still going and you will be pleased to hear he still sports that suave moustache. Having won the mighty WBF title against fellow old-timer Francois Botha last month he has now set his sights on George Foreman’s oldest heavyweight achievement as he chases a proper belt.
These days, Holyfield is fighting for money to pay for his mansion, which judging by the photos appears to be the biggest house on the planet. He should arguably already be the WBA champion, having out boxed giant Nicolay Valuev in December 2008, cruelly on the wrong end of a controversial decision, before the big man lost the title to Haye.
This bout would be a bit of a novelty but nothing more than that as Haye would surely ease past the dinosaur. The current WBA champ has learned his lesson when it comes to veterans from his defeat to Carl “The Cat” Thompson in 2004.
Tomasz Adamek
Like Haye, Adamek is a former cruiserweight and would be a popular choice with the large Polish contingent in London. This might actually be a good fight; Adamek’s style could combine well with Haye’s. He is a gutsy and attack-minded fighter with a decent chin and will definitely ask questions of the champ, although he could struggle with The Haymaker’s hand speed just like he did in his defeat to Chad Dawson.
It could be a battle of the slicksters, but there’s no escaping from the fact that the heavyweight division is relying on two big cruiserweights for entertainment. However for the purists this could be the most entertaining option.
Audley Harrison
Oh god, please no. SKY TV is pushing hard for this one and it will certainly draw the passing eyes of sports punters and make a quick buck. For most people it would be baffling as to how Harrison has become a contender and the response it will provoke from the man on the street will be, “Harrison? Really?”
The big guy put himself back in contention with a huge KO of Michael Sprott in the last round of their European title fight. A massive beast of a man and a walking barrel of unfulfilled potential. Harrison can unload bombs, no one has ever doubted that, but he has no heart and no killer instinct, preferring to stand there like a startled rabbit than to throw out his huge left.
Haye should comfortably come through this and if it goes the way of Harrison’s normal fights it will really disgruntle fight fans more than ever, especially if we are expect to splash out £14.99 for the treat of it. If Harrison was to catch Haye with one you never know though, “A-fraud” could become heavyweight champion of the world.
What an alarming thought.
Richard Towers
Such is the state of the heavyweight division is it a viable option to throw in an eight-fight newcomer in for a world title shot? No, it would be extremely unlikely, however Towers has definitely got something. An absolute unit, Towers is a monster in the Valuev class, but a more natural fighter, more athletic and a smoother mover than the Russian.
You would not want to run into “The Inferno” while walking down a dark alley that’s for sure. It’s too soon though in the reformed jailbird’s career, he’s still not past the journeyman stage yet. However he could be fast-tracked to the big time because he is a late comer at 30-years-old and has superstar potential. If they have to look for a domestic fighter to sell tickets and Haye is still kicking his heels in two years time Towers is your man, but for now it is way too early.
So there you go Mr Hayemaker, just a batch of potential opponents for you to work your way through. Realistically we want a Klitschko, it would seem Wladimir is most likely of the brothers to step-up at the moment and maybe they will just bang out a deal and get on with it soon.
There’s also the like of Alexander Povetkin, Valuev in a rematch, Samuel Peter and if Haye is really desperate, word on the street is Mike Tyson’s thinking about making a comeback.
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