Is Haye too Flawed to be a Heavyweight Champion?
July 2nd, 2009
By Eric Thomas: Heavyweight David Haye (22-1, 21 KO’s) has been proclaimed by some in the boxing community to be the be the next big thing, the savior of the heavyweight division. I can see why many people might think this, because Haye’s victories while fighting as a cruiserweight where very impressive with most of them ending in knockouts. However, I don’t know that Haye is the one that will be the next big thing in the heavyweight division.
That’s about Haye’s only chance of becoming a champion. If he can wait the Klitschko brothers out until they retire in three to seven years, Haye could have a brief window as one of the champions for a minute or two, if Haye has anything left at that point.
In the worst case, Wladimir will reign over the heavyweight division for another seven years, retiring at 40, and leaving the division wide open at that point. Haye will be 35 by then, not too old to still compete at the top levels of the sport, but perhaps a little too far up there to hold onto a title for long.
In looking at the younger heavyweights that are competing now, Haye would likely have to deal with a prime and much improved version of 6’7” Deontay Wilder, who with his huge size and right hand power would be a grave threat for Haye to have to deal with. Haye would be in danger if he fought Wilder of being knocked out, and that would be a big obstacle that could prevent Haye from winning or holding down a title.
There’s also Alexander Dimitrenko, the 6’7” Ukrainian who has boxing skills similar to that of the Klitschko brothers. Dimitrenko, 26, is two years older than Haye and relies more on his reach and movement to win his fights unlike Haye, who depends entirely on his power.
In seven years, Dimitrenko will only be 33, and still in his prime. Super heavyweights like Dimitrenko and the Klitschko brothers are able to prolong their career due to their huge size, which prevents them from taking a lot of punishment in the trenches.
Haye would have to be very fast if he were to have a chance at beating Dimitrenko in for to seven years. Haye didn’t look all that fast on his feet in his 5th round TKO victory over journeyman Monte Barrett in November, and for that reason I have my doubts that Haye will be quick enough to beat Dimitrenko in the future.
Besides Dimitrenko, there’s also Alexander Povetkin, a shorter 6’2” former 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist for Russia. Povetkin will likely be badly degraded in four to seven years, and beatable. Povetkin will probably be a beatable fighter for Haye in the future. I think this is a heavyweight that Haye will probably be able to beat in the future.
Tags: 19 Responses to “Is Haye too Flawed to be a Heavyweight Champion?”
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BRETTCHKO i don’t dislike either bro but they’re definatley overated.you get the likes of adam saying both bro’s would’ve beaten tyson!!well the tyson of 86,87,88,would have battered both no doubts in my mind there,holyfield in his prime,even bowe would have had too mutch for the klitchroid bro’s.lennox lewis beat the best out of the 2 when he was clearly in decline,and larry holmes would’ve boxed the ears off the pair of them and don’t get me started on ali!!you see they are the best of an extremley bad bunch i don’t dislike either they come accross as nice guys but i’m patriotic and will get behind haye,what’s your excuse coz the last time i checked the ukrain isn’t part of the usa oh yeah you lot aint got anybody that’s why your jumping on the klitchroid bandwagon!!
ITS ON! VITALI VS HAYE 13 SEPTEMBER!
AGAIN IN A STADIUM! IN GERMANY!
THIS WILL BE THE BEATING OF HIS LIFE!
The HW SAVIOR? This is a joke, right? How can he save anything fighting 1 time in 15 months. Haye is a fraud.
natiomality? its got nothing to do with that man haye has’t done aanything to deserve a shot at the hw title!
and tell me that no one cares abou the hw! bull! how comw that everone filled that areana for the klits. fight? and the brits didnt want they’r $ back for they’r tickets they went to the fight so they could see wlad. fight
and they had something like 11 million buys or something like that so dont tell me the div sucks, its great over on that side of the pond it just sucks for usa cuz of who the klits are and what they represent.
america hates the hw div for that reason! cuz the klits are like Gods over in europe, and they both have records to prove it
Lets face it guys, Haye has brought something, even if it is only a small amount, back to this division that has been missing for too long: Glamour, Excitement, Talking points, Debates and probably most importantly….. INTEREST. Nobody cares about the heavyweight division, its is viewed almost as a bit of a joke in recent years, and all this from the division that at one time brought the biggest riches.
Haye, in my view easily handled Barrett. Easily. The man was a solid test for Haye and in my eyes he passed it. Now I think he should have fought at least one more heavyweight, but regardless, he has spiced up the division, if only for a short time. In my eyes, the man wants to win, is a solid boxer (excellent amateur career, world championships anyone?) and he unified the cruiserweight division lets not forget. This is a man who knows his way around a ring and is not afraid of taking on the best, and in their own back yard to boot. I think in this present day situation of ducking the best and political warfare within the boxing business, it is Haye, Froch and the Juan Manuel Marquez of this world that we should be applauding rather than deriding, regardless of nationality. Sorry for any grammatical or spelling errors.
Eric you say that Haye is too small to be a contender???
He’s 6′3”
He’s bigger than Tyson, Holyfield, Povetkin etc. You’re a bellend.
Funny how some Haye devotees repeat their hypothesized version of events of how Haye has suddenly provided excitement and stimulation to the Heavyweight boxing scene without lifting a glove so to speak. Granted, Haye has mastered the art of buffoonery outside the box ring but alas his capers within the square circle have not been as effectual as his “performing” outside of a boxing ring. Haye, since his arrival at heavyweight, has certainly provided some of the more naïve aficionados of clowning around with what they crave however as a potent force in heavyweight boxing Haye has brought us precious little at best. So to Haye I say cut the harlequinade and demonstrate what you’ve got, we are waiting, lets see if Haye can deliver.
First off Mike Tyson woulda been demolished against either Klitschko.And the writer of this article didnt say Haye was 24. He said that in 7 years Haye would be 35 which makes him 28. But by the time that Haye turns 35 he might have faught again. this guy just wants to sit around and run his mouth and hope that 1 of the real champs get pissed and take his azz out so he can get paid and retire. Haye is sitting by the curb where he belongs right now. Get in the ring coward and show you can even compete in the Heavies.
There should be a super heavyweight devision so all the circus freaks that nobody is interested in fighting can lay all over and smother one another. They have a massive advantage with their huge size that is making the heavyweights seem more like WWE. It’s S@#T to watch! Or they should crack down on the amount of clinching their allowed to do. It’s BOXING not WRESTLING!
David Haye is not a great heavyweight. If Mike Tyson
were in his position he would already have knocked out both of the Klitchco brothers and would have been on to a new conquest long ago.
If Haye really wanted to fight he would have already.
We have not had a great heavyweight since the days of Mike Tyson. In my opinion Haye is just a mouth piece. He’s nothing at all.
Haye’s flaw is that he was unable to make it into the ring on the agreed date.
The heavyweight scene is boring and full of bums, Haye has finally bought some excitement to the division, thats why he gets a shot at the title. When are people going to realise that!?!…..
hey deano71 why dont you tell the world the real reason you dont like the klits. bros. or would that be to hard for you to do? i know why… AND SO DO YOU. the real reason, come on man say it!!
This article states that Haye is 24? That can’t be right can it?
Anyway I don’t feel Haye would beat either Klitschko but think he would have a great chance of beating every other heavyweight out there at the moment. Too much is definately being made of Chris Arreola who looks like a slow fat lump while fighting. The only similarities between Dimitrenko and the Klitschkos is there Eastern European origins – nothing else. Dimitrenko has looked very average against low class opposition.
I think it would be an interesting fight and one that Haye should definately pursue in Valuev. He is a title holder and is there to be hit despite his massive size and I think Haye would take it comfortably on points. It would then give him much needed leverage to get a bout with a Klitschko, if that is actually something he would want to pursue when he already has a title.
Honestly klitchko is a boring fighter, But he is very smart. He knows how to fight on the outside. I just want Hayes to win, because it will be more interesting wathcing him stop challengers from claiming the heavyweight title.
But good luck to both of them.
agree with UKansodoff, totally agree……Give the guy a go jesus written off to easily in my book, ok he didnt exactly climb the ladder but hes marketable so he got his shot period… or not as the case is now…..but he can fight he has more than a punchers chance against either brother so we will see…..
Hes not too flawed to have a chance of winning anything. Hes a change from the styles the Klichkos are knockin over each fight and has power and speed wether people wana admit it or not.
However because of his flaws and vunrabilities hes never guna be one of the great champions that comftably retain their titles which is what the Klitchkos have been doin for a few years now.
I think boxers like Haye find titles easy won then easy lost, both in devastating and impressive ways.
Chagaev was a tough boxer. He had a better chin than Haye. You Wlad haters can say what you want about him. He will keep on winning though.
Fighters such as Dimtrenko, Arreola, Johnson are all fighting their way to a title shot and Haye gets a shot by running his foul mouth – and then he pulls out. Is this fair?
when he fights one of the top contenders that’s when we’ll really know!!!i still believe haye would knock out wlad,but it looks like we won’t find out coz wlad couldn’t wait 3 weeks!!!instead he fought the white tyson he he he!!what a joke.then again i’m sure adam could tell you of more deserving fighters to face wlad but then again he’s probably busy suking klitchroid tool!!