Sauerland: Haye could fight Vitali in 2012

By Dan Ambrose: Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) has yet to say whether he’ll fight on but his co-promoter Kalle Sauerland reportedly believes that Haye will be open to facing World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (42-2, 39 KO’s) some time in 2012 without a tune-up fight before then. Haye was beaten recently by IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko by a lopsided 12 round decision on July 2nd.

Haye has been campaigning since then for a rematch with Wladimir, but the only offer he’s getting in return is a fight against Vitali in 2012. Haye said that he no beef with Vitali, and that he wants to fight Wladimir to try and avenge his loss. However, with Haye not willing to fight a couple of tune-up bouts to redeem himself in the eyes of the boxing public, he’s making it impossible for Wladimir to accept another fight with him. But Vitali is willing to fight Haye without him fighting a tune-up bout, and it’s a fight that will make Haye a lot of money. Also, it’s the quickest way to a rematch with Wladimir. If Haye can beat Vitali, which is a hard ask, Haye would then immediately be given the red carpet to a rematch with the younger Klitschko.

“Realistically, the Klitschkos still need David, no matter what they say,” Sauerland said to the daily star.co.uk. “A fight against Vitali would be no problem to make. Vitali has said he wants it and he fought his mandatory challenger Odlanier Solis in his last fight, so he will be allowed a voluntary defense…I don’t think he [Haye] even considering having a few fights before getting another one against one of the Klitschkos.”

I agree with Sauerland. I don’t see Haye willing to fight two or three times to get a rematch against Wladimir or a fight against Vitali. Haye has tasted the big money and he’s in shut down mode. The money seems to have taken away his ambition, like it does with a lot fighters, and he’ll only face one of the Klitschkos if the fight is virtually handed to him in his lap. It’s funny, because the way Haye got beat against Wladimir, he badly needs to at least beat two or three good fighters to make boxing fans forget how silly Haye looked in that fight with him dropping to his knees over and over again. But Vitali doesn’t care; he’ll take after he dispatches with Tomasz Adamek in September.

Depending on how easily Vitali beats Adamek, there is outside chance that Haye-Vitali could take place as early as December. Ideally, though, the fight needs to happen in early 2012 in order to give the proper amount of time to market the fight to the boxing public. The promoters will have a hard task of trying to remake Haye’s image to give the impression that the Wladimir loss was just an accident, caused by an injury or something along those lines.

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