Nigel Benn tells Haye to avoid Vitali

By Boxing News - 11/22/2011 - Comments

Image: Nigel Benn tells Haye to avoid VitaliBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Former middleweight and super middleweight champion Nigel Benn is urging former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion David Haye not to fight World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s). Benn’s comments are based on reports that have been circulating in the media that the “Hayemaker” appears to be willing to return to the ring just weeks after his announced retirement on October 13.

The “Dark Destroyer” was quoted by SunSport saying:

“I think David could beat Vlad, but he shouldn’t fight Vitali. He’s much stronger and is like a brick wall.

“He’s got real power and doesn’t touch the canvas. Wladimir does, but Vitali doesn’t. Vitali’s much stronger and can hold a good shot, so I think David should fight Wladimir if he does return.

“I remember way back when Vitali fought Lennox Lewis in 2003, he’s got the style where you can’t really get to his chin. It will be a much harder fight against Vitali – much more.”

After losing his WBA belt to IBF/WBO/IBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO’s) in July, Haye went through with his long standing promise to retire on his 31st birthday which was on October 13.

The “Hayemaker” put in a sub par performance against Vladimir, and there was some speculation that he would postpone his announced retirement. After losing to “Dr. Steelhammer”, David failed in an attempt to obtain a rematch with his conqueror. In September there were rumors that Haye might opt to fight Vitali, but instead he went through with his retirement on October 13.

There had been much speculation in the boxing community that Haye’s retirement would be short lived and that his retirement was just a ploy to elicit more money in negotiating a deal to fight Vitali. “Dr. Ironfist” has gone on record on several occasions to say that he wants to fight Davie Haye so that as he puts it “I can send him to the floor.”

Vitali was not happy with the tactics David used to build up support for the big fight with his younger brother Vladimir. What was particularly upsetting to Vitali was the incident in which Haye showed up at a press conference wearing a Tee shirt which depicted the decapitated heads of the Klitschko brothers. In short Vitali thinks that Haye’s tactics dishonored his family.

Nigel Benn feels that David did not utilize his full potential against Wladmir and is critical of him for not going to Wladimir’s body on the inside. And although Nigel does not think it is a good idea for Haye to fight Vitali he advises him to go to the body in the event the fight does happen.



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