By Scott Gilfoid: British heavyweight David Haye (28-2 26 KOs) is in a strong position to get a world title shot for the World Boxing Association belt in 2017 if he keeps winning, and if the desire is there on his part to fight for that belt. Haye, 35, would be fighting the winner of the Lucas Browne vs. Fres Oquendo for the regular WBA title.
The unbeaten 6’9” Tyson Fury holds the WBA ‘Super’ heavyweight strap. It’s unclear where interim WBA champion Luis Ortiz figures into all of this. He should be one of the major players for a title shot given his incredible talent and the fact that he’s the interim WBA title holder.
Haye is supposed to be fighting the 44-year-old Shannon Briggs in 2016 before the end of the year. It’s anyone’s guess whether that fight will come off. It would be nice if Haye comes out and says whether the fight will happen or not.
Haye should have already fought Briggs by now and moved on to bigger and better things. It seems like ever since the two started talking about fighting each other, nothing has happened. Does Haye not fancy the Briggs fight? With the kind of punching power that Briggs still has in his arsenal, I could perfectly see why Haye might not want to fight him. Haye doesn’t have the size of a big heavyweight like the 6’7” Vitali Klitschko to pick the 6’4” Briggs off from the outside without getting clipped by one of his big left hooks or right hands.
“We would love to have David Haye back as our champion, that’s what I can tell you, but boxing is complicated, it’s not easy,” said WBA president Gilberto Mendoza to skysports.com. “David Haye would receive a title opportunity,” said Mendoza. “I don’t know if in 2016, but perhaps at the beginning of next year.”
Well, I do think Haye can beat the winner of the Fres Oquendo vs. Lucas Browne fight, as long as he doesn’t get nailed by a big shot from one of them. I don’t think Haye will ever get a fight against Tyson Fury though if that’s something he wants. I think Fury will vacate his WBA title if the organization tries to force him to fight Haye by ordering that fight.
What does it matter if Haye is the WBA’s champion or anyone else?
I don’t see why the WBA would care if Haye or any fighter is their champion. Just as long as they have a champion holding their belts and defending it on a regular basis, I don’t see why it would make any difference who the belt holder is for the WBA’s strap. I mean, at this point, I wonder if Haye would be able to win a world title and defend it on an annual basis.
It’s not as if Haye has been all that active in the last four years. Haye had one injury after another that kept him out of the ring for four years from 2012 to 2016. What makes you think that his injury woes are finished? Yeah, Haye is doing okay right now in the injury department, but coming events cast their shadows before. You have to assume that a fighter that has had as many injuries as Haye has had in the past would be a high risk for more injuries in the future.
Even if Haye does fight the winner of the Oquendo vs. Browne fight and beats them, I would be very surprised if his body holds together for more than one or two fights before he’s back on the sidelines with another injury. I’m just saying. Haye isn’t exactly a spring chicken at 35. Haye might win a world title, but the only big fight I can see him getting is against Anthony Joshua if his body can hold together long enough to make it through a hard training camp.
It’s kind of sad in a way of Haye is able to get a world title shot based off his two victories in 2016 against fringe heavyweight contenders Mark De Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj. Those are not good fighters, and certainly not good enough for Haye to be given a No.5 ranking with the WBA organization. The WBA aren’t the only sanctioning body that has given Haye a high ranking based off his wins over fluff opposition. The International Boxing Federation has Haye ranked #3 with them. If this was like football, Haye would be in 2nd place based on wins over cellar teams. It doesn’t make sense to me at all. I think the WBA and IBF should at least wait until Haye fights a live body like Luis Ortiz and beats him before giving him a high ranking. Do I think Haye can beat Luis Ortiz? No, definitely not. Do I think Haye will ever fight Ortiz? Nope. I don’t see that fight ever happening, ever.