Haye: “I Might Have To Fight Both The Klitschkos To Unify The Titles”

By Boxing News - 09/12/2008 - Comments

haye5634574.jpgBy Sean McDaniel: In a recent interview with The Sun, former cruiserweight champion David Haye (21-1, 20 KOs), getting a little ahead of himself in his future goals, commented that he may need to fight both Klitschko brothers in order to unify the titles. Apparently, Haye, 27, is going by the assumption that he’ll be defeating IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko next year when they’ll possibly be meeting. At the same time, Haye also appears to be going by the presumption that Wladimir’s brother, Vitali Klitschko, will defeat World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Samuel Peter on October 11th.

Haye’s courage and boldness is somewhat refreshing in comparison to the dull Wladimir, who has rarely brought any life to the heavyweight division since winning his IBF title in 2006, but Haye has left himself open to being badly embarrassed should he fail at his goals of winning the title. Without having yet selected an opponent for his second fight as a heavyweight on November 15th, Haye, the fighter/promoter, seems to be looking past his first real test as a heavyweight. If he carries out his promise of fighting a top 10 fighter, then he may not get past whoever he ends of fighting, much less one of the Klitschko brothers.

Recently, the word going around the Internet boxing communities is that Haye is looking at fighting number #7th ranked WBA heavyweight contender Kevin Johnson, a light-hitting fighter known mostly for his excellent jab but little else. If this turns out to be Haye’s opponent, he might be extremely lucky to get by him. Not that Johnson has any real power, but because he’s capable of fighting at a distance, winning rounds with his superb jab alone. For a fighter like Haye who has problems taking punches to the head, and who has a history of gassing out in the later parts of some of his fights, he may be in big trouble with a fighter like Johnson.

He can take a heck of a shot, he’s game, fights hard with emotion and will be bringing it for a full 12 rounds. For this reason, I doubt Haye would be thickheaded enough to select him as an opponent. If he does, I don’t see Haye getting to a fight with either of the Klitschko brothers. Haye is a fighter with limited skills, someone a lot like Wladimir, except much smaller, who either knocks his opponents out or is in danger of being knocked out himself.

Johnson is far too dangerous for Haye, because he’ll put hands on him enough to expose his weak chin later in the fight. Like I said, Johnson may not hit all that hard, but his jab is first fate, probably the best in the entire heavyweight division, and if he can hit Haye with it enough times, he can knock him out with it alone.

Yet, Haye instead of being concerned with his next opponent, which he should be if it’s someone as talented as Johnson, had this to say to The Sun in reference to Wladimir Klitschko: “If you look at the way that I fight, I’m a standing warrior. I’m a toe-to-toe, blow-for-blow fighter.”

Haye seems to be under the impression that if he can get to a fight with Wladimir, he might be able to expose his weak chin by slugging it out with him. I sure hope so for his sake, because with all the many boastful comments that Haye has made in the media, he’ll be left with a lot of egg on his face should he fail against Wladimir or someone like Johnson.



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