Haye’s only Klitschko option may be a fight with Vitali

By Boxing News - 11/26/2009 - Comments

vitali88345By Chris Williams: It’s looking more and more like World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye has burned his bridge for a potential unification bout with IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. Yesterday, a slightly testy Wladimir Klitschko said to Sky Sports News “I actually do not want to give you any comments on David Haye because he bailed on me twice, from my fight and my brothers’ [Vitali Klitschko].” Wladimir went on to say that Haye is “Immature” and “not serious enough to take a challenge.”

Maybe this is nothing, but the way that Wladimir sounded it was if he had washed his hands with a potential unification bout with Haye. If Wladimir sticks with this stance, that leaves Haye with the tough option of having to face Wladimir’s big brother 6’7” Vitali Klitschko if he wants to fight one of the Klitschko brothers.

Since moving up in weight to the heavyweight division last year, Haye has talked almost non stop about fighting one or both of the Klitschko brothers. Haye came close to accomplishing this goal by signing for a fight with Wladimir and getting near signing for a fight with Vitali. However, because of an injury to his back, Haye couldn’t go ahead with his fight with Wladimir.

Still, Haye was in a position to make the best of the situation by signing for a fight with Vitali. Haye didn’t go through with that fight either, complaining later he didn’t like the terms of the contract with Vitali. Since Wladimir seems to be for the time being sick of hearing about Haye, it might come down to Hayen being stuck with the tougher of the two brothers if he truly is still interested in fighting one of the Klitschko brothers.

That might not be a good choice for Haye, at least not with his lack of experience at the heavyweight level. Haye hasn’t fought anyone near the talent level of Vitali. Haye recently defeated WBA heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev by a 12 round majority decision but didn’t look all that special in beating Valuev. Haye gave excuses later on saying that he had injured his right hand early in the fight.

But there was nothing in Haye’s performance that showed that he would do well against the better half of the Klitschko brothers. Indeed, an argument can be made that heavyweight contender Chris Arreola was a better opponent for Vitali than what Haye will likely be. Haye fans like to point out that David always has a chance to win if he can land a big shot on the chin of Vitali.

They also point out that Haye has better movement and hand speed than Vitali. Haye could in theory take advantage of those skills if he were to be willing to take a chance and let his hands go enough where he’d be able to put some shots together.

However, the way that Haye was backpedaling all night against the weak punching Valuev, it seems to be a strong indication that Haye will be running for his life all night against Vitali and will lose either by a lopsided 12 round decision or by a late knockout.



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