By Scott Gilfoid: I know that David Haye has legions of loyal fans in the UK, and a fair amount of new boxing fans around the world but in all honesty I can’t really see Haye holding onto his title for more than one title defense if that. Call Haye a paper champion, because that’s essentially the way I see him unless he’s steered away from the tougher opponents like the Klitschko brothers and many other top fighters in the division.
The sad thing is Haye is already looking into the future towards a title defense against one of the Klitschko brothers next year in Wembley Stadium. Haye even talks about fighting both Klitschko brothers. It seems pretty far-fetched given that Haye will be lucky if he can get by John Ruiz, his mandatory challenger early next year, and after that against one of the Klitschko brothers.
It doesn’t matter which Klitschko brother that Haye fights, he’d be a terrible long shot to win the fight. Haye just went life and death with World Boxing Association heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev last weekend, the worst of the champions. Haye says he broke his right hand early against Valuev, giving an excuse for his poor performance. However, Haye was fighting on the back foot from round one, running around the ring and avoiding any real exchanges.
Haye supporters say that he did this was because he was fighting an opponent almost a foot taller than him and that he wouldn’t do it against the Klitschko brothers who are only three to four inches taller than him. I don’t believe that for a second. I see Haye running even more against either of them. If he does try to go after Wladimir or Vitali, I see Haye lasting a round or two only.
Haye doesn’t have the chin to get the job done and won’t be able to land anything big enough with his wild home run swings. Haye only let his hands go just a little in the 12th round against Valuev, and hit briefly hurt him. However, Haye looked to be too scared to finish the job because he didn’t really go after Valuev in any way.
Instead, Haye got back on his bike and ran out the clock. Haye’s offense was so limited in the fight and I don’t see it as a hand issue. I just think he was afraid to get hit. Against the Klitschko brothers, Haye will no doubt try the same pot shot routine where he throws one punch and then runs around the ring trying to avoid the jabs and right hands from the Klitschko brothers.
And I don’t see this being Vitali Klitschko next. Haye won’t fight him. It will probably be Wladimir or no Klitschkos at all. Wladimir is the only one that Haye has a minor chance of beating. The only chance Haye has of beating Vitali is if the big Ukrainian injures himself during the bout and isn’t able to finish the job. Haye’s arm punches and his looping shots won’t have any effect against Wladimir.
What it will do is cause him to get picked apart with straight shots down the middle. Wladimir has fought punchers like Haye before, specifically Derrick Jefferson who liked to throw big looping shots one after another. Actually, I think Jefferson was a better knockout puncher than Haye. Jefferson stood 6’6”, had long arms and good power and was a natural born heavyweight.
He was quickly blasted apart by Wladimir. Haye will last little longer than Jefferson did against Wladimir I hate to say, and with the loss Haye will lose his WBA title after only one defense. Back in line Haye will go where he’ll be forced to scrape it out with the young heavyweight contenders like he should have done to begin with. I suspect that Haye won’t make it out of that bunch and won’t get another title shot unless he’s somehow able to talk his way into another title shot.
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