By Sean McDaniel: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) might have to put off his big plans of a big money mega fight against one of the Klitschko brothers. The Daily Star is reporting that a member of Valuev’s camp is saying that they have a rematch clause with Haye and are looking at fighting Haye in the summer. Haye has a fight coming up this Saturday night at the M.E.N Arena against John Ruiz. Provided that Haye wins that fight, he could find himself having to fight Valuev one more time so that he can get his contract obligations with him out of the way before looking in the direction of the Klitschko brothers.
Haye says “There is a possibility that I might have to face Valuev again. I’m not sure how realistic that is. I’m not looking too far into the future.” It’s unclear what Haye means by that cryptic remark, because as long as he’s holding the WBA belt, he will have to fight Valuev unless he plans on vacating the title.
If Haye does that, he would still get a big payday against one of the Klitschko brothers, but he wouldn’t have the WBA title to use as bargaining bait to get a better deal with the Klitschko brothers. Without a title, Haye will be just like any challenger that fights the Klitschko brothers and won’t likely get nearly as good a deal as what he would get if he did hold the title.
Haye says “I am just focusing on making sure Ruiz is dispatched in good style. That is the only thing that matters to me at this moment. Once he is out of the way, I will sit back, look at the heavyweight landscape and see who fits and where and try to make it happen. This could be Haye being Haye, not wanting to admit that he doesn’t have a whole lot of options other than giving Valuev his rematch, that is, unless Haye opts to vacate the title.
If Haye has to fight Valuev next, it could jeopardize a fight with the Klitschko. Haye didn’t look good in beating Valuev last time out, and the fight really could have gone either way. Haye ran most of the time and looked really timid. Although Haye briefly had Valuev hurt in the 12th round after connecting with a hard right hand, he was unable to add to it and had to settle for winning a close 12 round majority decision. Haye will have to fight more aggressively next time out against Valuev or he could end up getting beaten by the 7-foot Russian.
IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko already seems to know about Haye having to fight Valuev next, and says “I hope Haye has a quick fight after Ruiz and gets free of options.” That would be the ideal thing, if Haye could take out both Ruiz and Valuev quickly with knockouts in the first three rounds. However, Haye didn’t show the dominance in his fight with Valuev last year that would leave one to believe that he could destroy him in a rematch. If anything, Valuev might be the one most likely to get a knockout win if Haye comes out swinging from the start of the fight.
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