By Andrew Meggers-Lloyd: We’re now into August 2010, and after many long and drawn out discussions about creating a Heavyweight superfight between one of the Klitschko brothers and David Haye, we are still no closer to either one of elusive bouts that Boxing fans have been craving. In much the same way that we are still waiting to see Pacquiao v Mayweather, there seems to be one overriding and uncontrollably annoying obstacle, that is, money.

Klitschko initially offered Alexander Povetkin the chance to fight him in September in Frankfurt, Germany but now that Povetkin has decided he doesn’t want that fight yet, Wladimir has decided to take a step back in time to fight old foe Samuel Peter. Vitali, on the other hand, has decided that Shannon Briggs should be the next in line to vacate him of his WBC crown. These fights are entertaining in as much as they will give us an opportunity to see our favourite Ukrainian brothers in action again, before sold out German football stadiums, but it’s almost like being offered your second favourite meal because the restaurant is out of your request. IT’S NOT WHAT WE WANT!!

So, to David Haye. He is still believed to be looking for an opponent to fight him sometime before the end of 2010 but as far as I can see, nobody is any the wiser as to who it is going to be. On various websites, in newspaper articles and on television, many different possibilities have been thrown into the hat, and all for valid reasons. Adamek, Arreola, Solis, Audley Harrison to name a few. In my opinion, the next fight for Haye surely has to be against the Uzbekistani “white Tyson” that is Ruslan Chagaev. In May 2010, Chagaev took on Kali Meehan in front of a German crowd in Rostock, defeating the Oceanic star over twelve one-sided rounds. According to the records, this was meant to be a WBA title eliminator which means that Chagaev should be next in line to tackle the British “Hayemaker”.

Chagaev is the style of fighter that would test David Haye in every way necessary. He is tough, he can punch, he is extremely durable, he is a southpaw unlike any other of the top Heavyweights, he likes to brawl, he does his best work inside. In many ways, he is similar to John Ruiz, although a lot younger and has taken less punishment.

Also, Chagaev’s only loss was in a fight he wasn’t even meant to be fighting, and only found out about at almost the last minute. Acknowledging this, he still lasted nine grueling rounds against a lean, prepared and stylish champion in Wladimir Klitschko, in front of 60,000 Gelsenkirchen fans.

Unfortunately for Ruslan, as all Boxing fans will be aware of, recent problems outside of the Boxing ring have blighted his fortunes considerably. In 2008 he had the terrible Achilles tendon injury that caused him to be out for a while, and in 2009 he was diagnosed with Hepatitis in Finland, before his fight with Valuev at the Hartwall Arena.

For me, Ruslan deserves the opportunity to show us that he can still mix it with the very best and David Haye needs to prove he is the real WBA champion and not just a man who beat a man who won a vacated title. It would certainly interest the Boxing public to see if Haye can fight against a man at an age similar to his own at Heavyweight, and be a fantastic appetizer to a Haye v Klitschko duel early next year.