By Tom Nappo: To quote a line from a George Jones song ” If I had listened I wouldn’t be here today living and dying with the choices I’ve made. It appears that history is preparing to repeat it’s self in the form of David Haye’s career.

Having unified the Cruiserweight title with wins over Jean Marc Mormeck, and Enzo Maccarinelli in spectacular fashion. On November 15th 2008 The “Hayemaker” commenced his assault on the Heavyweight division. In Haye’s second fight as a full time Heavyweight he outpointed Nikolay Valuev by scores of 116-112 twice with one judge having the bout a draw. In doing so he collected a title in name only, as everyone understood that the true claim to the Heavyweight crown belonged to the Klitschko brothers.

Taking a look back at two great fighters who rose from lighter weights and ultimately fought for and won ( at least a portion of) the Heavyweight title. I am referring to Michael Spinks and Evander Holyfield. Michael Spinks having completed an exemplary amateur career, and following in the footsteps of his brother Leon turned pro and in 1981 became the WBA Light heavyweight Champion. Spinks continued to collect belts and in 1984 he became the Undisputed Light heavyweight Champion. On September 21st 1985 Micheal Spinks shocked everyone most of all Larry Holmes winning a unanimous decision over the aging Champion and with it the IBF Heavyweight Title. But more important to the boxing world he had won the linear title. Almost instantly the fight everyone want to see was Spinks in with the “baddest man on the planet” Mike Tyson who was taking the boxing world by storm and was in the process of collecting the remaining Heavyweight titles to strengthen his claim of being the true Heavyweight Champion. There was a heavyweight tournament to ultimately crown the Undisputed Champion which Spinks and his promoter Butch Lewis decided not to participate in. Instead Spinks fought Steffen Tangstad who had a decent record at the time but outside of his family 95% of boxing fans couldn’t have picked him out of a line up. Spinks stopped Tangstad in four rounds and in his next fight he battered Gerry Cooney stopping him in five rounds. Eventually the pressure on Spinks and his promoter was too much for them to ignore, and finally the super fight everyone wanted to see was going to take place. On June 27th 1988 the Tyson vs Spinks fight took place in Las Vegas, prior to the fight there was a lot of debate on whether Spinks would be able to out box Tyson taking him into the latter rounds, or if Tyson’s power would eventually wear down and get to Spinks. Manny Steward was one of the few experts that declared the fight was going to be a one side destruction and that Spinks was too small and not mobile enough. While Tyson was the betting favourite most people thought that “The Spinks Jinx” would test Tysons chin at some point. Few people envisioned the ninety one second demolition of Spinks that occurred.

Evander Holyfield also having completed an exemplary amateur career, turned pro and in his 12th fight won a split decision over the ever tough Dwight Muhammad Qawi to win the WBA Cruiserweight Title. After unifying the Cruiserweight Title in 1988 “The Real Deal” set his sights upon the Heavyweight Title currently held by Mike Tyson. Holyfield faced and defeated a number of good heavyweights former Champions such as Mike Dokes , Pinklon Thomas. He also fought a young James Tillis, and a young and undefeated Alex Stewart, all of these fights prepared Holyfield for his challenge of the Heavyweight Title now in the possession of Buster Douglas who had shocked the world by knocking out Mike Tyson to take the crown. Holyfield went on to stop Douglas to win the Undisputed heavyweight Title. Holyfield also settled any doubt in peoples mind about who was the unquestioned Champion by beating Mike Tyson twice .

Those are the two different paths that David Haye can choose to follow. The Spinks path by winning a version of the Title , then engaging the public with talk, but refusing to take part in the Unification bout. Rather then facing that challenge two non threats were selected as opponents which resulted in Spinks getting negative feed back (Sounding Familiar). The obvious questions were being asked was Spinks avoiding Tyson, or was he afraid? I am not suggesting for a minute that Spinks should have rushed off and fought Tyson right away, but if the plan was to continue to develop as a legitimate Heavyweight then he had no business fighting Cooney and Tangstad. Wins over those two individuals did nothing to help him prepare for a showdown with Tyson. But if Spinks would have fought Bert Cooper’s , Alex Stewart’s, Mike Doke’s for example he would have been better suited to deal with Tyson or at the very least felt better about himself having been in and beaten some true Heavyweight contenders. But Spinks and his promoter chose to hold out for the best deal possible while taking the least possible risk as to not to get beaten which would mess up the anticipated big payday. While from a business stand point it was a safer choice, from a boxing stand point it all but sealed his fate, and getting bombed out by Tyson was just the result of the Choices made by Micheal Spinks earlier on.

David Haye is headed down the same path I am afraid , but if he believes it is more important to win against either Klitschko , rather then just securing a big money fight with them then there is still time to select the different path. He can proceed down the Holyfield path which will be much riskier but will better prepare him for a chance to win what will not doubt be the toughest fight of his life. Haye needs to stop fighting the Harrisons, Ruiz’s and start fighting the Sam Peters, Chris Arreola, David Tua guys that can punch and are a serious threat. If he can stand in there with these guys and come out with a victory this will give him legitimate confidence ( his current claim of confidence is questionable at best) knowing he has dealt with dangerous heavyweight punchers before and came out on top. Haye being a smaller Heavyweight ( everyone loves the underdog or smaller guy), never at a loss for words, charismatic the public really does want to get behind and support this lad from London but ultimately his actions will speak volumes on whether he is content to put himself in the best position to make the most money off a fight for the Undisputed Title, or is he putting himself in the best position to win the Undisputed Heavyweight Title.