Haye waiting to see if Chagaev gets approved as his next opponent

By Boxing News - 02/21/2011 - Comments

Image: Haye waiting to see if Chagaev gets approved as his next opponentBy Sean McDaniel: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) has an uncomfortable wait to find out whether or not former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev will be given the approval by the British Boxing Board of Control to enter the UK and fight the 30-year-old Haye on May 21st. Chagaev, who was diagnosed with a case of hepatitis B in the past, submitted his medial records and the BBBofC is determining whether he’s clear of the disease.

If not, then Haye will go ahead and fight his number #2 challenger Alexander Povetkin, a much easier opponent to prepare for compared to the southpaw Chagaev. Povetkin is slower, throws with less power and fights from an orthodox stance. This is obviously the opponent that Haye would prefer because Chagaev is skilled enough to possibly beat Haye. Povetkin would have a much tougher time against the faster, more powerful Haye. If the British Boxing Board says no to Chagaev, they will have done Haye a huge favor in more ways than one.

Haye still hopes to get a fight against IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko before retiring in October. Haye somehow thinks that Wladimir will elect to fight him in September rather than Tomasz Adamek. Haye says he’s not interested in fighting WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko because he doesn’t have a beef with him. Also says he would take heat from fans if he were to fight Vitali because of his age and because fans would think he’s ducking Wladimir. Vitali may be Haye’s option unless he wants to forget about retiring until next year, because Wladimir won’t be available to fight Haye in September like he’s hoping.



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