By Jason Kim: WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) has suddenly had a change of opinion about fighting WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko if he has no other choice due to IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko pulling out of the fight because of an injury. Haye hasn’t been eager to fight Vitali, saying that his beef was with Wladimir and not Vitali.

Few boxing fans have bought that excuse, and saw Haye as basically being afraid of the steel-chinned Vitali. But with Haye only seven months away from his 31st birthday and his subsequent retirement from the sport, he suddenly has become open with fighting Vitali.

The thing is Haye wants to fight both Klitschkos before he retires but for some reason prefers Wladimir as the first fight. It’s pretty easy to see why. Haye fancies his chances against Wladimir because he fights timidly at times and has a weak chin. Vitali is the complete opposite. He always fights aggressively and has an excellent chin.

Vitali doesn’t back away from action but he also doesn’t stick his chin out and just let his opponents tag him. It’s admirable that Haye is willing to fight Vitali if Wladimir pulls out of the fight because Haye doesn’t have much of a chance at beating Vitali compared to Wladimir.

It’s almost an unwinnable fight for Haye, because he’ll likely fight Vitali the same way he fought former heavyweight champion Nikolay Valuev by running around the ring the entire night looking to land an occasional shot. Indeed, Haye only averaged a pitiful 10 punches landed per round against Valuev and barely won the fight. Haye treated Valuev as if he were a knockout threat all night. Against Vitali, you can expect it would be even more running from Haye and much less action because Vitali has much better power and offensive skills compared to Valuev.