By Marco Polo: After a one sided defeat to Wladimir Klitschko, what can David Haye realistically do next? Although a rematch has been mentioned, broken toe or not Haye never really looked like he was capable of breaking down the younger Klitschkos methodical and very effective fight strategy.
The wild swings often left Haye scrambling around on the floor and looking to the referee for help, claiming a push or some other form of illegal play.
I am not intending to pull Haye down too badly here. He was a fine cruiser-weight and is a very exciting fighter when in a competitive match up. The trouble is that we were promised something new but for me, Haye performed very much like in the fights with Valuev and Harrison. Staying back and showing quick movement before picking his punches with great effect. Unfortunately Wladimir is not as slow as Valuev and not the rabbit in the headlights that Harrison always is. The stinging jab of Wladimir often kept Haye at bay and unable to get close with his only option being to put his head down and swing hopefully. It was just not good enough.
I think that we British like to build up our sportsmen because we want them to win so badly. Now there is nothing wrong with that and the supposed 15,000 strong army of fans that went to Germany should be applauded for their support. However just like it is so often with our national football team, the glaring flaws that everyone else sees are only visible to us when they have been cruelly exposed. Of course now the optimism and belief that Haye could win has been replaced by disappointment and in some cases anger that Haye “conned” them. Yet where is the con? We all saw his previous opponents at heavy weight. Cleverly picked fights for their marketability. There was the freak show with Valuev, the grudge match against Harrison and with Ruiz it was a respected but very past his best opponent. Haye and his team knew they were very winnable fights, yet in each case there was something to capture the public’s imagination, especially when you throw in Hayes ability to self promote.
A rematch with Wladimir would not in all honesty generate the same level of interest no matter what Haye says to be controversial. I don’t think it’s a fight anyone wants to see now because no one is a believer any more. Haye was beaten and beaten soundly. But what are his other options? Vitali? I fear that would end up in an even worse outcome for Haye. Maybe feeling more desperate to prove himself he could end up wide open for punishment. Vitali may be the older Klitschko but I still feel he is the best and most brutal. The WBA belt was Hayes ace in the pack, a bargaining chip to sit at the top table; now it is lost there are other pretenders to the crown who feel it is their time to get a shot. Tyson Fury and Dereck Chisora have been mentioned by Wladimir and in all honesty they are as much entitled to challenge for the titles as Haye. They certainly have more heavyweight experience even though their chances are just as slim.
The problem for Haye now is that the Klitschkos hold all the belts and any other fight would feel like a step down. Ricky Hatton had the same problem. He lost against the very best and then there was no where else to go but down. He could maybe fight at another weight or pursue that Hollywood career he seems to crave. But Haye just needs to accept (in my opinion at least and I am a fan!) that he will never be the best heavy weight on the planet.
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