By William Mackay: Former IBF/WBA/WBC light heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (29-6, 20 KO’s) has been trying to work an angle to get a big payday fight against IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko for the past year with no luck.

Now the 43-year-old Tarver is trying to work his magic on a fight with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, and Tarver believes the best way to accomplish that is for him and former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye to fight with the winner facing Vitali. So, essentially Tarver sees their fight as an eliminator for the prize of facing the 40-year-old Vitali.

Tarver told thesun.co.uk “I believe Haye should fight me because of what I’m bringing to the table – a real giant reputation in the sport of boxing…If Haye can’t beat me then he doesn’t deserve Vitali and if I can’t beat him then I don’t deserve Wladimir.”

Tarver goes on to say that Haye has completely ignored his challenges and he sees that as evidence that Haye is threated by the danger that Tarver presents for him. I guess that’s one way of looking at it if you’re seeing it from a positive self-love type of outlook. But perhaps a more realistic view is that Haye doesn’t see Tarver as someone that can bring in more than a tiny handful of fans and Haye doesn’t waste time fighting guys that can’t draw flies.

That’s why he’s only focusing on the Klitschko brothers because they fight in front of sold out 50,000 + stadiums in Germany. Tarver would likely have to settle for a lot smaller figure in the U.S for one of his fights. I’m sure he would draw well if Haye did him a big favor and fought him, but then again Haye could fight anyone in the U.S and it would still draw well. It doesn’t take Tarver for a fight involving Haye to do well. Haye is only looking for one or two fights before he hangs up the gloves for good and both of those fights involve he Klitshko brothers, not Tarver.

The 43-year-old Tarver says “Let’s see who really belongs in the ring with the Klitschko brothers. A fight between Haye and me will be a giant springboard for the winner, with the Klitschkos waiting.”

I think Tarver’s feet aren’t firmly on the ground with his expectations. I just don’t see a high demand for a Haye-Tarver fight. I’m sure that there would be some interest there but not a really high interest due to Tarver’s age and his lack of fights at heavyweight. I think Haye would take a lot of criticism for fighting someone that old and who has lost two out of his last four fights.

My guess is Tarver will never get a fight with Haye and not because Haye is afraid of the guy. There’s just no value-add for a fight like that. It would be a huge step backwards for Haye, back to before he was a heavyweight in terms of competition. Haye is on the shut down mode. He’s made his money and doesn’t have a load of ambition to really try and accomplish anything like a lot fighters. He’s more into just getting a payday at this point. A fight with Tarver isn’t something that Haye will even consider because it won’t bring the kind of money he can get in these big stadium fights against the Klitschkos. Moreover, when you fight and older guy like Tarver, it puts you in a no-win situation. If Haye beats Tarver, people will say ‘So what, he’s an old guy and he fought of his career at light heavyweight.’ But if Tarver beats Haye, then it’s all over. There won’t be anymore paydays for Haye, so it’s not even worth it in the first place. Haye’s pretty easy to read and that’s how the guy would likely see someone like Tarver. Not worth the trouble and not enough money.