By John F. McKenna (McJack): For quite some time now former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) has been insisting that he wants to fight WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 KO’s). In fact when the “Hayemaker” “retired” last October upon reaching his 31st birthday he conceded that he may be tempted to make a return to the ring if he were able to land a fight with one of the Klitschko brothers.

Obviously Wladimir wanted no part of a rematch with David because of the nature of his one sided humiliation of Haye. “Dr. Steelhammer” realized that boxing fans would not be willing to watch another episode of Haye doing his flop and dive routine in an effort to avoid his hammer shots. But there are some boxing observers who, after watching David’s destruction of the supposedly steel chinned Derek Chiosora (15-4, 9 KO’s), feel that he would have a decent chance of defeating the larger, slower Vitali Klitschko.

They reason that at 41 years old “Dr. Ironfist” is showing signs of aging and point to his shoulder injury against Chisora as evidence that his body is breaking down and he is ripe for the picking. But there are just as many boxing pundits who feel that the granite chinned Vitali is still at the top of his game. They point to his never having been knocked off his feet and having never trailed in a fight.

Klitschko demonstrated in his easy TKO September 8 victory over the previously unbeaten Manuel Charr (21-1, 11 KO’s) that he still has excellent reflexes and has not lost his amazing ability to control the distance between himself and his opponents. Granted Charr was a virtual unknown, but the right hand Vitali used to topple Charr to the canvas in the second round indicates that “Dr. Ironfist” still has the bludgeoning power he has long been noted for.

Last December team Klitschko sent a contract to Haye in hopes that he would sign it, which would allow the two combatants to fight. When David continued to stall Vitali chose to fight Chisora in February rather than wait any longer for him to make up his mind.

Haye again received a contract to fight Klitschko this September, but the “Hayemaker” instead took on Chisora in July. Haye’s stock rose considerably after he scored an impressive TKO win over “Del-Boy” in the 5th round. Haye immediately went on the offensive in the media by stating that Vitali would most likely avoid him after his win over Chisora.

David’s most recent comments to the media that he would not accept a fight with Vitali in the Ukraine makes one wonder whether he would ever accept any deal which would require him to step into the ring to do battle with “Dr. Ironfist”. His past history suggests that he may not.