Haye may be left out in the cold

By Boxing News - 10/31/2012 - Comments

Image: Haye may be left out in the coldBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) has had his heart set on fighting WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (45-2, 41 KO’s) since he came out of a temporary retirement. The “Hayemaker” retired in October 2011 upon reaching his 31st birthday. He left the door open for a possible return to the ring, but only if his opponent was one of the Klitschko’s.

Having already decisively defeated Haye in July 2011, WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO and Ring heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KO’s) stated that he has no interest in giving him a return bout.

After scoring an impressive 5th round TKO over Derek Chisora (15-4, 9 KO’s) in July David refuses to fight any of the other heavyweight contenders. Haye believes his TKO victory over Chisora entitles him to a fight with “Dr. Ironfist” because Vitali was unable to stop “Del-Boy” in their match last February. Klitschko was hampered in his fight with Chisora by an injured left shoulder he suffered in the 3rd round.

Haye was hopeful that after the Ukrainian elections Vitali would opt to fight him before retiring but Klitschko manager Bernd Boente has indicated that the final decision as to whether or not the WBC champion retires will not be made until December. To be sure Boente is a shrewd negotiator and there may be some jockeying for position going on between Haye and the Klitschko management team. It is unlikely that Vitali will retire before he has at least one farewell fight.

The announcement that heavyweight prospect Tyson Fury (19-0, 14 KO’s) will fight Russian Denis Boytsov (31-0, 25 KO’s) on December 1st in Belfast, Northern Ireland puts another wrinkle in Haye’s goal to fight Vitali Klitschko. The fight is being billed as a WBC title fight eliminator with the winner facing Vitali for his WBC heavyweight crown.

Both fighters will be entering into the December 1st bout undefeated. Boytsov at 6’1” will have a decided disadvantage against the towering 6’9” Fury. It would seem that neither fighter is anywhere close to having the credentials to fight the granite chinned “Dr. Ironfist”. At the present time Haye is between a rock and a hard place. A title eliminator between Fury and Boytsov would appear to leave the “Hayemaker” out in the cold with regard to his hoped for fight with Vitali Klitschko.



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