By Scott Gilfoid: Former two division world champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KOs) says he’s got his sights set on facing IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) whether he wants to face him or not. Haye, 35, says he’s going to work his way into the No.1 mandatory spot for one of Fury’s three major titles, and either force him to defend the belt against him or vacate the title to avoid him.
Haye has already heard that Fury say that he wants nothing to do with a fight against him or WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder now that he’s holding three of the four heavyweight titles.
According to Haye, that just shows him the kind person Fury is to want to avoid fighting him or Wilder, who he feels are the two biggest punchers in the heavyweight division.
Fury, 27, seems to be a little jaded from his past experiences in attempting to fight Haye in 2013, but then having two scheduled fights with him cancelled due to Haye suffering injuries in training that wiped them out.
Haye hasn’t fought in three years since his win over Dereck Chisora in 2012. Haye will be making his comeback in two months from now against #10 WBA Mark de Mori (30-1-2, 26 KOs) on January 16th at the O2 Arena in London, UK. If Haye wins that fight, he’ll likely be given a top 15 ranking. From there, he can continue to get pushed up in the rankings until he gets a No.1 spot. By targeting de Mori, Haye is positioning himself to get a crack at Fury’s World Boxing Association title.
“I want to work my way up to mandatory position. I know one of the first statements he made was: ‘I’m not fighting David Haye or Deontay Wilder,’” Haye said via skysports.com. “If he [Fury] says he’d rather give me the belt than fight me if I’m mandatory, that shows what he’s like as a man and a fighter. So the two biggest punchers in the division, the two people who would be favorite to knock him out, he’s already says he’s not fighting them straight away. It kind of shows what type of guy he is,” Haye said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPcxzqVAbNY
If Fury has his mind made up that he doesn’t want to fight Haye or Wilder, then there’s not much they can do to get him to change his mind. Deontay is powerless to get a fight against Fury because he’s the WBC champion and can’t force a fight against him. Haye is in a similar position, because it’s probably going to take him at least two years to become a mandatory challenger to Fury for his WBA title.
I mean, it’s not going to happen in 2016 that’s for sure. In the best possible world, Haye will get a crack at Fury’s WBA title by 2017, but I don’t think it’s going to happen that quickly. If Fury has his mind made up that he’s not going to throw a bone to Haye to give him an easy title shot, then Haye will probably need to wait until 2018 before he can get a shot at Fury’s titles.
I think the likelihood of Fury still having his world titles by 2018 are extremely remote to the point of laugher. Heck, I can’t even see Fury still being a world champion beyond 2016. I think he’ll lose his titles in a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko. If Wladimir’s brother Vitali Klitschko decides to stage a comeback, which is a distinct possibility, then there’s no way on Earth do I see Fury beating Vitali. Fury already said he wants to face Vitali after he faces Wladimir. It would be up to Vitali if he wants to take the fight.
“I know he doesn’t want to fight me,” Haye said. “Money talks nine times out of 10. He needs big names now. Although he’s champion, we’ll see how much money he generates.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfJX8nriOWo
If Fury doesn’t get whipped by Wladimir in the rematch next year, and if Vitali doesn’t come back to avenge Wladimir’s two defeats in a “revenge of the Brother Scenario part 3,” then I can possibly see Fury turning his attention to Haye by 2016. Fury would have to pretty desperate for a money fight for him to turn his attention to Haye, because I think he doesn’t have a lot of trust in him being able to make it into the ring right now, given his recent history of injuries while training for fights. But I do think Vitali will come back to face Fury if he beats Wladimir for a second time.
Vitali has twice avenged two of Wladimir’s defeats in the past to Ross Puritty and Corrie Sanders, and I could see him doing it with Fury if he defeats Wladimir a second time. I don’t think Wladimir would have ever beaten Sanders and Puritty in rematches if he chose to fight them immediately. Those guys had Wladimir’s number at the time.
I think Wladimir would have eventually beaten Puritty and Sanders after he hooked up with trainer Emanuel Steward and adopted his punch and clinch style of fighting, but I don’t think Wladimir would have been able to beat Puritty and Sanders if he chose to fight them right away after his losses to them. Vitali did Wladimir a huge favor by beating those guys and avenging his losses so that he wouldn’t have to do it himself.
Vitali basically saved Wladimir’s career by beating them, because Wladimir would have likely been finished off if he fought Sanders and Puritty a second time. But if Vitali can come back and defeat Fury in 2016, it would at least take some of the heat off of Wladimir. A second loss for Wladimir would still pretty much send his career skittering down the drain, but at least Vitali could avenge the losses by agreeing to fight Fury in 2016 and likely knocking him out without any problems.
I hate to say it but I think Fury needs to try and cash out quickly if he can get past Wladimir in a second fight. Fury needs to go for the biggest money fight possible, because I can’t see this guy holding onto his four titles for more than one or two title defenses at best. He’s good for the voluntary defenses, but if Fury gets put in with one of the solid contenders, I see him getting blasted to smithereens. The only reason I think Fury beat Wladimir is because he looked to be totally shot.
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