Haye Fever: David Haye guns for Klitschkos
LONDON (AP)—Now that he’s got a share of the world title, David Haye believes he will convince his critics he is the charismatic heavyweight star the sport needs.
The 29-year-old British fighter took the WBA title from 7-foot-2 Nikolai Valuev on Saturday and has a plan to unify the championship. It involves beating John Ruiz in his first defense and then knocking out either or both of the other world champions, brothers Vitaly and Wladimir Klitschko.
“I am not fussed which one it is,” Haye said Monday. “Whichever one is available, we’ll sit round a table and make it happen. Fingers crossed they retain their titles and we can have a huge, huge, unification fight.”
Richard Schaefer, chief executive of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, is handling Haye’s business in the United States and envisions a fight with one of the Klitschkos in Las Vegas or even in London at the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium.
“I think he could be massive,” Schaefer said. “I think if he comes and fights in the United States against a Klitschko I have no doubt that the total global receipts would probably be like De La Hoya-Mayweather, close to $120 million for one fight.”
“These are staggering numbers. We have been searching for a heavyweight champion and he is. How big he’s ultimately going to become, only the future is going to tell us.”
Haye, a former world cruiserweight champion, didn’t have to show too much in Saturday’s fight in Nuremberg, Germany.
Valuev did very little to keep his title, adopting a no-risk strategy behind his jab. The Russian lost on two of the judges’ scorecards, the third scoring it a draw.
Haye said the tactic of staying away from the reach of the giant Russian was alien to his big-punching style and was proof that he could adapt his tactics.
He said the Ruiz fight, which he hopes will take place in London in March, would be much different.
“I feel I will knock out John Ruiz,” Haye said. “After beating some 7-foot-2 guy to fight someone a foot shorter than him, someone who weighs the same as me, it will be like having another cruiserweight fight and I will just blast straight through him.
“He’s experienced and very tough and durable. He pushed Valuev close, he beat (Evander) Holyfield, he’s beaten some good guys and is very underrated. He’s got a big heart and he comes to win. But I feel I will out-skill him. I’m a better athlete.”
Haye said the victory over Valuev should silence critics who said he was out of his league among the heavyweights and couldn’t take a punch.
“I have had so many people over the years try to convince me that I will never make it and say ‘I told you so.’ Being the heavyweight champion of the world there are a few people out there gutted that I won that,” he said. “I told everyone since I was a kid that would be the heavyweight champion of the world and I try not to lie.”
Haye broke a bone in his right hand in the early stages of the Valuev fight but is confident it won’t endanger his defense against Ruiz.
“I saw John Ruiz fight on the undercard. He had a terrible cut on his forehead which will take time to heal up, maybe a similar sort of time to my hand,” Haye said. “I don’t think there is any rush from his side to make it happen that quick. After Christmas and the beginning of January I will be able to start punching again.”
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80. Posted by l boogie Thu Nov 12 4:06am EST
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Wow a lot of what's been said is true because the brother K's own title don't make them champions...Ken Norton would have knock out both and I don't believe he held a true belt...]
You have no clue.
Vitali was owning Lennox Lewis, had him on queer street the first round, rubber-legged, and was outboxing and punching him, and only the cut from a Lewis lace stopped that fight.
The Ken Norton that Gerry Cooney whipped like a red-headed stepchild?? That Ken Norton? The one Ernie Savers knocked around and made look like a scared kitten? THAT Ken Norton? Bwahahahaha, sure.
Dream on. Haye is running his moth again, then won't fight either Klitchko: he'd get KO'd in 4. he knows it, that why his widdle back got an ouchy and he wouldn't fight Vitali.
You can run, but you can't hide, and he fought a slow-moving, non-punching target, and STILL finished even on one judges scorecard. Woo Woo big deal.
Best the boy shuts his mouth, or Vitali will shut it for him. Let Haye fight Arriola, then we'll talk a fight against the Champ.
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statues who are in it for a paycheck, not to display any talent. Clay should have been disbarred
from boxing for all of the deliberate holding behind the neck that gutless referees couldn't stop.
I have a signed 8X10 of Smoking Joe Frazier knocking down Clay in 1971,how beautiful !
Wladimir Klitchsko would have beat up fat boy Arrieola much easier than brother Vitaly because
he uses his superior reach much better. Cotto will knockout Pacquiao in the middle rounds so
they won't be ripping off a greedy $54.95 from me. Glen Johnson is another statue who can't get
inside...Glen,get in your rocking chair where you belong !
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• George Foreman (Hall of Famer and former two-time heavyweight champ): "I think there would have been a good opportunity for Pacquiao to win if he faced Cotto before he fought Clottey, but now Cotto is thinking defense. I think Cotto is going to pull out a decision, and now because of the terrible beating he took against Margarito, he knows he can't get into a knockdown, drag-out brawl. He's going to be smarter, and I think Cotto wins in a 12-round decision. Pacquiao has been riding high and has beaten some of the best in the world. And it leaves you kind of complacent when you're winning. And even if you don't want it to, sometimes you can't get up for a big fight. And that's a plus for Cotto."
• Mike Tyson (former two-time heavyweight champ): "I pick Manny Pacquiao by knockout. I think he will knock him out in [Rounds] 7 or 8. Manny just has too much for Cotto."
• Bernard Hopkins (former middleweight and light heavyweight champ): "Pacquiao is going to chop Cotto up. Out of respect, Cotto will get some rounds, but Manny is the Bruce Lee of boxing. His basketball and martial arts background give him that speed agility. You can't tell where his shots are coming from. Unlike Rocky, Bruce Lee was a real dude and so is Manny."
• Joe Calzaghe (former super middleweight and light heavyweight champ): "I think Manny Pacquiao is going to be too quick for Cotto. I was ringside when Cotto fought Clottey. He seemed to struggle a bit in that fight and it is hard to say what he will do against a faster, quicker Pacquiao. I know people say Cotto is the bigger guy but I still think Pacquiao beats him in a decision."
• Chad Dawson (interim light heavyweight titlist): "Manny Pacquiao, he's the best, he's on top right now."
• Sugar Shane Mosley (welterweight titlist, who has a decision loss to Cotto): "It's going to be an interesting fight, and I think Pacquiao better take it very seriously. I think Cotto will win because he's a little bit bigger and is a real welterweight. His power may be enough to overcome Pacquiao's speed. I think Cotto wins in a decision."
• Winky Wright (former junior middleweight champ): "If Cotto stays busy, he'll win a decision. I think that Cotto will win the fight, but I thinks it's gonna be a good fight."
• Felix Trinidad (former three-division champ): "Manny is a big puncher and a good boxer, but he has never faced a natural welterweight like Miguel. Cotto is the most dangerous fight of Pacquiao's career. On the night of the fight, Pacquiao will still not be a full welterweight. And Cotto is very strong. As the fight plays out, around Rounds 7, 8, 9, that's when Cotto starts taking over. I think Cotto will win by decision, but he might even get a knockout. With all of my heart I think Miguel Cotto will win."
• Hector Camacho (former lightweight champ): "I'm a Puerto Rican like Cotto, but I like Pacquiao because he has fought better guys, like Oscar De La Hoya. I see him having no problem against Cotto. Cotto is not a smart fighter."
• Carlos Ortiz (Hall of Famer and former two-division champ): "Pacquiao is a good boxer and Cotto is a fighter. I'm going to give the edge to Cotto, and not just because he's Puerto Rican, but because of the way he fights. He always comes to fight, he's always in shape. Cotto is going to have the edge. I see him winning by decision, but I do think he can knock Pacquiao out if the chance arrives."
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As far as comparing the klitschko brothers to boxers from another time is like trying to make fantasy boxing. we will never know who would have won, but they both (maybe not vladimir) would have been contenders in any era
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At last an American with a balanced view! I knew there were some of you out there! I completely respect your view and concede I have prehaps stood up for Haye more than he deserves but only to redress the balance fom a patriotic limy's point of view! You mention Minter which made me smile. My father in law trained him and he lives right here in my town of Crawley (which you might not of heard of but is right near Gatwick Airport). I've met him a number of times at various functions. On a personal note he's an arrogant tosser but as a boxer he had a great engine and was incredibly strong. Although my father in law always insisted thee were far more talented boys on his books that neve made it. I boxed as an amateur myself which is how came to meet my wife but I'm originally from south london. The Mckenzie family were the big names at my gym (Duke and Clinton in particular).
Anyway, enough about me. Apologies for rambling. For the record Spinks was actually a big hero of mine in the mid 80's. I loved his awkwardness and the strange angles he used to throw big shots from that often seemed impossible. Unorthadox was an understatement. My point about Spinks though was most were never convinced by him as a heavy and a few even accused him of conning the public with wins over a washed up Gerry Cooney and a completely outclassed Stefan Tangstad while he waited for the real money that would come with a Tyson meeting. I was convinced that a fit, focussed and determined Spinks would at least make Tyson realise he'd been in a fight. Sadly a terrified Micheal Spinks rolled up in Atlantic City and when that happens ther's only going to be one outcome. Butch Lewis was back in his hotel room hiding under his bed!
Haye I accept has opened his mouth too much in recent months and I also accept he could have a suspect chin (although he is yet to be stopped by a heavyweight). I also would be the first to agree he has much to prove but what I do think is grossly unfair is that from many if not most americans he has been given no credit for winning against Valuev and written off at heavyweight afte only 3 fights, all of which he has won convincingly and equally he has been given no credit whatsoever for chasing the big fights when others have sidestepped them in order to hang on to their particular version of the title as long as possible.
You can only beat what's in front of you.
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