By Adam Appleton
It has emerged that David Haye is in talks with Vitali Klitschko in spite of the 31 year-old’s October retirement.
The Bermondsey man has allegedly weighed up his options and is negotiating a meeting with the 40 year old Klitschko.
In his final fight before ‘retirement’, Haye lost weakly to WBO, IBO, IBF and now WBA champion Wladimir Klitschko in a unanimous points decision, giving the Klitschko brother’s all the alphabet heavyweight belts.
As a consequence, Vitali is not likely to be so generous with Haye financially as his brother was for their July bout.
The story of David Haye and the Klitschko brother’s dates back to April 2009 with the brash Londoner ruffling feathers with his trash talk, a fight was arranged but Haye withdrew with a back injury.
Haye also wore the now famous “severed heads” t-shirt to cause further animousity.
The Briton then beat Russian giant Nicolai Valuev on points, claiming the WBA title before defeating John Ruiz and later Audley Harrison in one of the division’s most farcical fights.
With these defences won, Haye appeared the only real threat to the Klitschko’s domination. But this hope was shattered by the tentative performance that came in Hamburg.
Now it seems that Haye has vengeful schemes on fighting Vitali Klitschko.
Reports from both camps say that the contract talks are on hold until after Vitali faces Dereck Chisora on 18th February in Munich, but rumours say a fight could happen in November.
Klitschko’s manager Bernd Boente said: “Vitali wants to finish what his brother didn’t do, meaning knock out David Haye.”
If this is indeed true, the man from Bermondsey has much to fear.
Not only is he challenging the man with the record knockout percentage in heavyweight history, not only the same man who arguably chased Lennox Lewis into retirement, but Vitali can also claim to have never been conclusively beaten.
In the last big heavyweight clash before Haye versus Klitschko, Klitschko was controversially stopped in 6 rounds by Lennox Lewis in Los Angeles in 2003. A deep cut above the left eye caused the stoppage and plans for a rematch were dashed by Lewis’ retirement.
His only other loss occurred when a torn rotator cuff forced his withdrawal against Chris Byrd in 2000. In both these defeats, the German-based Ukrainian was unanimously ahead on the judges scorecards.
In spite of this nine year unbeaten streak, Hall of Fame trainer Emanuel Steward believes Haye’s style could work more effectively against Vitali.
“Vitali is bigger and hits hard but he comes straight in and doesn’t have the same balance and elusive movement as Wladimir, so David might give him a little more trouble.”
Indeed it is a style that got Haye a near-flawless record. Until meeting Klitschko, his only previous loss came against Carl Thompson in 2004 when an over-active Haye threw in the towel by the end of the 5th round.
Should Haye decide to dwell on tales from the past, he might be advised to think better of targeting the arguably superior Klitschko.
Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali succumbed to breaking retirements and both paid for it. Ali was beaten up by Larry Holmes before losing to Trevor Berbick. Leonard did beat Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns and Roberto Duran, but eventually lost to Terry Norris and Hector Camacho.
However Floyd Mayweather made it work, coming back from retirement to beat the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez and Shane Mosley.
Haye has much to consider before stepping back into the ring. Fitness and age are no issue to him as they were to Leonard and Ali, at 31 he has been training lightly in case of such an offer from Vitali. The issue is his legacy, if there is to be one.
He must consider the risk:reward; If he beats Dr Ironfist, great, that will add to or maybe even give him legacy.
If he loses, he will be remembered as the man who could not back up his infamous trash-talk, and as the man whose only big heavyweight scalp was Nicolai Valuev, hardly a Hall of Famer.
Although his reputation as one of the finest Cruiserweights remains untarnished, his performances in boxing’s headline division will live long in the memory of many fans.
To me, Haye the heavyweight still has much to prove. So go on David, show us what you are made of and take on Vitali, you owe your fans a better lasting memory than excusing your performance on a broken toe and ultimately failing on the biggest night of your career.
ENDS
No comments:
Post a Comment