Haye Expects Joshua To Take Easier Fight Next - Not Wilder

Former two division champion David Haye does not expect a unification between heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in 2017.

Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), who holds the IBF, IBO, WBA world titles, is going to have a unification with WBO champion Joseph Parker on March 31 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

Earlier this month, Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) knocked out Luis Ortiz to retain the WBC heavyweight crown. He is scheduled to sit ringside for Joshua-Parker and plans to call out the winner.

Should Joshua win, there will be an enormous amount of pressure to see him face Wilder next.

But Haye does not see that happening, at least not next or even in 2018.

“I don’t see it,” Haye told iFL TV. “My gut instinct says no. Maybe next year.

“If Parker beats Joshua, then there’s a rematch. So Joshua vs. Wilder won’t happen this year.

“There are more lucrative fights out there for Joshua that he might feel are easier.”

Haye has his own business to take care of in the coming months - with an eye on Joshua.

He previously held the WBA world title, but lost the championship to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011.

But Haye is realistic when it comes to his pursuit of a world title. He says his career will be over if he loses to Tony Bellew in their upcoming rematch on May 5 at the O2 Arena in London.

Bellew stopped an injured Haye in the eleventh round of their first meeting, in March of 2017.

“How I look after this fight is solely dependent on whether I fight again. It’s not about the result," Haye said.

“If I lose then 100 percent I don’t fight again, if I win then it depends how I fight.

“If you can’t beat Tony Bellew real clean then thinking about any of these big names is just crazy.”