De La Hoya Says Haye Should Fight Arreola in Las Vegas
By Mark Vester
WBA heavyweight champion David Haye wants to make the first defense of his title in England but his American promotional partner, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, is advising him to make his first defense in Las Vegas. De La Hoya says the exposure in Las Vegas will be huge for Haye's career in the long run. Haye is scheduled to defend his title against John Ruiz in early 2010.
De La Hoya does not want Haye to rush into a fight with either of the Klitschko brothers. He says Haye should build the fight up by making title defenses against top contenders. One name that De La Hoya mentioned is once-beaten Chris Arreola.
“What Manny Pacquiao brings to the Philippines, what [Julio César] Chávez brought to Mexico, David Haye can do for England,” said De La Hoya to The Times Online. “He can really create global excitement. A heavyweight champion who has charisma, who is good looking but ultimately can fight. When David is going to fight anybody it is going to be an event, so we have to establish him in Las Vegas. Fight Chris Arreola or one of the top guys and get the American public to know him better, then ultimately fight the Klitschkos."
If De La Hoya can establish Haye's name in Las Vegas, he says a fight against either of the Klitschko brothers could become a global event.
"A Klitschko fight in Vegas is a global event. If you want to make a global event, a mega, mega fight, you have to build it. David Haye is not going anywhere, he is going to be champion for a long, long time. We don’t want to make it too soon, or wait to long. Maybe early 2011 or late 2010, depending how active David wants to be. If you build it they will come - just like Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams,” De La Hoya said.
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