Evander Holyfield Critical of David Haye, Plans Big Return
By Mark Vester
Former undisputed cruiserweight/heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield is another name on a long list of critics who are puzzled on David Haye's ability to get himself in position for a major title shot. Haye challenges WBA champion Nikolai Valuev on November 7.
There are many who compare Haye and Holyfield. Both of them cleaned out the crusierweight division before making the trip to heavyweight. Holyfield disagrees with the people who compare him to Haye. He doesn't think Haye has done his fair share to earn a title shot. Haye stopped Monte Barrett in 2008. He was previously scheduled to fight both Klitschko brothers at one point or another in 2009. And now he fights Valuev in November.
"We're different, I didn't have one fight and then get my opportunity," Holyfield told BBC Sport. "I moved up in 1988 and had six fights in two years before I was finally ranked number one and got the opportunity to fight the winner of Mike Tyson-Buster Douglas. When people try to compare David Haye to me, I say, 'wait a minute, I fought six heavyweights and beat them, they didn't make me number one contender straightaway'.
"I fought my way in to prove I could win the heavyweight title. I fought more as a heavyweight than I did in any other division. David Haye only fought one fight, and it will only tell you how good he is by how well he does in the fight against Valuev. He's a very skilful fighter, but he's moving up to the heavyweight division and he's fighting against a giant, a guy who's 100lb heavier and has a huge reach advantage."
Holyfield, 46, plans to fight in November and then in February or March of next year. If Haye beats Valuev, Holyfield will target him.
"I'll be fighting in November and hopefully in February or March I'll be fighting for a world title," said Holyfield. "It's not a dream, it's a reality, it just hasn't happened yet. If I become world champion I won't fight him [Haye], but if he gets the belt first I will.
"I just need to go and do what I need to do and then I can sit down, and everyone can be happy, because obviously nobody's happy with me standing up. I'm just saying, why don't you let me fight for the title! And in February or March, there's a good chance that might happen."
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com
