Ruslan Chagaev sets his sights on David Haye

Chagaev, the 31-year-old southpaw, out-thought Meehan to win 118-10, 117-111, 117-112 on the cards, and made no secret of the fact afterwards that he "has his sights" set on 29-year-old Londoner Haye, who in turn, has intimated that a meeting with one of the world champion Klitschko brothers, Vitali or Wladimir, in a title unification contest, is the principal project on his chalkboard. However, behind the scenes, preliminary talks between the respective Haye-Klitschko camps have yet to begin, with Wladimir Klitschko now facing a mandatory challenge for the International Boxing Federation belt he holds from unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin. Klitschko also holds the World Boxing Organisation crown. It is understood that Haye may indeed face Chagaev next, with suggestions that even former Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison could be a possible opponent in the UK, but no firm decisions are likely to being made for at least another month. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxingandmma/david-haye/7756954/Ruslan-Chagaev-sets-sights-on-world-heavyweight-champion-David-Haye.html

Comments (20)

PittyPat

Bump. Do it.

16y ago

PittyPat

I've tried searching, but nothing came up - to refresh my memory, could someone find the earliest article in which Haye said he wanted to fight a top 10 HW in '08? I think it would've been around September-ish (at least that's what I seem to remember from my days of lurking back then). There was like, 3 or 4 months of rabid speculation as to who he would fight - Chambers, Toney, Johnson all being mentioned - and eventually it turned out to be Barrett. I'm in need of a good laff.

16y ago

Pirao

Not the same Pac was a well known fighter before he moved to WW and had huge fights with future hall of famers. The same can't be said about haye ,and he also was fighting in one of least popular divisions...... Haye was already a big name in Britain (the only place where he's a draw actually) before he went up to HW.

16y ago

BermBomber

Not the same Pac was a well known fighter before he moved to WW and had huge fights with future hall of famers. The same can't be said about haye ,and he also was fighting in one of least popular divisions...... Exactly. If Haye were to beat a Klitschko, or even lose in a gallant fashion then his profile, and ticket sales would go through the roof.

16y ago

Mushroom

Pacquiao shouldn't sell because he's new to the WW division... oh wait. Haye was already an established boxer before moving up, it's not like he was a 0-0 fighter who just turned pro. Exactly, the Valuev-Haye fight did well because of Valuev, casual fans that don't know Valuev sucks wanted to see the freak of nature, however against Ruiz Haye did much worse. Unlike the Klitschkos, who no matter who they fight always do huge numbers. Not the same Pac was a well known fighter before he moved to WW and had huge fights with future hall of famers. The same can't be said about haye ,and he also was fighting in one of least popular divisions......

16y ago

bboy80

Didn't they have to give free tickets away for the Barrett fight? yer thats true, 2-1 i think. That was the height of the crash though, everyone was mega skint and scared of spending anything. So they had to take drastic measures on that one.

16y ago

bboy80

I saw attendance for the Ruiz fight at around 16K or 18K depending on the site that reported it. You might be right there im not to sure to be perfectly honest the Men arena's capacity is 23k and I now it was sold out.. If it wasnt the 23k it would of been pretty close to it i reckon..

16y ago

Pirao

Didn't they have to give free tickets away for the Barrett fight? Yes, they gave 2x1 to fill out the arena.

16y ago

PittyPat

Didn't they have to give free tickets away for the Barrett fight?

16y ago

Pirao

Haye is new to the heavyweight division, he hasn't been around for donkey's years like the brothers Grimm and of course the Valuev fight is going to be a bigger draw than Ruiz. First of all it was for a world title and secondly it was against the biggest freak of nature ever seen in the boxing world. A fight against a dull, past it 'Quiet Man was never gonna cut it in comparison. Pacquiao shouldn't sell because he's new to the WW division... oh wait. Haye was already an established boxer before moving up, it's not like he was a 0-0 fighter who just turned pro. Exactly, the Valuev-Haye fight did well because of Valuev, casual fans that don't know Valuev sucks wanted to see the freak of nature, however against Ruiz Haye did much worse. Unlike the Klitschkos, who no matter who they fight always do huge numbers.

16y ago

BermBomber

I would like to see a link that confirms 23K for a Haye fight in England. I am pretty sure that is at the very least a slight exaggeration. I saw attendance for the Ruiz fight at around 16K or 18K depending on the site that reported it. If that's the case it doesn't speak well about Haye that he grew 7K less fans to the Ruiz fight than he did for either the Valuev or Enzo fights. Why such a sudden decline in popularity? A mandatory defence is hardly the same as the Enzo vs Haye Battle of Britain and a fight on foreign soil against a freak of nature for a world title.

16y ago

Boxing_Scene

There might have been a lot in the MEN that night, but you can bet it was nowhere near 23k paid.

16y ago

Pirao

yer i know I didnt say they wernt.. and what are you on about me repeating stuff. There was a post that said haye doesnt do very well in england which is rubbish so i replied.. Then we are in agreement.

16y ago

BermBomber

Funny you have to repeat about the Valuev fight, it has already been mentioned. Stop ducking the point, that is the only HW fight of Haye that did close to what the Klitschkos do. The figures against Ruiz were not released, why? The Klitschkos are much bigger draws than Haye. Haye is new to the heavyweight division, he hasn't been around for donkey's years like the brothers Grimm and of course the Valuev fight is going to be a bigger draw than Ruiz. First of all it was for a world title and secondly it was against the biggest freak of nature ever seen in the boxing world. A fight against a dull, past it 'Quiet Man' was never gonna cut it in comparison.

16y ago

Hitman932

yer i know I didnt say they wernt.. and what are you on about me repeating stuff. There was a post that said haye doesnt do very well in england which is rubbish so i replied.. I would like to see a link that confirms 23K for a Haye fight in England. I am pretty sure that is at the very least a slight exaggeration. I saw attendance for the Ruiz fight at around 16K or 18K depending on the site that reported it. If that's the case it doesn't speak well about Haye that he grew 7K less fans to the Ruiz fight than he did for either the Valuev or Enzo fights. Why such a sudden decline in popularity?

16y ago

bboy80

16y ago

Pirao

and the valuev v haye sold 800,000 pay-per-view buys on Sky Box Office. & he sold out the The O2 Arena capacity — 23,000 when fighting enzo as well. Funny you have to repeat about the Valuev fight, it has already been mentioned. Stop ducking the point, that is the only HW fight of Haye that did close to what the Klitschkos do. The figures against Ruiz were not released, why? The Klitschkos are much bigger draws than Haye.

16y ago

Mushroom

Haye via TKO.

16y ago

bboy80

I was talking about the PPV figures, which weren't released, that usually is not a good indication. The Klitschkos laugh at 23.000 seats BTW. Wladimir had 60.000 and 50.000 people respectively in his last 2 fights. yeh their stadiums are huge they fight in. Biggest on I went to was Calzaghe Kessler that was around 55k.. It was madness.

16y ago

bboy80

and the valuev v haye sold 800,000 pay-per-view buys on Sky Box Office. & he sold out the The O2 Arena capacity — 23,000 when fighting enzo as well.

16y ago