Row over referee Rodriguez could count out Haye's WBA belt

David Haye's protest against the appointment of a referee familiar with the Klitschkos is beginning to appear like an attempt to keep his WBA belt whether he wins or loses on Saturday night. Haye’s trainer-manager, Adam Booth, said: ‘The position now is that, unless the WBA decide to approve this referee, then they will not sanction this as a fight for their championship.’ Normally, a heavyweight is stripped of his title if he does not put it on the line in any and every fight. Booth’s statement indicates that the WBA would not take that action against Haye — if the referee dispute is not resolved. Haye’s complaint is that Chicago official, Genaro Rodriguez, has ‘developed a relationship wi th the Klitschkos’ by refereeing Wladimir’s heavyweight title fights and two of his brother Vitali’s. Booth has proposed Luis Pabon as an alternative but said: ‘That has been refused on the grounds that he has refereed one of David’s fights. ‘But how about all the Klitschko fights which Rodriguez has officiated? Where is the justice in that? All we want is a fair fight.’ Team Klitschko are pointing out that Rodriguez took charge of one of Wladimir’s three defeats — the one inflicted by Corrie Sanders in 2003. But Booth argued: ‘In all the Wladimir fights which this referee has been in charge of, he has allowed all kinds of fouls and especially long periods of holding. This is an ongoing dispute. ‘The WBO are pushing Rodriguez very aggressively. Can we guess why? But everyone in boxing knows that Pabon is a fine referee.’ With just four days to go until 55,000 people throng into Hamburg’s Imtech Arena and millions of TV viewers around the globe tune in, this is a dispute which needs to be resolved quickly. It would be inconceivable for the Klitschkos to let Wladimir risk his IBF, WBO, Ring and IBO titles without Haye’s WBA belt being at stake as well. Although this is a more genuine controversy than the other disruptions being created by Haye, the danger of the fight being called off sounds remote. Booth admitted: ‘Even if the WBA say we have to go with Rodriguez, Klitschko still gets knocked out.’ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2008790/Row-referee-Genaro-Rodriguez-count-David-Hayes-WBA-belt.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

Comments (20)

if haye lost & retained the belt he would definately look like a clown.this happened a few years back.lewis beat holyfield to unify the belts.shortly after the one of the bodies stripped lennox of the belt because he wouldnt fight akinwande again who was somehow his mandatory.akinwande got DQ'd for holding the first fight...i believe byrd & holyfield fought for vacant title...byrd won

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

Haye's got Wlad bent over the table on this one. Title or Ref, tick tock what are you going to choose Wlad?

14y ago

Uturn

More minds game by Hate perhaps? Coming out with this sort of stuff is a sign of man who is desperate. He is trying everything to unsettle Wlad and rattle his cage. I think Haye knows he's up against it, hence why he is talking so much drivel.

14y ago

Hitman932

Boxing needs to appoint a neutral ref that has never ref'd any of either ones fights. It's just flat out pathetic that Haye has the nerve to request a referee who was in on a fixed fight. It's disgraceful enough that Haye bet on himself in a fight with a pre determined outcome and even more disgraceful that the BBBofC failed to call him on it because they didn't want to sanction their precious meal ticket. Pabon is the absolute worst possible candidate for this fight and it just shows how full of sh*t Booth and Haye are to even make such a ludicrous request for such a dishonest official.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

Haye doesn't want this fight and Wlad is not stepping into the ring without the WBA belt on the line. Rodriguez is one of the best refs in the game, and if he were a crooked homer like English refs he would have let Wlad continue through at least 3 more knockdowns and long counts against Sanders. Pabon on the other hand, was recruited by Haye to referee a fixed fight against Harrison and was probably paid a stipend to warn Haye for not throwing punches to create the illusion that he wasn't in on it. The last thing boxing needs to do at this point is give in to Haye's demand and appoint the referee who took part in his pre meditated cheating against Harrison. Boxing needs to appoint a neutral ref that has never ref'd any of either ones fights.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

For me it just confirms that Haye's confidence isn't near as high as he's making out and is giving Wlad an insight into the real shaky Haye mindset. Or he's doing it to rattle Wlad's cage some more, give up the chance of the WBA belt or change the ref. What's Wladdy going to do?

14y ago

Hitman932

14y ago

Money_Shot0915

For me it just confirms that Haye's confidence isn't near as high as he's making out and is giving Wlad an insight into the real shaky Haye mindset.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

You think Haye gets all of that $15? hahahahahahahahahahah HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH He might get 30% of that 15$, then he splits it with Klitschko. You need to go to school to find out how stuff works. When PPV or a company charges a certain $ amount the fighter doesnt get anywhere close to that amount. hahahahahaha hahahah Typical Haye fan, thinks if a ppv sells 600k then Haye gets all that money hahaha, dude its a business, he gets a small cut. Keep thinking Haye is a bigger draw or makes more money. Oh god, did i say he keeps the lot? He will make a lot more than 30% you retard and it's £ not the less valued $. 30% :rofl: :dunce:

14y ago

Medved

The Klitschko's get 3 million Euro from RTL, while Haye sells over 600k PPVs for SKY at £15. Do the maths. You think Haye gets all of that $15? hahahahahahahahahahah HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH He might get 30% of that 15$, then he splits it with Klitschko. You need to go to school to find out how stuff works. When PPV or a company charges a certain $ amount the fighter doesnt get anywhere close to that amount. hahahahahaha hahahah Typical Haye fan, thinks if a ppv sells 600k then Haye gets all that money hahaha, dude its a business, he gets a small cut. Keep thinking Haye is a bigger draw or makes more money.

14y ago

vacon04

Yes but how does the WBA belt not being up for grabs hurt him? FFS :pat: It's not that it hurts him, but it doesn't helps as a lot of people would think. As I said, if he loses and retires, he'll retire as a nobody even if he holds the WBA belt ... and if he loses and keeps fighting as a "champion", his paychecks would be a lot smaller than right now even as a WBA championship, that's all I'm trying to say.

14y ago

lfc19titles

You are DREAMING, Wlad is a 10x bigger money draw. anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali is earning their HIGHEST CAREER PAYDAY. Wlad/Vitali can sell out 50k in an Arena and get paid MILLIONS by RTL. You think Wlad cares about UK PPV money? Its what $20 and not like $50 like it is in USA? Think about how little a fighter gets. That $20 is divided by like 10 people. so GTFO out of here. Just like Pacq and Floyd anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali in the HW division will make their career highest. Thats why so many ppl want to fight them. poor James Toney has been making death threats for a fight with Wlad or Vitali. David Haye doesnt bring anything to Wlad, just a belt. You actually think David Haye is a bigger draw/brings more money? If you do then go to the mirror, take 3 steps back and stab yourself in the face. oh dear lord rtl 3m per wlad fight haye 15 pounds per ppv sold, the fight will sell around 1 million ppv buys in the uk, that is 15m sterling haye generates haye makes more money because of ppv you forget one thing, this is wlads biggest pay day, why because of hayes ppv just do the maths 3m rtl money in euros vs the uk ppv money

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

So do you actually think that Haye is fighting because of his great desire to get all the belts? He wants the MONEY, if he loses, goodbye to his huge paychecks... Yes but how does the WBA belt not being up for grabs hurt him? FFS :pat:

14y ago

vacon04

How is that crap, Wlad and Vitali have been saying for years they want to hold all the major titles. If Wlad doesn't get the WBA strap for winning they still won't hold the titles. How would it hurt Haye if his belt is not on the line? :dunce: :rofl: So do you actually think that Haye is fighting because of his great desire to get all the belts? He wants the MONEY, if he loses, goodbye to his huge paychecks...

14y ago

shenmue

You are DREAMING, Wlad is a 10x bigger money draw. anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali is earning their HIGHEST CAREER PAYDAY. Wlad/Vitali can sell out 50k in an Arena and get paid MILLIONS by RTL. David Haye doesnt bring anything to Wlad, just a belt. You actually think David Haye is a bigger draw/brings more money? If you do then go to the mirror, take 3 steps back and stab yourself in the face. You need to ignore these Haye nut huggers, especially liverpool19titles (Liverpool have won 18 titles, you f ucking moron) who is biased toward English fighters. He won't be on here after Wlad beats the living sh-it out of Haye and sends him too a comfy German Hospital bed. Just look forward to July 2nd, the end of David Haye like i am.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

You are DREAMING, Wlad is a 10x bigger money draw. anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali is earning their HIGHEST CAREER PAYDAY. Wlad/Vitali can sell out 50k in an Arena and get paid MILLIONS by RTL. David Haye doesnt bring anything to Wlad, just a belt. You actually think David Haye is a bigger draw/brings more money? If you do then go to the mirror, take 3 steps back and stab yourself in the face. The Klitschko's get 3 million Euro from RTL, while Haye sells over 600k PPVs for SKY at £15. Do the maths.

14y ago

Medved

You need to start thinking a bit The reason haye deserves 50 percent if not more is because HE IS BRINGING MORE MONEY. Let me repeat, there is NO PPV MONEY FROM GERMANY. All the PPV money is coming because britian wants to watch haye now time to set your azz straight again, the reason maidan and judah deserve what they did is because against, KHAN is being paid by HBO millions, they want to see him, people pay to watch him on PPV in the uk, he brings most of the money to the table, so he deserves more at the end of the day, boxing now is a business, the person who brings the most money keeps more money using your logic, mosley and ortiz should get 50 percent if not more because they have a world title belt which floyd does not have You are DREAMING, Wlad is a 10x bigger money draw. anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali is earning their HIGHEST CAREER PAYDAY. Wlad/Vitali can sell out 50k in an Arena and get paid MILLIONS by RTL. You think Wlad cares about UK PPV money? Its what $20 and not like $50 like it is in USA? Think about how little a fighter gets. That $20 is divided by like 10 people. so GTFO out of here. Just like Pacq and Floyd anyone who fights Wlad/Vitali in the HW division will make their career highest. Thats why so many ppl want to fight them. poor James Toney has been making death threats for a fight with Wlad or Vitali. David Haye doesnt bring anything to Wlad, just a belt. You actually think David Haye is a bigger draw/brings more money? If you do then go to the mirror, take 3 steps back and stab yourself in the face.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

"All I need is a ref that can count to ten." What a homo. Wlad - All i need is home advantage, my doctor, my ring size, my ref.

14y ago

Rick_Grimes

David Haye feels he needs a CROOKED ref who will allow him to rabbit punch, like he did with Mormeck, Barrett and Ruiz, and hit his opponent when he's already down, like he did to Fragomeni. WTF? Haye wants a neutral ref anyone that hasn't ref'd multiple Klitschko fights. What's wrong with that? Wlad should have no problem changing the ref, if he refuses and it costs him the WBA belt it's his own fault and it would look odd.

14y ago

Uturn

The thing is in Germany some refs forget how to count. You have no explanation do you, what a tedious comeback. Haye 'As long as the ref can count to ten I don't care'. Haye should stick to his word. He is that confident so why does he care huh? He clearly isn't that confident if he's whining about the ref. Get the eff on with it Haye. PS I'm rooting for Haye.

14y ago