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The search goes on for an opponent for David Haye's big heavyweight unveiling in November. But negotiations are not that easy, when the criteria seems to be: must be ranked above Haye and must be a name. All the talk seems to be centring around a group of ageing Americans, although if you have been as critical as Haye has of the world's leading heavyweights, it is a wonder that anyone could be considered good enough.
Haye's contest (his first since unifying the WBC, WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a two-round win over Enzo Maccarinelli) will take place on November 15 at the O2 Arena, in south-east London. Last week, a press conference was cancelled when an opponent Hayemaker said they had an agreement with changed their mind. "He agreed the money, he agreed the fight, the date; everything was sorted," Haye said. "Obviously he's gone home and watched some DVDs of me in action and made a U-turn. He thought I was just a cruiserweight champion but he’s watched me in action and thought to himself 'he's no ordinary cruiserweight'."
Rumours suggested that the opponent that pulled out was Oliver McCall. Yes, that Oliver McCall, the 43-year-old former WBC champion. Now I'm no promoter, but that seems a hard sell to me.
McCall is certainly a name, one associated more with the Nineties than the present scene, but still a name. It is more than 13 years since he lost his title to Frank Bruno, more than 11 since he burst into tears in his rematch with Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas (pictured). The crack *******, the breakdowns, the spells in prison, it does not exactly add up to a trouble-free opponent, even if he did beat Sinan Samil Sam last year and face Juan Carlos Gomez in a WBC eliminator in his last fight last October.
apparently it was Oliver McCall
Haye's contest (his first since unifying the WBC, WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles with a two-round win over Enzo Maccarinelli) will take place on November 15 at the O2 Arena, in south-east London. Last week, a press conference was cancelled when an opponent Hayemaker said they had an agreement with changed their mind. "He agreed the money, he agreed the fight, the date; everything was sorted," Haye said. "Obviously he's gone home and watched some DVDs of me in action and made a U-turn. He thought I was just a cruiserweight champion but he’s watched me in action and thought to himself 'he's no ordinary cruiserweight'."
Rumours suggested that the opponent that pulled out was Oliver McCall. Yes, that Oliver McCall, the 43-year-old former WBC champion. Now I'm no promoter, but that seems a hard sell to me.
McCall is certainly a name, one associated more with the Nineties than the present scene, but still a name. It is more than 13 years since he lost his title to Frank Bruno, more than 11 since he burst into tears in his rematch with Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas (pictured). The crack *******, the breakdowns, the spells in prison, it does not exactly add up to a trouble-free opponent, even if he did beat Sinan Samil Sam last year and face Juan Carlos Gomez in a WBC eliminator in his last fight last October.
apparently it was Oliver McCall
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