Klitschko vs. Haye is Getting Closer as Deadline Looms

[Dave Rado]

Maybe so, but Wlad will get no credit because Haye is supposed to lose this fight. Lets hope I'm wrong.

A lot of boxing experts think Haye has enough speed and power to at the least make it an exciting fight, and there have been precious few exciting heavyweight fights in recent years.

Wlad would get props from me if he wins.

I expect it to be much more competitive that most people here seem to, though.

[Dave Rado]

hwo much would that change if he were to make a campaign of fightng bums at heavy ... with hayes less then stellar chin i think this is the smartest way for him to go big money fights immidiatley ...

If this fight falls through, Haye won't fight bums, he would lose all credibility if he did. He would have to fight a genuine top 10 heavy next, IMO.

[The Hammer]

Michael Spinks moved up to Heavyweight and fought Larry Holmes for the lineal title in his first fight at the weight.

Bob Foster did the same vs. Joe Frazier.

Manny Pacquiao is challenging Hatton for his lineal Jnr Welterweight title in his first fight at the weight.

Hopkins plans to fight for Adamak's lineal Cruiserweight title in his first fight at the weight.

There are literally hundreds of other other examples of a dominant champion moving up in weight and fighting for a title in his first fight. Haye is the only one who has ever been called "undeserving".

What you fail to understand is Haye's resume at cruiserweight is thin. He defeated the tomato can Maccarinelli and past-prime Mormeck, who was not the same after his wars with Bell, to win his titles.

He never fought the best prime cruiserweight at the time, namely Steve Cunningham, nor did he fight anyone with a good chin like Wlodarczyk, Adamek, Arslan or Jones.

Haye never had a single title defense at cruiserweight. In contrast, JC Gomez, a bona fide cruiserweight champion, had NINE successful defenses.

And your comparing Haye to someone like Bernard Hopkins, an all-time great, and Manny Pacquiao, the current p4p #1, is ridiculous.

[Dave Rado]

And your comparing Haye to someone like Bernard Hopkins, an all-time great, and Manny Pacquiao, the current p4p #1, is ridiculous.

I am simply making the point that it is normal for the lineal champion at one weight to move up in weight and get an immediate title shot, which several people in this thread seem to be unaware of - I am not comparing Haye's résumé with anyone else's. You've either misunderstood or twisted my post.

[The RealDeal]

Oh dear.














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[Randall_Hopkirk]

I think its very dumb that Haye gets this shot, because if Wlad wins he'll probably not get any credit from David Haye fans or anyone else since Haye hasn't done **** in the heavyweight division.

Haye is more legitimate that Rahman, what did the Rock do in the last 2 years to warrant a shot? Or Thomspson who only became relevant when he beat a faded Krasniqi, you're forgetting that HW is a wasteland where most title challengers are mediocre. who gives a **** about Wlad/Arreola or Wlad/Povetkin?

[Randall_Hopkirk]

What you fail to understand is Haye's resume at cruiserweight is thin. He defeated the tomato can Maccarinelli and past-prime Mormeck, who was not the same after his wars with Bell, to win his titles.

He never fought the best prime cruiserweight at the time, namely Steve Cunningham, nor did he fight anyone with a good chin like Wlodarczyk, Adamek, Arslan or Jones.

Haye never had a single title defense at cruiserweight. In contrast, JC Gomez, a bona fide cruiserweight champion, had NINE successful defenses.

And your comparing Haye to someone like Bernard Hopkins, an all-time great, and Manny Pacquiao, the current p4p #1, is ridiculous.

Haye became mandatory while defending his European title, he already had designs on fighting at HW but waited for his shot at the #1 Cruiserweight, WBA/WBC/Ring champion in Mormeck. When he blitzed him he then set about a move up but Maccarinelli's team offered him a lucrative fight, Haye said it was easy money for fighting an average fighter and this proved to be the case.

It's ****** to criticize him for fighting guys that were not highly ranked at the time. Adamek was coming of a domination by a light heavyweight, Jones was fighting guys with losing records, that polish guy was hiding out in Poland getting gifts. So Haye instead fought the #1 and then #2 ranked Cruiserweights by Ring mag, in consecutive fights. Fighting the best is an alien concept to Klitschko fans but Haye is a different breed.

[Chase8400]

hwo much would that change if he were to make a campaign of fightng bums at heavy ... with hayes less then stellar chin i think this is the smartest way for him to go big money fights immidiatley ...

Oh, no doubt about that. I would be David Haye, exactly, if I were in his position. I wouldn't really mean the jargon that I was saying, but would say it in order to make a serious career move and avoid disaster of a defeat while making my way to the title legitimately.

This being said, I think Haye is a dangerous fighter at the weight and think he probably poses more of a threat than anyone Wlad can face right now besides maybe Dimitrenko. My point was that both sides of the table have a good argument on this one to happen or for it not to happen.

Does Haye deserve a shot? Maybe, it's about 50/50. I just hope the people who are saying that Haye deserves the shot now and that he has a good chance to win will give Wlad the credit he deserves if he does win in convincing fashion. Boxing will give Haye his due if he pulls off the upset, believe that for sure so Wlad deserves the same respect. I personally WANT to see him challenged again like he was in the Peter fight. That would be a good step to becoming an ATG if he passes the test. Much like Lennox Lewis did against Holyfield when many others have overcame their predecessors.

[The Hammer]

Haye is more legitimate that Rahman, what did the Rock do in the last 2 years to warrant a shot? Or Thomspson who only became relevant when he beat a faded Krasniqi, you're forgetting that HW is a wasteland where most title challengers are mediocre. who gives a **** about Wlad/Arreola or Wlad/Povetkin?

Hasim Rahman was chosen in late October as a replacement for Wlad's mandatory Povetkin. He was chosen because 1) he was recommended by the IBF as their highest-rated available opponent and 2) he was acceptable to HBO, as a well-known fighter.

And Tony Thompson was Wlad's WBO mandatory. He had never been knocked down in his pro career, and had not lost a fight in about 8 years.

Both Arreola and Povetkin have accomplished more at heavyweight than David Haye.

[Chase8400]

A lot of boxing experts think Haye has enough speed and power to at the least make it an exciting fight, and there have been precious few exciting heavyweight fights in recent years.

Wlad would get props from me if he wins.

I expect it to be much more competitive that most people here seem to, though.

I sure hope you are right. As I said in the post before this one, they both have potential and the fight would not be made if they both didn't have a legitimate chance to win. Either man could have the advantage in this one. Aside from maybe Sanders, Haye will be the fastest handed fighter Wlad has ever faced and Wlad will be by far the biggest and most skilled fighter Haye has fought. Let's just hope the victor gets their due when the dust settes. I mainly just want the fight signed though. We desperately need this fight in the worst way. I think Wlad and Haye know that too and the fight will come off. It would be a nice birthday give too, since I hit the big 3-0 right before that one is scheduled.