David Haye: "I Will Not Be a Slave Fighter"

[$partacus]

Don't doubt it, it's almost certainly true. When you trash-talk and insult someone you desperately need something from, you'd better expect to get ****ed in the negotiations. Haye should've been respectful, polite, and presented his case to the Klitschkos more along the lines of "Boxing fans want to see us fight, it would be good for boxing, enliven the division, blah, blah".
He probably would've been treated much better in negotiations. The approach he took couldn't have been worse for his position. Seriously, he expected the "I'm the one you have to fight, if you're not too chicken****, I'll knock you out and take your belt" to be effective? And then, of course, he finds himself screwed when Sentanta crashes and neither Klitschko is willing to give him **** for the fight, and require mega future obligations in the contract? Yeah, big damn surprise, I'm sure. I'm only surprised the Klitschkos didn't require his wife or girlfriend to spread her legs as a "good will" guesture before serious negotiations could begin.

He's a fool, but then he's young, so that's expected, to an extent. But he should've had someone giving him guidance, rather than just running his mouth as rampantly as he did.

Haye running his mouth is the smartest thing he could have done, he's now more well known than he's ever been, his fights will sell more and hes jumped the line to a title shot. If he had taken the polite approach he would be fighting bums for peanuts to move up the rankings.

[street bully]

So Haye backed out a second time?

[vercingetorix3]

It would be funny if David also had a decapitated head T-shirt of Valuev, too.

If they're going the David vs. Goliath route, it's certainly more biblically accurate (David lopped off Goliath's head with the Philistine's own sword).

[bojangles1987]

If you run your mouth the way Haye did, you HAVE to get one of the fights against the Klitschko's done. After hearing some of the terms they were forcing I'm not going to criticize Haye as bad as I have been, but he has to find a way to get one of these fights no matter how bad the terms if he is going to run his mouth.

[Stickman]

Haye running his mouth is the smartest thing he could have done, he's now more well known than he's ever been, his fights will sell more and hes jumped the line to a title shot. If he had taken the polite approach he would be fighting bums for peanuts to move up the rankings.

I don't think so, myself. Most fans of the division would've preferred to see one of the Klitschkos face Haye this summer or fall, he just ****ed up the ability to get a big payday from it. He could've made the case, as I suggested, and almost certainly gotten Wlad into the ring, himself a decent payday, and if he did well (almost no chance of winning, but if he lost a decision, he'd do better than almost anyone else has, and get himself a guaranteed rematch), given himself instant credibility as a heavyweight.

As it stands, he's going to have to either take the title from Valuev to get himself a poker chip that, hopefully, one of the Klitschkos is willing to fight for, or do just as you said....fight bums for nothing for a couple of years until he becomes a mandatory.

[JM1]

haye is a joke. nuff said

[d0n]

The Klits forced him to take this route by offering BS contracts, this routes got the same destination and he will make more money on the way.

YEAH! Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the original contract say if he beat Wladimir, he HAD to have a rematch. If he beat him again, he HAD to fight Vitaliy.

Sounds to me like THEY were the ones being a little unsure of themselves...

[Stickman]

YEAH! Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the original contract say if he beat Wladimir, he HAD to have a rematch. If he beat him again, he HAD to fight Vitaliy.

Sounds to me like THEY were the ones being a little unsure of themselves...

Rematch clauses are almost a guarantee in any title fight, especially with multiple beltholders. The "gotta fight my big brother if you win" is also expected....why wouldn't he want to give his big brother a chance at unification in the unlikely event that he lost?

I have no problem with those items. The future options that were rumored to be in the contract, the lack of a significant paycheck that were rumored....those things were probably there simply to spank Haye for being such a mouthy **** this last year or so. Again, can't blame the Klitschkos too much for wanting to put the guy in his place and teach him a valuable lesson.

[drudolphreese]

The Klitschkos are the real cowards. They want him to sign a 3 fight deal. They are scared to lose those titles. I understand a rematch clause but damn. David Haye is right about the whole situation.

[Bad Boy Dazza]

The "gotta fight my big brother if you win" is also expected....why wouldn't he want to give his big brother a chance at unification in the unlikely event that he lost?

EXACTLY! Just lookin after his Bro and guaranteeing that if Haye did win he couldn't DUCK Vitali.