Ruslan Chagaev is shot, so David Haye will fight him now

[Squizz]

This sucks. I thought Ruslan had potential.

[The Hammer]

This sucks. I thought Ruslan had potential.

A few years ago, Ruslan had potential. But not now - he's a shot fighter.

Perhaps it was the beating he took from Wlad. He had never been stopped or even knocked down before.

[FloydTBE]

we'll see how 2011 goes

[VatoMulatto]

David Haye beats any version of Ruslan "the meatball" Chagaev, so Haye has nothing to be worried about.

[Johnnybur]

No doubt David Haye and Adam Booth saw the Ruslan Chagaev-Travis Walker fight today.

They need to make a decision on Haye's next opponent. There were reports soon after the Harrison-Haye fight that Haye does not want to fight Ruslan.

But what happened today no doubt changed his mind.

Travis Walker is a journeyman who's been stopped in round one by Manuel Quezada and KOed by Jonathan Banks. Travis is on about the same level (or actually not quite as good) as Zakeem Graham was when Ruslan stopped him in three rounds on American TV back in 2003.

But ever since his bout with Hep B in 2007, Ruslan has been on the decline. He still has a great chin, but he seems to lack the quickness and stamina he had before the illness. And the long periods of inactivity - like the entire year without a fight after his bout with Wladimir Klitschko - haven't helped him either.

He doesn't seem to have the same snap on his punches that he had a few years ago, and doesn't seem to have the stamina he showed despite all of John Ruiz's holding and leaning in that fight a few years ago.

David Haye only fights old or weak heavyweight opponents. I think Ruslan Chagaev has now declined enough for Haye to have the courage to face him.

So we'll likely see Haye vs. Chagaev in the spring of 2011.

Yep, couldnt agree more with you. Thats what Haye is all about. The dude has a some speed and a little talent, but deep inside hes a joke and he knows it.

[Rickety Cricket]

LOL I bet you are right too, which is very sad.

[Steelhammer2011]

Just watched the fight. Chagaev is shot to pieces. Prime Chagaev would've easily KO'd Walker.

Hepatitis, injuries, inactivity and Wladimir Klitschko RUINED Chagaev.

Now the cherry picking lying coward Haye will duck the Klitschkos YET AGAIN to fight shot Chagaev. This will be the 5th or 6th time (I've lost count) that Haye has pussied out of fighting a Klitschko. Haye is the biggest coward in the history of boxing.

[beez721]

Tunney in Klitschko protection mode, Chagaev is probably Wlad's best win. Walker also caused Arreola problems which is one of Vitali's best wins. It just proves how **** the division is.

OR MAYBE walker isnt all that bad when hes in shape

[Boxing Scene]

My question is what the hell is the mandatory challenger to Haye doing fighting an 8 rounder? Did I miss something in the news?

[nomadman]

I don't think Chagaev is entirely shot. He looked completely out of shape at the weigh-in.

After the loss to Wlad and the Hep B it just doesnt look like he doesn't have the drive to step into the ring in world class shape. He still has the speed and the chin.

If he gets the shot at Haye, I think he'll do really well and may pull an upset IF he steps up his training and gets healthy. The Chagaev that fought today would indeed get TKOd by Haye however.

Yeah, looked to be more of a case of coming in horribly out of shape than being shot. He looked way better even in the Meehan fight where he didn't take much punishment, but it certainly was shocking how slow and sloppy his punches had become last night. Hard to get yourself motivated for an 8 rounder in a local school gym, or wherever that was held, I guess.

If Ruslan gets the shot at Haye he better train his ass off or he's gonna get embarrassed in quick fashion.