DAVID HAYE: WHAT OPPONENT WILL SATISFY YOU?

[stujones]

Carl Drummond is world ranked, and seems to have a padded record.

[E]

Really I would like David to jump straight in and fight Wlad. And he would love to I'm sure.

Others that would provide both a decent fight and a test:

Samil Sam
Vladimir Virchis
Paolo Vidoz
Ole Maskaev
Taras Bidenko
Monte Barrett
Hasim Rahman
Oleg Platov
Friday Ahunaya

[WildWaylon]

Haye seems to want to run before he can walk. He is good we know that but aiming at the top men straight away may not be the right thing to do.

[Poncey]

Arreola isn't a name though.

I disagree. In America he's a bigger name than most, if not all, US HWs because of his demographic. The Witherspoon fight, on a decent broadcaster, made him a name and he has a very good amateur background.

[Autobarn]

Do the Mexican-Americans support guys who are above lightweight/light welter, though?

[Poncey]

The armchair fans do more than the "real" fans in my experience. My client didn't even know who Miguel Cotto was before the Gomez fight, but he can name virtually all Pan American HWs at the moment.

They love the big boys.

[m1kee50]

it wont be barett.... Haye wants someone with a ranking, ideally a ranking above him.

[DG.]

If he is really wanting to make a splash, be GREAT to see if he could stop James Toney ( If Toney beats Rahman).

[Phenomenal-Nutrition]

Is Maskeev defo off then??

Well all those guys and maybe the Brit pack

Skeleton - made Chagaev look bad, is a big strong heavy
Audley - Big Heavy, decent skills, chinny

Or an ex Wlad opponent like Ibragimov, Thompson, Brock, Brewster. If Haye beats them more emphatically it strengthens his case

[overhand_right]

Ibragimov, Thompson, Brock, and Brewster are a mix of injured, beat up or retired so no to all realistically.

Dominic Guinn?

Never stopped or dropped, and has the win over Audley to sell him to the British public.

Still think Barretts the best bet, chin gone, game, coming off a nice looking win, good talker (for press beforehand), and we can compare Haye to how Klitschko,Rahman and Valuev dealt with him in his biggest fights.

Oh and he also derailed Guinn and Joe Mesi, so, good choice me thinks.