Who should Haye man up against?

[JDC]

So Haye's proposed heavyweight battle with Wlav has fallen through. And now with Vitali and Wlad having a string of mandatory defenses to take care of it looks like Haye may have to wait his turn to get a shot.

I do not think rising to the top of a poor cruiserweight division and defeating Monte Barrett was anywhere near enough to grant him this shot. He has only fought 15 rounds competitively since Novemer 2006 Thats close to 5 rounds a year. Who should Haye fight to keep busy, prove his worth at elite level and earn a legitamate title challenge?

[J]

valuev.

[JDC]

valuev.

I did say 'legitimate title' lol. Would be good for exposure, but Valvev really is a donkey. He'd make Barrett look good

[U.F.O]

Well with the HW division being so weak the Klitschkos really are the only fights out there that will earn Haye any respect, so this really is a disaster for him,

However can we please stop with the nonsense that he has not earn't his shot, he became undisputed cruiser champ in just 22 fights, that is impressive in anyones book but some people just can not give him any credit (mainly americans), he had earn't his shot in the ring plus the fact he is a big draw admitedly so is Klitschko but he has never sold 70,000 tickets before, there are hundreds and hundred of fighters out there much less deserving of there title shot.

[alexpaterson]

They should put him in with someone before a world title challenge I think Valuev its a fight he could win and it would get him up to a unification bout against a Klitschko as that is the only fights that he wants

[JDC]

Well with the HW division being so weak the Klitschkos really are the only fights out there that will earn Haye any respect, so this really is a disaster for him,

However can we please stop with the nonsense that he has not earn't his shot, he became undisputed cruiser champ in just 22 fights, that is impressive in anyones book but some people just can not give him any credit (mainly americans), he had earn't his shot in the ring plus the fact he is a big draw admitedly so is Klitschko but he has never sold 70,000 tickets before, there are hundreds and hundred of fighters out there much less deserving of there title shot.

Its not nonsense. He is a heavyweight challenger and he hasn't fought anyone of note at heavyweight. Thats the truth and its the most important factor in ranking fighters at their weight. Haye was a voluntary defense, if he had earned his right he would have been a mandatory.

The mandatories for both Wlad and Vitali are much more deserving of title shots based on what they have done at the weight. Haye has shown that he is an offensively skilled fighter. However, he should be tested at the weight like any other fighter inorder to gain a ranking which is high enough for him to justifiably have a claim for a title shot.

[U.F.O]

Yes but thats no how boxing works look at Oscar, Floyd, Hopkins, Pacman they all jump divisions and fight for titles straight away, it would be abit stupid if evertime you went up a division you had to make your way up the rankings. Boxing is about money Haye vs a Klitchsko is the biggest fight in the HW division and that is why it was made so quickly.

[Asterix]

It's not just about who Haye should fight, but also who WOULD fight him. Valuev, I'm pretty sure, wouldn't. Nor would Arreola. He could aim for Sam Peter for some target practise. He said on "A Question of Sport" last year that he would be fighting Peter in March 09.

Albert Sosnowski is rated quite highly by Boxrec (20th) and looked very flat last time out.

Or he could go for a tall former Klitschko foe, Tony Thompson or Juan Carlos Gomez.

Eddie Chambers is also an option if he beats Dimitrenko.

[JDC]

Yes but thats no how boxing works look at Oscar, Floyd, Hopkins, Pacman they all jump divisions and fight for titles straight away, it would be abit stupid if evertime you went up a division you had to make your way up the rankings. Boxing is about money Haye vs a Klitchsko is the biggest fight in the HW division and that is why it was made so quickly.

A 5lb jump to fight 1 of 4/5 champions at LWW is not the same as moving from cruiser to open weight category where there are only 2 recognised champions and getting a title shot. The difference is huge.

[Horse]

I did say 'legitimate title' lol. Would be good for exposure, but Valvev really is a donkey. He'd make Barrett look good

I don't think Valuev is a donkey. He is ranked No.4 in the division and would be a very good win for Haye. Valuev has beaten Barrett so he is a step or two up from him. Valuev is not as bad as he looked against Holyfield.

Haye should try to get this fight if he can. It would make a fight with one of the Klitschkos a unification fight and put him in a much stronger position at the negotiating table (if he won).

[U.F.O]

Yes but thats no how boxing works look at Oscar, Floyd, Hopkins, Pacman they all jump divisions and fight for titles straight away, it would be abit stupid if evertime you went up a division you had to make your way up the rankings. Boxing is about money Haye vs a Klitchsko is the biggest fight in the HW division and that is why it was made so quickly.

A 5lb jump to fight 1 of 4/5 champions at LWW is not the same as moving from cruiser to open weight category where there are only 2 recognised champions and getting a title shot. The difference is huge.

Roy Jones JR jumped straight from Light heavy to fight Ruiz for the WBA title and people commended him for it. Haye does it from CW and alot are saying he doen't deserve his shot it, i'm not saying this to you personaly but there is definatly alot bias against British fighters.

and before anyone says it i not compairing the career of Haye and Jones Jr just highlighting the double standards of some posters on the Current Scene and other boxing forums.

Sorry to Rant on but it's just it's all i have been hearing lately, Boxing would be a whole lot better sport if there were more people like Haye, Pacman, Cotto ect fighters that want to fight the best out there.

[JDC]

I am unsure, but I believe RJJ was a voluntary defense rather than mandatory.

The WBA heavyweight trincet has been a joke for a while now. They wont allow Valuev to fight Haye. But if they did would he be good preparation for Wlad/Vital?

[Horse]

They wont allow Valuev to fight Haye.

Who won't allow Valuev to fight Haye? The WBA?

[JDC]

They wont allow Valuev to fight Haye.

Who won't allow Valuev to fight Haye? The WBA?

Because he has no ranking with them, so they wouldnt sanction a bout for the title. Valeuv isn't going to vacate to fight Haye, so yes the WBA will effectively not allow Valuev to fight Haye.

[Carbo]

"Who should Haye man up against?"

Obviously Bruno, darlings.

[Wales]

Rahman, Brewster, Maskaev, Valuev or Chambers (the american heavyweight, not stu).

[whatashambles]

Sam Peter

[Wales]

Sam Peter

Only issue with that is he's lost two on the bounce now

[DavidPayne]

Evander Holyfield in front of 20,000 at the 02.

Easy money, and precious little risk, but an easy sell.

[Wales]

David, you sadist.

[DavidPayne]

Except I wouldn't rule Evander out:-)

[Wales]

I think Evanders okay if he's able to go at his own pace, i dont think he can hang when someone takes the impetus from him, which I'd expect haye to do. Mind you, wohat would Haye do if his bombs didnt budge the wily old vetran?

[hitman_hatton1]

he should fight arreola.

HBO are hyping arreola right now.

what better than exposing him in america on american soil.

i'm gutted the wlad fight has fallen thru.

that was a really winnable fight with haye's power.

[Old bones Ian]

If the stumbling block for Haye is money from setanta, then he needs to face an american name , to get interest from that side of the pond and get more money from the tv over there.

I'd have him fight from this list Hasim Rahman, James Toney, Brian Minto or Evander Holyfield.

[2boxrec2]

Sosnowski vs Haye? D strange