Anyone think that Haye should go for Vitali first?

[bfchunk]

I agree

[bfchunk]

Roman or Sergio?

[Final round]

Vitali, although I feel either brother is a big ask. Dave needs to take on one of them win or lose otherwise widespread derision beckons.

[Kilburn]

I agree too. For all the mention that the younger Klitschko's chin gets, he surely represents the more severe threat to Haye. Vlad shows good balance, and has heavy punches that are thrown correctly and often.

Vitali might be sturdier but he has been made to look significantly less dangerous on more than one occasion.

That said, I wouldn't fancy Haye's chances were he up against Vladimir on another family revenge mission...

[Andypittcov]

Both outbox haye and win on points however he has a chance of knocking out wlad, he ain't knocking out vitali no chance so that would be a bad choice and Adam booth knows that

[Cyclops]

Funnily enough I was watching Vitali vs Corrie Sanders earlier today and it made me think that Haye has probably got more of a chance with Vitali than people are giving him credit for. For a start, Sanders' physique was horrible: if you saw him on the beach or something you wouldn't even think he was an athlete he's got a puffy fat chest and no muscle definition in his arms. He also looks completely spooked during the ringwalk, like he knows he's going to lose. Vitali by contrast looks huge, very very muscular and Terminator like. Very focused. Sanders then proceeds to give Vitali, and this is PRIME Vitali, not the older, slower (but still a beast, granted) Vitali we have today, hell for the first half of the fight. I didn't score it or anything, and probably Vit was up on the scorecards before the KO, but the fight is very competitive and Vitali get's rocked by a good few shots from Sanders, at least one sends him reeling across the ring and backs him up: he goes into total defensive mode.

I know he lost but if Sanders could put it on Vitali like that then I'm sure Haye could as well. Haye's much faster and hits harder than Sanders (Yeah, I know Sanders had KO'd Wlad in his last fight but this was a very fragile, early version of Wlad: not the fighter we've got today) and if Sanders had had Hayes power you might even have seen a knockdown. Yes, Sanders survives some good shots from Vitali as well but before that chin issue comes up, Sanders had been KO'd twice before he met Vitali anyway. Sanders is taller than Haye at what looks like a legit 6'4" (I don't buy Haye being 6'3" based on how both Wlad and Audley absolutely dwarfed him in face down photos, although I guess Haye could be bending his knees still like he did when facing off in the Valuev press shots) but he only weighed something like 230 and I'm sure if he got rid of that excess flab he would be down to 215 easy. I don't know a massive amount about Sanders so if anybody wants to educate me then I'm all ears, but Haye seems like he's the better fighter.

It's funny to watch that fight and see Vitali struggle with somebody. It makes me think that the heavyweight challengers of today must be really, really bad because Vitali probably hasn't lost a round since he's come back.

I'd personally like to see Haye in with Vitali. Both brothers are ridiculously good and he's going to be hard pushed to beat either of them, but even though Wlad's Ring champ and has more belts it's Vitali who is the most aggressive, the more dangerous fight. And Vitali WILL go for Haye. He'll ship punches to land his own, which I can't see Wlad doing. He'll just jab Haye's face off. It'll be a much better fight and I think Vitali's got more recognition with the general public because of his spirited effort in effectively retiring Lennox. I think, you know, go for broke and get in with big bro.

[Datsue]

Funnily enough I was watching Vitali vs Corrie Sanders earlier today and it made me think that Haye has probably got more of a chance with Vitali than people are giving him credit for. For a start, Sanders' physique was horrible: if you saw him on the beach or something you wouldn't even think he was an athlete he's got a puffy fat chest and no muscle definition in his arms. He also looks completely spooked during the ringwalk, like he knows he's going to lose. Vitali by contrast looks huge, very very muscular and Terminator like. Very focused. Sanders then proceeds to give Vitali, and this is PRIME Vitali, not the older, slower (but still a beast, granted) Vitali we have today, hell for the first half of the fight. I didn't score it or anything, and probably Vit was up on the scorecards before the KO, but the fight is very competitive and Vitali get's rocked by a good few shots from Sanders, at least one sends him reeling across the ring and backs him up: he goes into total defensive mode.

I know he lost but if Sanders could put it on Vitali like that then I'm sure Haye could as well. Haye's much faster and hits harder than Sanders (Yeah, I know Sanders had KO'd Wlad in his last fight but this was a very fragile, early version of Wlad: not the fighter we've got today) and if Sanders had had Hayes power you might even have seen a knockdown. Yes, Sanders survives some good shots from Vitali as well but before that chin issue comes up, Sanders had been KO'd twice before he met Vitali anyway. Sanders is taller than Haye at what looks like a legit 6'4" (I don't buy Haye being 6'3" based on how both Wlad and Audley absolutely dwarfed him in face down photos, although I guess Haye could be bending his knees still like he did when facing off in the Valuev press shots) but he only weighed something like 230 and I'm sure if he got rid of that excess flab he would be down to 215 easy. I don't know a massive amount about Sanders so if anybody wants to educate me then I'm all ears, but Haye seems like he's the better fighter.

It's funny to watch that fight and see Vitali struggle with somebody. It makes me think that the heavyweight challengers of today must be really, really bad because Vitali probably hasn't lost a round since he's come back.

I'd personally like to see Haye in with Vitali. Both brothers are ridiculously good and he's going to be hard pushed to beat either of them, but even though Wlad's Ring champ and has more belts it's Vitali who is the most aggressive, the more dangerous fight. And Vitali WILL go for Haye. He'll ship punches to land his own, which I can't see Wlad doing. He'll just jab Haye's face off. It'll be a much better fight and I think Vitali's got more recognition with the general public because of his spirited effort in effectively retiring Lennox. I think, you know, go for broke and get in with big bro.

I agree with this--especially the bit I've bolded--but voted for Richard "The Secret" Williams just 'cos I like running gags.

[misticmonk]

I think Vitali is the slower of the two brothers and that in itself may offer Haye the best opportunity. Vitali being the older brother wants to restore family pride as I think Haye has geneually angered the brothers and Hayes antics could further enrage Vitali so you could hope for a raging bull/matador type situation. But in all reality either brother would pose a formidable task.

[Adamj1987]

i agree with the order but dont think he would beat vitali

[hitman_hatton1]

yeah choose vitali first. :P

after the harrison fiasco i'm all for seeing haye feel some punishment.

[lefthook82]

Whats this Richardwilliams thing I keep seeing, that shit made me laugh so thanks for that

Back on topic

It should be Vlad. He said he would give Haye pizza face, Vitali shouldnt deny him that opportunity

[Hagler2002]

Could you please add to the poll "why did I bother opening this thread"

TIA

[WestEndRiot]

I'd go for Wlad first. Vitali is still recognised, and in my opinion rightly so, as the better of the brothers. Vitali is 39 years old now, and knowing how long these negotiations can take, will likely be 40/41 by the time a fight comes to fruition. This is quite an age for a boxer, even at heavyweight, and the longer Haye waits to fight him the more his skills are going to deteriorate.

[Lenny]

Asterix put forward some good arguments for fighting Vitali first on another thread but I'm afraid the answer is, and will always be, Richard 'The Secret' Williams, no matter what the question

[MightyWarrior]

No he should got for Wlad first, as it's obvious he and Booth are slightly less worried about getting splattered by the younger bruv - at least Wlad's less than great chin gives him a puncher's chance.

If the Klits insist it has to be Vitali first, then neither fight will ever happen and the Haye/Booth bandwagon will bump along fighting as many stiffs and bums as they can dig up, like a modern day Burke and Hare.

Unless Vitali does the decent thing and agrees to give Dave 95% of the purse.

[dbf]

I think Vitali first is the way to go. Whilst stronger in the chin department and being quite effective with his akward style, hes not a one punch KO guy like his brother can be. So Haye in my opninon has more chance. He maybe wouldnt knock Vitali out but he can confuse him, attack him with speed (which, lets face it no one has done since sanders) and try and out box him.

Whilst Wlad is more fragile, all round he is a better boxer who in my opnion is more likely to KO Haye.

[Glyn Leach]

I think Wlad then Vitali, just because I don't think Wlad has an angry bone in his body and Vitali gets his psycho head on when little brother gets beat, like he did after Corrie Sanders stopped Wlad, and goes looking for revenge. It would make for a more entertaining pre fight build up.

[big lennox]

I'd love to see Haye verses either.Either bout would be tremendously exciting, not just the build up, but the event itself.I think Vitali is in decline, but he will still take some shifting, and truth be told think he might prove a bit too much.

I think Haye would have a very good chance of beating Wlad, but would have to jump on him straight away, and not box him like he did Harrison, otherwise Wlad would set the pace and gain control; his weakness is he does'nt like direct pressure on him and panics, so if Haye were to do this, he'd have a great chance.

Here's hoping at least one of them happens.

[Asterix]

Asterix put forward some good arguments for fighting Vitali first on another thread but I'm afraid the answer is, and will always be, Richard 'The Secret' Williams, no matter what the question

Thanks Lenny. I would say that if Haye is confident in his stamina, and can get the fight in the UK, go for Vitali. He might not knock Vitali out, but he definitely can win on points, imo.

Wlad's defence is so much tighter than it used to be. How many punches did Chagaev land on Wlad? Did he land any at all? How about Chambers? And then you compare that to how Sosnowski did against Vitali. Sosnowski's smaller than Haye and has less speed.

[Captain Hook]

Wlad for me, every day of the week.

Once someone hammers back at him with some ambition, not a fat Yank slob, then he will soon show chinks in his armoury.

[Asterix]

You can gain a reasonable idea how a Vitali vs Haye fight might well go by checking out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea0knkUIqZM

1999. That version of Vitali is long gone and Haye is not Herbie Hide. Disagree completely.

Watching that back, I can't believe how much faster Vitali was back then.

[Lenny]

Massive if but what if Del Boy should somehow be able to knock out Wlad? Doesn't that kinda leave any plans Haye might have to fight the Klitschkos in the next year dead due to the fact they'll both be tied up with Chisora fights for the foreseeable future because of the contracts?

[whiskey]

Wlad will mess his nice shiny Hugo Boss shorts if Haye spanks his big brother whom he idolises.

Like Macho alluded to earlier, the mental scar that would leave would be very bad. The pressure would be immense and it could end in tears for Wlad.

Whilst it might sound a riskier plan initially, if he plans on fighting both men, then going for the toughest first is probably the better thing to do.

So yes, going for Vitali first definitely has it's positives.

[Happy Slapper]

This poll didn't need that many options... Vital, Wlad and Other would have done.

[Captain Hook]

And which did you vote for?