David Haye set to announce next opponent on Thursday

[the golden vision]

David Haye set to announce next opponent on Thursday

Former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye is set to announce his first fight since July last year on Thursday.

The 32-year-old beat Dereck Chisora last year in a fight sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Authority.

The pair had been stripped of their British Boxing Board of Control licences following a brawl in Munich in February last year.

Haye has consistently expressed his desire to fight WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.

However, the WBC champion has so far resisted Haye's advances, while the Ukrainian's brother Wladimir, the IBF, WBO and WBA champion who beat Haye in 2011, will face Francesco Pianeta in May.

Haye, who won WBA, WBC and WBO titles at cruiserweight, retired in October 2011 following the defeat by Wladimir Klitschko before reversing his decision in order to meet Chisora.

Speaking in September, Haye said: "[Vitali] is the only fight that interests me at heavyweight and the WBC world heavyweight title is the one belt I'm desperate to win before I retire for good."

Russia's Alexander Povetkin is another possible opponent for Haye, while fellow Britons Tyson Fury and David Price are among the other options in the heavyweight division.

[Adamj1987]

I bet tony thompson is a good bet. People know him here and he's highly ranked and a very winnable fight

[Looking On]

I bet tony thompson is a good bet. People know him here and he's highly ranked and a very winnable fight

Thompsons my bet , especially after the rumours he floored haye in sparring in the builed up to the wlad fight

[Terrrrry]

The calibre of Haye's opponent will depend on the size of the show/promotion.

If it's a big show at the O2 or somewhere similar, it'll have to be a fair-sized name.

[JC]

I bet tony thompson is a good bet. People know him here and he's highly ranked and a very winnable fight

Thompsons my bet , especially after the rumours he floored haye in sparring in the builed up to the wlad fight

I was actually in the build up to the Audley fight. One of those occasions where the sparring partner was probably better than the opponent.

[JayMc]

Just seen on the current scene that is could possibly be Jovo Pudar surely that has got to be a joke

[mullenman]

jonathan banks is my bet,,,

he is ranked no 3 by wbc and high in the others

hayemaker would blast that man away and he is wladamirs trainer

haye could make it personal to the klits again

banks ranking http://www.fightnews.com/rankings-2

[black panther]

Just seen on the current scene that is could possibly be Jovo Pudar surely that has got to be a joke

Pudar nickname "Powder Puff" is all you need to know about Jovo as an opponent.

[jameswilson]

jonathan banks is my bet,,,

he is ranked no 3 by wbc and high in the others

hayemaker would blast that man away and he is wladamirs trainer

haye could make it personal to the klits again

banks ranking http://www.fightnews.com/rankings-2

Good call I reckon. The opponent I most want is Povetkin however Banks would probably be my next pick based purely on his ranking and his last win. 30 years old, #2 by the WBO (Haye #3,) #8 WBA (Haye #1,) #5 IBF (Haye #4) and #3 WBC (Haye #5.)

[Bard of Boxrec]

Just seen on the current scene that is could possibly be Jovo Pudar surely that has got to be a joke

The same guy posted the same link on here. It's probably Chinese Whispers.

Here's a conspiracy theory for shits and giggles, though: Pudar is ranked 6 by the WBA. Haye claims Pudar as a fight to shake the ring-rust, when knowing full well something is afoot. Between now and June, Povetkin vacates the WBA regular belt to ink a deal with Wlad to fight for the WBA super belt (or whatever it's called) later in the year. Haye's fight with Pudar is made a title fight for the vacant belt. WBA keep the sanction fee gravy train rolling.

Don't think Haye wants to do it like that does he? He kept talking about how he only wanted a Klit, I was led to believe he is reluctantly fighting someone else in an effort to get to one.

[Jack B]

jonathan banks is my bet,,,

he is ranked no 3 by wbc and high in the others

hayemaker would blast that man away and he is wladamirs trainer

haye could make it personal to the klits again

banks ranking http://www.fightnews.com/rankings-2

Good call I reckon. The opponent I most want is Povetkin however Banks would probably be my next pick based purely on his ranking and his last win. 30 years old, #2 by the WBO (Haye #3,) #8 WBA (Haye #1,) #5 IBF (Haye #4) and #3 WBC (Haye #5.)

Not going to happen. Seth Mitchell has a rematch clause with Banks which he is enforcing. That fight is happening in June at the earliest. Banks would be interesting, but he's simply not available.

[stujones]

Adamek? Looked as if the hard fights caught up with him last time and has a high ranking with the IBF.... plus its a big fight in its own right.

[btahthezone]

It will be Tony Thompson in my opinion who came off with a good win against Price in his last fight in UK when everyone believed he was going to be beat very comfortably. This will be a good fight and it is surely the fight which everyone is calling.

[chad]

I think it will be Povetkin.

Last year when Haye fought Chisora, Alexander Povetkin Vs. Hasim Rahman was originally the main support fight until it fell through. Sauerland where involved in the promotion of the event at the start. I beleive the winner of Haye Vs. Chisora was being lined up to face Povetkin. I would not be surprised to see Sauerland promoting Haye Vs. Povetkin with the fight on allegedly.

It's all just guess work really

[Ratchet Exits Nu]

jonathan banks is my bet,,,

he is ranked no 3 by wbc and high in the others

hayemaker would blast that man away and he is wladamirs trainer

haye could make it personal to the klits again

banks ranking http://www.fightnews.com/rankings-2

Banks would be the most skilled Heavyweight Haye would have fought.

Wlad was just effective with his style, Banks throws combinations and is mobile.

He CAN beat HAYE!

[The Insider]

It will be Tony Thompson in my opinion who came off with a good win against Price in his last fight in UK when everyone believed he was going to be beat very comfortably. This will be a good fight and it is surely the fight which everyone is calling.

Thompson is fighting Price in a rematch isn't he?

[whiskey]

It will be Tony Thompson in my opinion who came off with a good win against Price in his last fight in UK when everyone believed he was going to be beat very comfortably. This will be a good fight and it is surely the fight which everyone is calling.

Thompson is fighting Price in a rematch isn't he?

Yes, early July mate.

[MarkMcBurney]

Looks like Manuel Charr for the Hayemaker...

[Old bones Ian]

Looks like Manuel Charr for the Hayemaker...

Charr trained by Scott Welch?

[MarkMcBurney]

Fight on 29th June at Manchester Arena...

[JC]

Just seen on the current scene that is could possibly be Jovo Pudar surely that has got to be a joke

The same guy posted the same link on here. It's probably Chinese Whispers.

Here's a conspiracy theory for shits and giggles, though: Pudar is ranked 6 by the WBA. Haye claims Pudar as a fight to shake the ring-rust, when knowing full well something is afoot. Between now and June, Povetkin vacates the WBA regular belt to ink a deal with Wlad to fight for the WBA super belt (or whatever it's called) later in the year. Haye's fight with Pudar is made a title fight for the vacant belt. WBA keep the sanction fee gravy train rolling.

Reckon it's more likely they've taken a leaf out of Mayweathers book and leaked a rumor about a shite opponent so it's less of a downer when they announce a mediocre one.

[whiskey]

Manuel Charr making a lot of noise...

[Chambers2]

From the BBC website

1343:
BOXING
David Haye's trainer Adam Booth reveals more about the British heavyweight's return to the ring.

"David will fight an opponent who I am yet to secure, but who will be highly ranked," said Booth.

"He wants to fight twice this year against highly-ranked contenders to put himself in an unavoidable position to be the mandatory contender to one of the brothers. He is not waiting anymore. He is fighting his way into position

[Mensa07]

ah, our old friend TBA.