BoxRec

Haye will probably want to replicate the Evander Holyfields move up to the heavies, gradually progressing fight by fight.

Assuming Haye doesn't whack a Roman Greenberg in the meantime, He could make his permanent move to heavy mid-08. The same time when Audley has said he'll be recovered & ready to go.

Audley has nowhere to go and will be 36. What better, and arguably safer, way back into contention, than taking out the undisputed and now seemingly pretty popular Haye?

And for Haye, what better way of making his mark on the British sports conscience by bring down the curtain on the domestic Pantomine Villain?

Perfect crossroads fight. Better name for Haye (to the sporting public)and less threat than tackling a Williams, Skelton or Sprott straight away. With Audleys chin, very winnable.

Thoughts?

Haye will be making his move to Heavy immediately why would he wait until the middle of the year? If he's moving up like he says he is he could conceivably fight in February. Especially if it's just a routine assignment.

Is any heavyweight fight a routine assignment for Haye?

I'm sure they'll be moving up past Bonins level, which likely means Greenberg, Sprott etc.

Holyfield's progress through the heavy ranks was very impressive. Six fights in 2 years, all stoppage wins, including wins over world-level operators such as Pinklon Thomas and Michael Dokes, before becoming undisputed heavyweight champ.

With the poor state of the division today, Haye could navigate his way to at least a title shot even more quickly. Undisputed champ's another matter. By the time Audley's ready to fight again, Haye should probably be at a higher level. In fact, he probably is already. Whether he'll acheive great things at heavy or not, I think David's already shown he's prepared to do it the hard way. Good luck to him.

If I was him I'd completely avoid the domestic scene. Getting tangled up in that roundabout will get him nowhere, and none of the fights really looking appealing anyway. He should go straight for one of the weaker top 15 world fighters.

he said he wants to for a world belt in 3 years. not immediately. obviously the plan is to build him in fights vs heavyweights. personally, i think they'll go the European route to begin with.

The EBU title really helped Haye develop all the things he needed, in order to beat Mormeck.

I think there will be a lot for Haye at heavy. The domestic guys IMO will be seen as a bit beneath him. They've been pretty awful. In the near future, when Wlad & Vitali are gone, he can win a title. He could resume his rivalry with Odlanier Solis Fonte, as well - that would be an interesting one.

Would actually like to see him vs a world class cruiserweight at about 215-lbs, to bag a good name & try out a few things.

It be nice if he smashed one or two of them though..!

haye would walk through audley, i could actually see him taking out harrison quicktime as long as he doesn't get caught by a left cross, which he shouldn't.

I think Harrison will retire. Especially should there be any hiccups on his road to recovery.

In addition, why would Harrison be worthy of a shot at Haye in the first place?.....Harrison hasn't managed to claim a British title (no mean feat I know !!) but in a division where sheer size means that the pool of realistic champions will always be a lot lower than most other divisions, say light-kiddle or welter for example, Audley, with his fantastic size and reach could have achieved more with a bit more heart and drive.

The only excuse for making it would be that Haye would be at heavyweight and so therefore not a champion, so the level of opposition could be brought right back down to earth in order to allow him time to cut his teeth at Heavyweight.

If Haye can't have an "over cruiserweight" (aka 215-lb) fight with Macca, why not cash in vs O'Neil Bell, get a bit of attention, show off his abilities with the extra weight...intersperse fights like these with purposeful bouts that will test him as a heavyweight.

I can just see it - in 2010, Haye vs Odlanier Solis Fonte, the heavyweight megabucks fight. It's got the revenge match angle, from when they met as amateurs etc.

you would not have to be the biggest heavyweight to beat harrison.
that man has no chin. no heart. only a lott of money in the bank thanks to the bbc for showing a lot of rubbihs when harrison was fighting on the bbc.
he would not last 3 rounds with the haymaker.

I think Haye might be looking a bit past Harrison!
What could he really gain from fighting him? If he beat him i dont think anyone would think any more of him it would just be expected!!!
But if Harrison did catch him and stop him where would that put Haye?

I dont think Haye will be interested...... personally i think he will think hes got bigger fish to fry

Haye v John Ruiz Feb 08

He should not fight Ruiz for his first fight

leforge wrote:He should not fight Ruiz for his first fight

Why? He is already a heavyweight.

tough opponent

tough opponent

Way too tough an opponent and too big a step up from Bonin.

Fighting Ruiz is wishful thinking.

How about Kelvin Davis?

Everyone is forgetting Haye is wide open to a big right hand then and was floored by a cruiserweight combination.

Haye was superb, but it would be hasty to paint him as Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis rolled into one.

That isn't to say Haye wont want to be ambitiously matched, but one Hasim Rahman or Oliver McCall right hand and its queer street for Mr Haye.

Paulo Vidoz?

Everyone is forgetting Haye is wide open to a big right hand then and was floored by a cruiserweight combination.

Haye was superb, but it would be hasty to paint him as Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis rolled into one.

That isn't to say Haye wont want to be ambitiously matched, but one Hasim Rahman or Oliver McCall right hand and its queer street for Mr Haye.

Paulo Vidoz?

Mike Tyson/Lennox Lewis rolled into one???
A tad ambitious isn't it.
I though Haye was looking out of his depth for periods in that fight but came through in his own words like a champion and well done to him for it. Another World Champ for Britain, get in!
Think Haye needs to ease into HW division to find his feet before any big names.

Exactly my point NEBF.

It would be easy to forget he was caught with shots which if delivered by a heavyweight with pop would mean good night.

He also looked harassed when put under pressure.

All in all very, very good performance and Haye is a live threat against anyone in the world, but it would be foolish to dive in with a top ten heavyweight.

He'd beat Ruiz though.

oliverfennell wrote:How about Kelvin Davis?

very decent pick. Davis was in some great cruiserweight battles not too long back, has fought numerous x as a heavyweight and I believe has sparred Haye. Not to mention, he's a former IBF champ at 200-lbs.

I'd make fights with cruisers like Davis and Bell, interpersed with fights that will get him to a European and then world title.

DavidPayne wrote:Exactly my point NEBF.

It would be easy to forget he was caught with shots which if delivered by a heavyweight with pop would mean good night.

He also looked harassed when put under pressure.

All in all very, very good performance and Haye is a live threat against anyone in the world, but it would be foolish to dive in with a top ten heavyweight.

He'd beat Ruiz though.

I think we need to see him healthy before we really know. It's possible that he'll be too fast for a lot of the ponderous heavyweights. That maybe the chin won't be too much of an issue if he can beat guys to the punch. Who knows, his chin might/might not be up to it when he's fighting at 220-lbs.

It was always going to be a bit tight coming back down and beating Mormeck.