Who will David Haye fight in his next bout? Do fight fans retain serious interest in the one-time cruiserweight great and the former WBA heavyweight ruler? Two disappointing fights into his latest comeback – not disappointing to Haye in terms of the result, but quick wins over the over-matched duo that was Mark de Mori and Arnold Gjergjaj certainly disappointed the hardcore fans – Haye is on the lookout for a shot at a heavyweight belt.
Anthony Joshua, the IBF boss, is Haye’s number-one target, but, in speaking with The Mirror recently, Haye says he would take a fight with Joshua, the Fury-Klitschko winner or with Deontay Wilder. Haye, who turns 36 in October, insists he will become a champion again “within a year.” But who will Haye fight next – Shannon Briggs, or someone else? Haye gave little away in the short interview with The tabloid.
“I’m working on this next fight. I want it to be a substantial fight, a fight that gets people excited,” Haye said. “It’s a good time to be in the heavyweight division in the UK. You’ve got Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury as well. It’s a real healthy environment for heavyweight boxing at the moment. We’re spoilt for choice. Lennox Lewis was the only British heavyweight champion at the time he was champion, so was Frank Bruno. But now we’ve got two current heavyweight champions, maybe three, if I can get a world title fight. I believe within a year I’ll have a version of a title.”
If Haye does face 44-year-old Briggs next, will it be a fight that “gets people excited?” Or has Haye got some other fight/opponent lined up? Briggs, who called Haye out for months and seemed to get close to getting his wish, even boxing on Haye’s May under-card (as per the verbal agreement he and Haye had regarding his getting a “shot” at Haye) is losing faith that he will get what he wants. If Haye’s next fight is going to be in September (just over three weeks away until Sept. 1st) the announcement better come pretty soon.
Will it be Briggs or does Haye look at the former champ as being too dangerous a puncher? Haye against a top level foe would prove an attraction – Haye remains that at least, his last two mismatches packing in fans in London – and there are plenty of good fighters out there who would jump at the chance to face him.
But shouldn’t Haye do the decent thing and earn the title shot he says will be his within a year? Would even a crushing, highlight reel KO over Briggs come close to doing that?
