By James Slater: It seems David Haye is wrong if he truly thinks IBF and WBO heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko is afraid of having to fight him. According to a recent article on SI.com, Klitschko is very excited about facing the man who has been calling him out almost constantly as of late..
SI.com boxing writer Chris Mannix, who had a long lunch with Wladimir in New York last week, wrote in the article how the normally mild-mannered heavyweight ruler was “visibly excited” about a future fight against Haye. It seems Klitschko, who first has to get past mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin, and is also looking at a possible fight with the Nikolay Valuev-John Ruiz rematch winner, is buzzing about the prospect of a showdown with “The Hayemaker.”
“He’s been talking about me a lot,” Klitschko said. “I want to fight him and shut him up. I think a fight in England would be special. I like it when the crowd is against me. I think I fight better.”
Richard Schaefer, of Golden Boy Promotions, who signed Haye last May, is also keen on making the fight.
“I talked to [Klitschko business manager] Shelly Finkel and that fight is going to happen next year,” Schaefer said. “After Wladmir finishes his mandatory fight, he is free, and so is David. So we will get a deal done.”
This is great news. A Klitschko-Haye fight would be a huge event. Both men truly believe they are the world’s best heavyweight, and with this in mind they would go out and do their best to prove it. Both big punchers, the two well conditioned and ambitious heavies would test one another’s chins in a fight that would enjoy a big build up. The fight would be an absolute dream for British boxing if it were to take place in the U.K. A sure sell out, the fans would have to get their tickets fast for this one!
After all his talking, after all his goading, it looks as though the former cruiserweight champion will get what he wants next year. Unless, of course, the also massively ambitious and currently unbeaten Alexander Povetkin upsets Wladimir in the meantime! A young, rugged and hungry fighter who will enter a Klitschko bout with a sincere belief that he will win, the 28-year-old Russian could well spoil the Haye-Klitschko party.
It is to be hoped the man who is seen as the #1 in the heavyweight division will not make the mistake of looking past Povetkin, and ahead to Haye.