20.11.08 – by James Slater – Today, on The Steve Bunce Boxing Hour, on Setanta sports, David Haye and his trainer/manager Adam Booth were the special guests. Having had almost a week to reflect on November 15th’s winning fight with Monte Barrett, “The Haymaker” and his main man spoke about the bout and what’s up next for the 28-year-old.
Haye was asked if he was happy with the way the Barrett fight went, and if he perhaps wanted a quicker stoppage.
“If I’d put the pedal to the metal I probably could’ve done it earlier, Haye said. “I was in great shape, though, and I took my time and gave a good, entertaining scrap. The last tube was at a quarter past midnight, and I promised people they’d be able to get the last tube home, so I had to get him out before seven rounds [laughs].”
Bunce asked Haye if he was feeling Barrett’s weight in there at times and if it affected him.
“Not really, because I’ve been sparring big guys, for ten rounds at a time, rotating them,” David replied. “And they are under orders that if they knock me down they get a thousand dollars. So they’re trying to push me. So I’m used to big guys pushing me and me not fading, but being fresh in every round.”
Will Haye put on more weight for either of the Klitschko’s. Does he feel he needs to be heavier?
“Not necessarily,” Haye answered. “As long as my timing and my speed are there. I’m not looking to wrestle with him [Klitschko], because I’d come off second best if I did get in a physical exchange with him. I’m looking to hit him. I’ll ease up just a few more pounds and keep it going.”
Booth was then asked what’s next for his fighter.
“As promised, I’ve already sat down with the Klitschko brothers and their manager, and they seem to have slight reservations now. Because at first they offered me Wladimir and now they’ve pulled him out and offered me Vitali. I’ve been offered Vitali in London in the summer. The ideal scenario would be to get one more fight in first, and we’ll sit down with Klitschko and discuss how we can go about it.”
This is exciting news. It does seem there is a chance we could be seeing Haye-Vitali as soon as summer 2009. Haye was asked if he’d be at all worried about going for Vitali instead of Wladimir.
“I honestly don’t care,” Haye said. “Just like when I was a cruiserweight, I want to fight the best. People say I should go after Wladimir, he’s a bit chinny, he’s been knocked out. But I’ll go for the solid rock, Vitali. I watched the Vitali-Sam Peter fight live, and I said to myself, ‘Is this it, is this the top of the mountain I’ve got to get to?’ There were so many things he did that I can exploit. If I trade with him, obviously I’ll come off second best. I’ll be out of range, come in and throw bombs, and get out of range. I’ll make him look stupid.”
Haye clearly wants the fight; it seems the ball is in Klitschko’s court!