By James Slater: David Haye didn’t watch the Vitali Klitschko-Shannon Briggs fight on Saturday night, preferring to go to the UFC event that was held in London. Haye explained why he wasn’t fussed about watching the clash in Hamburg on his Twitter page. Never short of a quick quote, Haye said that “if I wanted to watch a doctor operate on an asthma sufferer, I’d go to my local A and E!”
But if Haye had watched the fight (and maybe he has seen it by now), he would have seen an unbelievable display of courage on the part of the beaten Briggs, and he would also have witnessed a near perfect performance by the WBC heavyweight king – one of the two men the entire world wants to see Haye fight.
Instead of facing either Vitali or Ring magazine, IBF, WBO, IBO ruler Waldimir, however, Haye faces Audley Harrison in his next fight; in a match-up that has had more than its share of critics. Fans everywhere are still hoping Haye will finally agree to fight at least one of the two “Doctors” in 2011 – the two all-conquering brothers from Ukraine are also hoping – but many fans seem to think it will not happen.
And what Haye had to say in response to Briggs’ words of warning about how good Vitali is, even at age 39, aren’t that encouraging for those people who want to see “The Hayemaker” take on one of the giants.
“I’m not worrying about old-timers like Briggs,” Haye said to The Telegraph. “He’s years past his best. I am sharper than ever, and I’ll get to the Klitschkos when I’m ready. For now, I’m focused on sending Audley Harrison down a one way street with no return.”
If Haye has seen Saturday’s fight, it’s perhaps surprising he had nothing to say about the guts Briggs showed. As for Briggs being an “old-timer,” Shannon is actually YOUNGER than Harrison, the man Haye will be meeting next! One can only imagine what Haye would have said had the roles been reversed, if Vitali had fought Harrison and he’d set up a defence against Briggs.
Perhaps the most troubling comment Haye made, though, was the “I’ll get to the Klitschkos when I’m ready” statement. Hang on, wasn’t Haye ready and willing to face Wladimir way back in June of 2009, only to be desperately upset at having to pull out with a back injury? Is Haye, in saying he will get to the two brothers “when he’s ready,” saying he wasn’t ready 16 months ago, but that he would have gone in with Wladimir anyway if his back hadn’t given out? Strange indeed.
But just when will Haye be “ready” to face the Klitschkos? Judging by Saturday’s brutally effective showing by the ELDER of the two siblings, never. Maybe I’m taking Haye’s words and using them out of context, but I do have to wonder if the current WBA ruler ever did, or ever will, want to fight either Wladimir or Vitali.