By James Slater: Klitschko manager Bernd Boente has gone on record as saying there is “no chance” of a return fight between Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye. Many fans will no doubt feel that this was an obvious statement coming from Boente, but he had to clear up the issue due to how Haye is asking for a return chance with the Ring Magazine, WBA, WBO, IBO king who so thoroughly dominated him this past Saturday.
Haye seems to be having second thoughts regarding his “promise” to retire on his 31st birthday which will fall on October 13th. But Wladimir will move on, Boente said – possibly into a clash with the winner of the July 23rd Dereck Chisora-Tyson Fury fight. With the heavyweight division as scarce of challengers as it currently is, this idea is probably as good as any other. At least “Dr. Steel Hammer” would be defending his many belts against some young blood if he fought one of the currently unbeaten Brits. Maybe Klitschko will even look at the possibility of ticking another box on his impressive CV by agreeing to take the fight in the U.K, in what would be his first world title defence on these shores?
As for Haye, he has a slim chance of landing a shot at WBC ruler, big brother Vitali. Boente said the elder sibling has “some interest in knocking David Haye out.” Providing he gets past gutsy Pole Tomsaz Adamek in September (and practically everyone out side of Adamek’s most devoted fans feel he will do so), Vitali may well feel the urge to fully silence the trash-talking Londoner. Wladimir failed to make Haye his 50th KO victim, instead settling for a very wide points win. Vitali, a more aggressive fighter than his 35-year-old brother, could well get the job done inside the distance.
Haye says he does not want to go out a loser, and with a return with Wladimir out, his only chance for redemption is a fight with “Dr. Iron Fist.” Of course, you will be hard pressed to find too many fans willing to give Haye a serious chance of defeating the rock-chinned, murderous-punching Klitschko, even if Vitali is almost 40-years-old. But what choice does Haye have? Either he will retire on the back of a most disappointing loss, or he will bite the bullet and go in there Vitali (if Vitali agrees to take the fight).
Would a Vitali-Haye fight sell? Probably, if not to the great extent Saturday’s heavily hyped Hamburg bout sold. No longer will fans listen to Haye’s big talk and feel the urge to pay to see him deliver. That boat has sailed. Haye would be better off keeping quiet if and when he did get a shot at Vitali. Already in a hole due to putting up so meek a challenge of Wladimir, Haye’s place in history would be even further tarnished if he were to lose to Vitali also – especially if he were to pull out a similar performance to the one he gave in Hamburg.
To my mind, Haye would be more in favour with the fans if he went out all guns blazing against Vitali, trying his absolute best to win. Sure, it would be damned risky, but whether he won by KO or lost by KO, Haye would gain back respect for having had the nerve to fight and fight hard.
Look for Haye to fight beyond October 13th and travel once again to Germany either later this year or early next.