David Haye Comeback

So press conference announced for tomorrow so who do we see him fighting, have there been any rumours as to who he might be fighting?

Who would you accept as being an 'acceptable' opponent?

Povetkin, Arreola, Wilder, Mitchell, solis

Any top ten heavyweight would be acceptable. Think one of the main issues myself and many folk had with Haye was the blithe acceptance perpetuated by him and his fans that the division went Wlad and Vitali then Haye and then a chasm of almost Grand Canyon proportions until we reached the rest of the division when in reality, in the ring, Haye had done little to suggest he was a country mile above the chasing pack.

If he is now willing to face these guys and prove he is the most deserving guy to face one of the brothers or is clearly best of the rest I for one would accept this. Not sure it will go enough way to make me like the guy but would certainly remove one of my major gripes with him. If he could also couple it with fighting with slightly more regularity that would not go amiss either.

Acceptable opponent: Anyone in the Top 10 P4P Heayweights (which shouldn't be difficult).

A fight with Ruslan Chagaev would make sense, he's fought at World Level, maybe Kubrat Pulev? I'm not sure how many people have heard of him in this Country though.

Some former contender.

If I had to guess I would say a guy ranked in the top 10 of the WBC in order to get Haye a shot at the title soon. Banks, Charr or Grano maybe.

solis and helenius are both coming of recent wins, and both would be a good fight for me.

also if he wants to fight in germany i wouldn't be suprised if it was charr.

Solis, arreola, thompson etc would all be decent i guess

I would like Povetkin or fury/Cunningham winner but thats me being a little optimistic

Would be stunned if it's Pulev. Far too high a risk for too little money. Same with Wilder. Arreola? Too little money as well I reckon. Solis? Has a bit of bite to it, but who outside of boxing knows about their previous amateur fight? Or who he is for that matter. Adamek? Possible I suppose: two former cruiserweight rulers; adds some angle. Fury? Would make money but if they’re ‘announcing’ his next opponent tomorrow, they can’t put things in motion, surely, unless Fury beats Cunningham. Or pulls out. Mitchell? Just lost, plus, isn’t he tied up in a rematch with Banks? Either way, not a Haye-type opponent. Povetkin is possible I suppose – for the proper WBC belt. Would like to see that as it happens.

So, do we know if Vitali will simply be retiring with immediate effect or is it a case of his next fight being his last? If it’s the latter then surely he’s the most likely opponent?

Actually, on another note, I tell you a fight I’d like to see (after his very exciting and belligerent performance against Povetkin) is Huck vs Adamek at HW. Right barn-burner that one would be.

If Haye is to get back in the ring I suspect it will be against a fighter that will in some way enhance his celebrity status. Would he have the neck to take on breaking America with his cheeky smile and brazen cheeks?

He has three options I suppose:

1. Announce a Vitali fight. Unlikely.
2. Fight his way to No.1 contender in the WBC with stepping stone fights. Possible.
3. Put on another sham fight against a British opponent that can be hyped up allowing him to make a few million. Most likely

The most high profile HW fight for him (certainly in this country) would against Price conquerer Tony Thompson. Two-time Wlad victim and destroyer of British HW hopes, it's a fairly easy sell.

You'd also have the "can Haye beat Thompson quicker than Wlad did?" angle (which generally means very little...look at Vitali/Chisora/Haye)

Only real issue is whether or not Thompson is willing to travel back to England. Can't see is raising much interest in America otherwise.

Course, I firmly predict that Haye recieves a dog's abuse from certain posters whoever he announces as his next opponent.

I think it will be Adamek or Eddie Chambers

DAVE667 wrote:

Course, I firmly predict that Haye recieves a dog's abuse from certain posters whoever he announces as his next opponent.

Hope that is not directed at me Dave I was very open minded and even handed in my post on the subject.

Thompson is not rated in the Top 15 by the WBC so it would purely be a money fight. Doesn't help Haye's chances of securing a shot at the WBC belt.

Thompson is not rated in the Top 15 by the WBC so it would purely be a money fight. Doesn't help Haye's chances of securing a shot at the WBC belt.

Mere distractions...the WBC will amend their rankings at the drop of a hat if a sellable fight can be made.

DAVE667 wrote:

Thompson is not rated in the Top 15 by the WBC so it would purely be a money fight. Doesn't help Haye's chances of securing a shot at the WBC belt.

Mere distractions...the WBC will amend their rankings at the drop of a hat if a sellable fight can be made.

Outside the Klitschko's there is no mega fight. Fury v Haye would sell in Britain and make both millions but it would very much be a local show.

The mediocre will squabble over the WBC title until Wlad decides to use his belts to force a unification.

The WBC won't let Wlad fight for the belt. Don't they have some rule about not unifying their belts with others anymore?

Didn't say it would be a mega fight, simply a sellable fight.

Depends if Haye wants another crack at the title of if he simply wants to recoup any losses since the Cypriot Govt froze everyone's bank accounts.

A Fury fight sells in the UK but even Fat Mick isn't stupid enough to sign his boy up for that. There's a reason Fury keeps calling out the K's but doesn't mention David Haye. He knows a Haye fight could be made easily and the fight will go about three rounds before he's annihilated. harder to make a fight with the K's (although he still gets annihilated).

A fight with Thompson gives Haye a bit more kudos

Fury v Haye would actually be a big-ish fight. Both are ranked top ten by the Ring and the WBC. Fury has a fight lined up though and it wouldn’t make sense for Haye to announce a comeback before the result of that if he intended to fight Fury.

Fury/Haye would do nothing to prove Haye's worth for another shot at the K's (note how I don't even consider the possibility that Fury a prayer in this one).

Fury's fought no-one remotely close to World level and it hardly enhances Haye's credentials IF his ultimate aim is another tilt at the title.

If it's just about money then sign up Fury. If not, he goes for Thompson or Povetkin etc. Adamek and Huck are smaller HW's but I think Haye cleans their clocks for them.

He probably wont fight a Klitschko. Certainly not Wlad. Vitali will retire soon one way or another. I dont think a Fury/Haye fight is outlandish in the near future when the WBC belt is freed up. They are both ranked by the WBC, both good talkers, both British and the fight would do good business. At the moment I think they are all trying to get into position for a shot at the soon to be vacant title.

Arreola is No.1 contender to the WBC belt so if Vitali does retire a fight between Arreola and Haye (WBC ranked No.5) would make sense.

Then a Fury v Haye fight with the winner getting a crack at Wlad. Lucrative.

Strongback wrote:Arreola is No.1 contender to the WBC belt so if Vitali does retire a fight between Arreola and Haye (WBC ranked No.5) would make sense.

Then a Fury v Haye fight with the winner getting a crack at Wlad. Lucrative.

Fury is currently Number 4 and assuming he wins would go up?

So why would the fight be between Arreola and Haye when Fury is higher?

Let Haye wait for his shot.

Echoing Rowley I'd love to see Haye fight more as there are certinaly some good fights there for him. Povetkin, Arreola and Adamek are standouts for the boxing fan and could all be commercailly hyped to the neutral. I wouldn't even mind him easing himself back in against a lesser foe just so long as he doesn't hang about trying to talk up a fight with Vitali.

This COULD be a superb return for him if he just gets on with it.

Adam D wrote:

Strongback wrote:Arreola is No.1 contender to the WBC belt so if Vitali does retire a fight between Arreola and Haye (WBC ranked No.5) would make sense.

Then a Fury v Haye fight with the winner getting a crack at Wlad. Lucrative.

Fury is currently Number 4 and assuming he wins would go up?

So why would the fight be between Arreola and Haye when Fury is higher?

Let Haye wait for his shot.

arreloa is fighting stiverne in april for the WBC number contender spot, so that fight might be for the actual WBC belt if vitali confirms for definite before then

I foresee a number of "WBC interim belts" being manufactured in the very near future

Adam D wrote:

Strongback wrote:Arreola is No.1 contender to the WBC belt so if Vitali does retire a fight between Arreola and Haye (WBC ranked No.5) would make sense.

Then a Fury v Haye fight with the winner getting a crack at Wlad. Lucrative.

Fury is currently Number 4 and assuming he wins would go up?

So why would the fight be between Arreola and Haye when Fury is higher?

Let Haye wait for his shot.

I don't think Fury beating Cunningham will do much for his ratings as Cunningham is not Top 15 with any organization. He might go up a bit for being active.

I would have to check the rules but I think the WBC would order the No.1 and No.2 to fight for the vacant belt. Haye would have to find a way around this but money talks. The difference between being ranked 4 or 5 makes little odds, both are legitimate contenders without being in line for an automatic shot so for them it just comes down to who brings the best financial package to the table.

Haye brings more in terms of PPV.

Arreola is fighting Stiverne soon for mandatory status and I think Banks beat Mitchell in a semi final eliminator. Who knows what the WBC will do? Its not even confirmed Vitali is retiring. I expect Arreolas hispanic connections will help him out if he can beat Stiverne but Haye seems to have a pretty good relationship with Sulumain aswell.

eddyfightfan wrote:

arreloa is fighting stiverne in april for the WBC number contender spot, so that fight might be for the actual WBC belt if vitali confirms for definite before then

That clears that up.


Maybe Povetkin for the WBA 2nd best World champion belt.

I would have thought Haye would go down the WBC route. Maybe he's going to have a warm up fight, Thompson would fit the bill.

Strongback wrote:

eddyfightfan wrote:

arreloa is fighting stiverne in april for the WBC number contender spot, so that fight might be for the actual WBC belt if vitali confirms for definite before then

That clears that up.


Maybe Povetkin for the WBA 2nd best World champion belt.

I would have thought Haye would go down the WBC route. Maybe he's going to have a warm up fight, Thompson would fit the bill.

I would say that Price is pretty much nailed on for a rematch first.

I like Adamek followed by Povetkin, resulting in a shot against WBC champion Tyson Fury.

If it's Adamek, Arreola or Povetkin what chance the fight being in London?

KingMonkey wrote:If it's Adamek, Arreola or Povetkin what chance the fight being in London?

I think Haye will fancy a fight in the states both for exposure and as a way to discredit the K Brothers.

Haye versus Adamek at Madison square gardens.

Adam D wrote:

Strongback wrote:

eddyfightfan wrote:

arreloa is fighting stiverne in april for the WBC number contender spot, so that fight might be for the actual WBC belt if vitali confirms for definite before then

That clears that up.


Maybe Povetkin for the WBA 2nd best World champion belt.

I would have thought Haye would go down the WBC route. Maybe he's going to have a warm up fight, Thompson would fit the bill.

I would say that Price is pretty much nailed on for a rematch first.

Please tell me you are joking here? Why would Thompson give Price a rematch when he would get paid so much more fighting Haye, who can actually sell a fight.

bhb001 wrote:

Adam D wrote:

Strongback wrote:

eddyfightfan wrote:

arreloa is fighting stiverne in april for the WBC number contender spot, so that fight might be for the actual WBC belt if vitali confirms for definite before then

That clears that up.


Maybe Povetkin for the WBA 2nd best World champion belt.

I would have thought Haye would go down the WBC route. Maybe he's going to have a warm up fight, Thompson would fit the bill.

I would say that Price is pretty much nailed on for a rematch first.

Please tell me you are joking here? Why would Thompson give Price a rematch when he would get paid so much more fighting Haye, who can actually sell a fight.

I suppose it's because he would be confident of spanking Price and getting well paid for hardly breaking a sweat before having to take on Haye who I'd suggest is a slightly tougher prospect.

From The Daily Fail

"David Haye will return to the ring on July 6 as he sets out on the long road to what he hopes will be another tilt at the world heavyweight title.

A London comeback against a ranked-but-as-yet-unnamed opponent represents a first step towards a mandatory championship challenge.

The Hayemaker had been hoping to cut corners by trash-talking Vitali Klitschko into the ring but the WBC belt-holder has lost interest in the Englishman who was embarrassingly trounced by his younger brother almost two years ago."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-2295402/David-Haye-fight-July-6-giving-Klitschkos--Jeff-Powell.html


From The Telegraph:

"David Haye has met trainer Adam Booth to discuss a possible summer comeback in London either in late June or early July, with rival promoter Mick Hennessy revealing on Tuesday that his unbeaten heavyweight Tyson Fury would be willing to step in as an opponent."


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/david-haye/9940618/David-Haye-may-be-planning-summer-comeback-against-Tyson-Fury-as-appetiser-for-Klitschkos.html

Fury standas no chance

i'd give him a chance until he haye lands cleanly.

Haye takes Fury out in a couple of rounds.

I think Haye beats Vitali at this point too.

Hate him as a person all you want but put Haye in against either Fury or Price even Adamek for that matter and it would be a bit of a massacre. Despite the Wlad fight he does have a fair bit of ability which the rest of the division is lacking in, whoever he fights other than Wlad he beats.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/boxing/21958348

This interview doesn't give the impression that Vitali is going to retire imminently. He states that he gave Haye the option to fight last year but Haye took Chisora instead, and that if Haye wants to fight him he will have to wait for his shot.

Vitali mentioned taking a mandatory and then if Haye is ranked highly enough he may fight him.

Is this just Vitali stringing Haye along before retiring or does he plan on making a few more defences?

Is it possible that he will say he will be having his come back fight in July "against an as yet undisclosed fighter, but it will be a really good one ... you know you can trust me!! Look. I delivered on Harrison and Chisora, didn't I?". That would be really depressing and a waste of actual news time!

Vitali has given Haye plenty of 'options' in the past but each one is lined with clause upon clause and/or appalling purses. I'm very uch looking forward to Haye fighting on a regular basis and hopefully getting myself along to a few.

KingMonkey wrote:Vitali has given Haye plenty of 'options' in the past but each one is lined with clause upon clause and/or appalling purses. I'm very uch looking forward to Haye fighting on a regular basis and hopefully getting myself along to a few.

Cue discussion about unfair contracts none of us have actually seen, unlikely to have the legal training to evaluate even if had seen them but are, none the less, outraged by their use to get the best deal for the person holding the upper hand.

Outraged; no. But there must be enough substance in the stories to make them somewhat believable.

I have no doubt Vitali has offered Haye the fight in some form and a form that Haye won't benefit enough from.

I'm not getting at you King, but this is a well played discussion with opinions on either side, lots of anecdotal evidence (he said, she said) but nothing substantial. I believe that there was a conservative politician who said, and I am para phrasing her, state a rumour long enough and loud enough and it will become a truth (self fulfilling prophesy syndrome).

Why does he deserve any better though? if he fights his way back into contention then fair enough but he's been sitting on the sidelines waving his fist at Vitali.

You forget though Shah, Haye is the only guy bringing excitement to the division, have you not seen the Valuev, Wlad and Audley fights, white knuckle rides the lot of em.

Yeah, toally get your point. Either way, they haven't fought so if Haye wants to become his mandatory then good luck to him.