Haye likley to face Povetkin on May 21st

It’s reported that former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is likely not going to be approved by the British Boxing Board of Control for the next opponent of WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s). Instead, the 30-year-old Haye is going to face former 2004 Olympic heavyweight Gold Medalist Alexander Povetkin to negotiate a fight for May 21st. According to boxrec, Haye and Povetkin are already in successful negotiations.

For Haye fans, this is a better match-up for Haye than it would have been had he been forced to fight the southpaw Chagaev. Povetkin is slower, fights orthodox, less explosive and more of a plodder than Chagaev. Povetkin also hasn’t been all that active in the past couple of years due to injuries and seems to be regressing as a fighter rather than improving. Povetkin recently struggled badly to defeat Nicolai Firtha in December 2010, an average fighter at best. Haye matches up much better with Povetkin than he does with Chagaev. Povetkin is only 6’2″ 229, and is roughly the same size as Haye. Because of that, Haye wouldn’t have to be dealing with a huge heavyweight like he would if he were to be facing one of the Klitschko brothers.

Should Haye beat Povetkin, his options for fights are kind of limited. Haye wanted a fight with IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko but that doesn’t seem possible without Haye extending his retirement to beyond this year. Haye has said he wouldn’t do that, and that he would definitely be retiring late this year when he turns 31. The problem is Wladimir is all booked up for 2011 with fights against Dereck Chisora and Tomasz Adamek. As such, the only chance for Haye to fight Wladimir is if Haye holds off on his retirement until 2012 after he faces Wladimir. Of course, if Haye is really interested in facing one of the Klitschko brothers, he can always face WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko later on this year. However, Haye hasn’t been very eager/interested in facing Vitali for some reason. It’s a fight that’s there for him and one that will make him huge money, but Haye doesn’t seem to want that fight. It may be his only option before his retirement. Wladimir thinks Haye is afraid of Vitali, as do a lot of fans. It does make you wonder.

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2011/02/haye-likley-to-face-povekin-on-may-21st/#more-56625

I'd like to point out that Povetkin is a far more dangerous opponent than Chagaev for a few reasons

1. He's quicker and not a plodder
2. Has actual power unlike Chagaev who is fairly weak fisted
3. Is bigger and stronger

To be fair to Haye - Povetkin and Adamek are very decent matchups. Probably the best option apart from a fight with the K brothers.

Ive seen povetkin against chambers were chambers was ahead for about 3 or 4 rounds before he gassed and against estrada where he wasn't impressive even though he won. I think Haye can stay away from him and Knock him out. Its a good fight because povetkin does have some credibility

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Good god. Is this the state of heavyweight boxing? Lord help us all.

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D4thincarnation wrote:And yet they still don't want to fight each other.

Can you imagine the borefest if they did?

Povetkin is a good fighter - and will be the first meaningful challenge for Haye.

IMO - Povetkin's punches are a touch too wide and he doesn't have one punch KO power. This counts against him

In his favour, however - he has a good chin and good stamina. Haye tends to gas - he looked exhausted by the end of the Ruiz fight - he hadn't had to defend at all - only punch a non-moving target!

If the fight goes late it could tell us a lot about Haye's ability as a HW champ

oxring wrote:Povetkin is a good fighter - and will be the first meaningful challenge for Haye.

IMO - Povetkin's punches are a touch too wide and he doesn't have one punch KO power. This counts against him

In his favour, however - he has a good chin and good stamina. Haye tends to gas - he looked exhausted by the end of the Ruiz fight - he hadn't had to defend at all - only punch a non-moving target!

If the fight goes late it could tell us a lot about Haye's ability as a HW champ

Look back 15 years. Can Pov live with the likes of Bowe, Holy, Tua, Ike to name but a few (ignoring Lewis and a washed up Tyson)? Could haye for that matter?

azania wrote:
Look back 15 years. Can Pov live with the likes of Bowe, Holy, Tua, Ike to name but a few (ignoring Lewis and a washed up Tyson)? Could haye for that matter?

I think we both know the answer to that.

Although Povetkin would do better than people might expect - he loses to all of the above.

Im looking forward to this if this goes ahead. Povetkin is the best available hw around. solis, adamek, k2 are all tied up. It's a better fight than already badly beaten chagaev

oxring wrote:

azania wrote:
Look back 15 years. Can Pov live with the likes of Bowe, Holy, Tua, Ike to name but a few (ignoring Lewis and a washed up Tyson)? Could haye for that matter?

I think we both know the answer to that.

Although Povetkin would do better than people might expect - he loses to all of the above.

Hence why I dont really watch heavyweight boxing anymore.

Its sad - because with good fans like yourself leaving the HWs - I don't see a way back for them

I'll leave you with a youtube of Boytsov - see if this can tempt you back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJVx9GjIhDk

'll leave you with a youtube of Boytsov - see if this can tempt you back.

fury v boytsov anyone?

oxring wrote:Its sad - because with good fans like yourself leaving the HWs - I don't see a way back for them

I'll leave you with a youtube of Boytsov - see if this can tempt you back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJVx9GjIhDk

He looks a decent prospect. But where has the charisma gone? The Heavyweght champ should either be devestating, or have some charisma. Haye has charisma, but I wish he would walk the walk as opposed to talk the talk.

Fury-Boytsov would be a great fight. I can see it down the line as a world title challenge. Lets face it - he Klits can't go on for ever and Tyson under Manny Steward should achieve great things.

I reckon you've hit the nail on the head there Azania - where is the charisma.

The Russians and Germans probably think he's got loads of it - but where are the sports writers over here discussing him as a young up'n'coming prospect?

Tyson was famous as a KO exponent - it had people talking and interested. There's no reason not to be interested in Boytsov - he punches through the target and puts on a show. But no-one seems to care

As no-one cares about the sport no-one writes about the sport so no-one cares about the sport so no-one writes about the sport so...

And so on. HW boxing is caught in a bit of a vicious cycle at the moment

It’s reported that former WBA heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev is likely not going to be approved by the British Boxing Board of Control for the next opponent of WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s).

~ Be the 2nd time Mr. David Look I Slew The Giant Goliath turned down Mr. Chagaev who was still healthy at the time of the first offer when the White Tyson was at his hottest zenith.

Mr. Povetkin has been circling the drain for quite some time now, being weighted down with Mr. Teddy and all his maniacal baggage and such, so Mr. David means to pluck him from the fetid maelstrom to be served up steaming to the British public yet again.

When Mr. David announced that he would be cleaning up the heavy division those oh so fateful years ago, who knew that he would be the janitor?

Well, the good news would be that at least Mr. Povetkin has a rating and had some impeccable credentials years back before tripping on the gnarliest tree root ever seen in Russia that turned him on his ear.

Povetkin is a decent enough opponent, but the fight hardly excites me. For a man apparently retiring in october and wanting to go out in a blaze of glory this is a bit of a damp squib, certainly not worth £15 ppv money. Haye needs to take a risk to get the wlad fight on, call wlads bluff instead of using the politics as a convenient excuse to not meet him. If he retires without a K bro his HW career will be remembered as nothing short of a joke built on hype but no substance.