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The judges in last weekends, July 2 heavyweight fight between Wladimir Klitschko and British born David Haye may have been unanimous in declaring the Ukrainian winner of the bout, but analysts are divided on what the future holds for this British pugilist.
Haye had insisted that he would retire once he reaches the age of 31 in October, but comprehensive defeat in the hands of Klitschko last weekend there are doubts a his plans of quitting ring in October this year.
He has attributed his defeat to a broken toe and wanted a rematch against his captor or revenge against his elder brother, Vitali Klitschko. And the question is, does he truly deserve a rematch with Klitschko after that thorough beating he suffered in Hamburg?
According to his statement on Fightnews.com, Haye revealed that he was troubled by a broken toe suffered three weeks before the bout, but admitted that his 35-year-old opponent was just too good for him. His defeat mean that Klitschko added the WBA title to the IBF and WBO belts he already held, while the remaining heavyweight strap, the WBC is being held by his elder brother Vitali Klitschko.
David Haye is interested in meeting a Klitschko before his planned retirement in October, stressing that with the brothers refusing to fight each other, he is the only man who can bring the Klitschkos big money and interest. “I would love the opportunity to challenge for his titles,” Haye told the BBC. “Once he realises that there is no other fighter in the heavyweight division that can generate as much interest as me, maybe he will come back and say okay.”
The London lad maintained that he was not completely disgrace out of the fight but stretched for full 12 rounds before losing by an unanimous decision of three judges who scored the fight 117-109, 118-108 and 116-110, all in Klitschko’s favour. “He (Wladimir) said he would knock me out but didn’t do that. He hit me with his best shots and he couldn’t put me down.
“He is a lot bigger than me and said he really wished he had knocked me out, but he couldn’t do it. So maybe he will want the opportunity to knock me out and finish my career. I felt let a lot of people down for knock me out. Every boxer wants the opportunity to fight for the unified title and fighting him would bring that. He is the main man and I would love another opportunity. Whether or not he gives me, one remains to be seen,” Haye stated.
FCT amateur boxing coach and former African lightweight champion, John Martins believed the Briton still stand a good chance against Wladimir Klitschko if given a second opportunity. “As a heavyweight boxer, you are always aiming high and as far I am concerned, there are only two big fights out for him; they hold
all the world title belts he wants.
“It is not out of place for him to call for a rematch after his defeat on Saturday. Since he was not knocked out and the battle stretched for full 12 rounds before he lost on an unanimous decisions of judges. He also complained of a broken toe and I strongly hope that Klitschko will accept to fight him whenever he is fully fit.
“Haye has always underlined his desire to retire this year, but now he has lost his belt and may want to fight on. Whether he will face Klitschkos this year, it is too early to tell. After the disappointment of Saturday night’s display, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in the ring. So, we shouldn’t write him off yet,” Coach Martins stated.
However, Haye’s trainer and manager, Adam Booth, is holding a diverse view about the Briton hope of a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko after his points defeat by the Ukranian in Hamburg on Saturday. According to him, his boy will have to sign away his future if he must take on klitschko with clauses while taking a much smaller purse. He however insisted that he does not know if Haye will stick to his October retirement deadline, stressing that whatever happens, a fight with one of the brothers is unlikely. “It will be a slave contract because he would need to sign away his future with clauses while taking a much smaller purse,” he said.
David Haye after unifying the cruiserweight titles three years ago, vowed to move up and ‘save’ the heavyweight division. He told the Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali to “flip a coin” over which one faced him first and, after months of trash talking and tough negotiating, a date was set to meet Wladimir in June 2009.
Just weeks before the bout, Haye’s paymasters and British television backers, Setanta, went into administration, before a back injury to the challenger put paid to the contest altogether.
Talks were held to resurrect the scrap - be it against Wladimir or Vitali - only for Haye to abandon them altogether and take a shot at WBA holder Nikolay Valuev instead. Haye won the belt in November and has always guaranteed he would secure a defining night against one of the brothers before retiring this year, it looked destined never to happen, that indeed made the fight public’s juices and another fight between the two after last Saturday’s showdown in Hamburg will be a welcome development for followers of heavyweight division which has become a shadow of itself until last weekend’s bout.
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