David Haye - The Heavyweight Saviour?
Published November 17, 2008 by Martin Bean
The dust has barely settled on David Haye’s fantastic win on Saturday night against Monte Barrett and already speculation is rife as to which of the Klitschko brothers he will fight next. A summer spectacular is on the cards next year and there has been considerable speculation that Haye’s challenge for the Heavyweight Title could come in an outdoor arena such as Chelsea Football Club’s Stamford Bridge Stadium in front of a bumper crowd.
It would be an amazing occasion and a magic night for British Boxing if it does indeed take place. However, it has served to highlight the current dearth of talent in the Heavyweight ranks. Boxing really is crying out for a Heavyweight superstar and it seems many think David Haye could be that man.
Boxing needs a Heavyweight star and fast so the charismatic Londoner is being primed for a title shot in his next contest—just his second appearance at Heavyweight since moving up. It really highlights how times have changed in boxing’s blue riband division; the last Undisputed Cruiserweight Champion to move up to Heavyweight was a certain Evander Holyfield. A quick glance at Evander’s record, show’s that he had 6 contests up at Heavyweight prior to challenging James ‘Buster’ Douglas for the Heavyweight Title. Evander’s contests were against good opposition too with Pinklon Thomas, Michael Dokes and Alex Stewart amongst Evander’s first victims up at Heavyweight.
For me, David should have a couple of more fights at Heavyweight before challenging one of the Klitschko brothers. A one sided 5 rounder against Monte Barrett is not sufficient experience to prepare him for taking on one of the much bigger Klitschko’s. Haye needs to experience a few rounds with at least one of the giants of the division. By giants, I don’t necessarily mean ‘The Beast from the East’ Nikolai Valuev, but a good strong 18 stone Heavyweight – giants compared to 15 stone Haye, but actually quite normal for a modern day Heavyweight.
Whatever happens, it’s going to be exciting. The fact that there is even a potential star in the Heavyweight Division has created the most excitement in Heavyweight boxing since the Lennox Lewis-Vitali Klitschko clash in 2004.
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