David Haye will have to wait a substantial amount of time for that crack at IBF heavyweight ruler, says A.J promoter Eddie Hearn. Haye has made no secret of the fact that he wants a fight with the unbeaten star, convinced as he is about two things: the fight would be an enormous event in the UK (check) and he would be able to beat Joshua, by KO (debatable). But Hearn, in speaking with The Mirror, said Haye “is not on our radar,” and that the fight would not take place until the summer of next year at the earliest.
Hearn says Joshua’s priority is retaining his belt and then winning the other titles that are out there. Joshua must first get past unbeaten Dominic Breazeale in his very first title defence next month, and will then defend again in either October or November, before he goes into either a mandatory defence or a unification, so says the Matchroom boss.
“If you want the truth, Haye is not on our radar,” Hearn said. “We’ve got no plans to fight David Haye in 2016. Haye won’t be in the next three fights. We know it’s a huge fight and maybe one for next summer or the end of 2017, but my instructions from A.J are to pick up the other belts.”
This is not likely to be music to Haye’s ears. With a September fight with 44 year-old Shannon Briggs up next for the former WBA heavyweight champ, Haye was hoping to get that one out of the way and then get the big date with Joshua. Now it looks like Haye – who turns 36 in October of this year – will have to wait as long as a year for the shot at A.J. So, assuming he beats Briggs (as most people think he will) Haye will either remain idle as he waits for Joshua to look his way, or he will look for another suitable (I.E: not too dangerous but reasonably marketable) opponent against which to keep sharp.
Unless, that is, Haye changes his plans and decides to target one of the other heavyweight champs in his quest to become a two-time heavyweight ruler. Deontay Wilder might be looking for a fight in the coming weeks. Could that one possibly, maybe come off?