While promoter Eddie Hearn will not jump the gun in prematurely announcing the big heavyweight match-up he really wants to make, in Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua, the Matchroom boss has squashed all rumors that, until today, continued to build, saying David Haye Vs. Joshua would happen next for both British stars.
Speaking with Sky Sports, Hearn said that, no, Haye (who recently tweeted that he will be fighting again on Dec 10, a possible date for Joshua-Klitschko if it is made) will NOT be next for the reigning IBF heavyweight champ.
“He’s not fighting AJ but there are rumors he might go the same night,” Hearn said of Haye. “I think that’s a fight that’s not too far away either but the Klitschko fight is the one that really whets the appetite. I just feel it is the right fight for Anthony Joshua right now. He is committed, his training team is committed, I am committed, and I think Bernd [Boente] and Wladimir are as well.”
Hearn, who could so easily have got overly excited and announced Klitschko-Joshua as a go, has instead shown patience, explaining how “there are still obstacles that can interrupt our progress;” even though he remains hugely hopeful and optimistic that the fight WILL happen. Hearn wants to wait until, as he put it today, “all the boxes are ticked.”
So we now wonder who Haye will fight next, either on Dec 10 or on some other date. Haye tweeted how we would “be happy” with his next fight, but with Joshua, Klitschko, Luis Ortiz (next to face Malik Scott), Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury all either busy with another upcoming fight or on the sidelines, just who might it be that Haye will fight next? Lucas Browne is the only realistic and intriguing name still out there for Haye.
Unless of course, Haye is still going ahead with his verbally promised fight with Shannon Briggs; the man he was, we thought, set to fight in September of this year. Haye-Briggs, this December, would still sell. Let’s see what Haye’s next move is.