by James Slater – As heavyweight contender and former cruiserweight king David Haye continues to play the waiting game with regards to getting his shot at a version of the world heavyweight title, it now looks as though the 28-year-old will get what he wants this coming September – some three months on from the date his shot against IBF and WBO ruler Wladimir Klitschko would have taken place. Now hoping to get big brother Vitali in the ring in an attempt to take the 37-year-old’s WBC crown, word is there is a “realistic” chance Haye will indeed get the fight..
According to a number of sources – The Times newspaper and The BBC, for two – there are several obstacles to be overcome before the fight can happen, but Vitali and his manager Bernd Bonte are currently talking about making the match. One problem may be the WBC champion’s obligation to defend his belt against former WBC ruler Oleg Maskaev; a fight “Dr Iron Fist” is not in any way interested in.
Also, Chris Arreola’s name has been strongly mentioned as the next opponent for Vitali, if the Maskaev fight can be gotten out of (which is not to suggest for one minute that Klitschko is in any way afraid of Maskaev).
According to Bonte, though, the fight with Haye has more chance of taking place this year than one with the unbeaten Mexican-American.
“Arreola is a possibility, but Haye is realistic this year,” Bonte told The Times. “It depends on a lot of things. It depends of what happens with Maskaev, it depends on Haye’s health, it depends on what happens with Setanta (T.V station) and on what deal can be worked out.”
With regards to Setanta, Bonte is referring to the trouble the TV company is in right now financially – Setanta, of course, being Haye’s backer.
Still, if these obstacles can be overcome, a Vitali-Haye fight could then go ahead in September. Bonte says Cologne would be the likely venue to play host to the big fight.
“We have had approaches from a lot of arenas,” Bonte continued. “But Cologne has the biggest of normal arenas in Germany.”
And judging by the way the aborted Wladimir Klitschko-Haye fight sold in excess of 60,000 tickets, a big arena would be needed if Wladimir’s older brother were to face the trash-talker instead.
Vitali himself, in speaking to BBC World Service, said he is most interested in facing the man who so insulted his brother.
“Let’s talk in the ring with the fists,” Vitali said. “He is injured, he has a big mouth but this fight will be very interesting. I want to see him in the ring. I don’t fight for myself – not for me – I fight for boxing.
“We are discussing the details right now about the time and I think in September it can happen.”
So, Haye may get his shot at a Klitschko after all. But what chance of victory, in the opinion of the fans, would “The Hayemaker” be deemed to have against the rock-chinned brother?