by James Slater – Fans who are keen to see WBA heavyweight champion David Haye get it on with one of the two Klitschko brothers won’t like it, but there is a chance such a mega-fight will be delayed until December of this year, due to how Haye is contractually obliged to meet Nikolai Valuev in a rematch.
Haye, who defeated the Russian giant to take the WBA belt last November, signed a contract that contained a rematch clause; and there is a possibility, as Haye himself has admitted while speaking to Star Sport, that it could happen after he’s beaten John Ruiz on Saturday (if, of course he can beat Ruiz).
“There is a possibility I might have to face Valuev again,” Haye said. “I am not sure how realistic that is. I am not looking too far into the future. I am just focusing on making sure Ruiz is despatched in good style. That is the only thing that matters at the moment..
“Once he is out of the way, I will sit back, look at the heavyweight landscape and see who fits where and try to make it happen.”
So, not only is a Haye Vs. Klitscho fight in possible jeopardy because of how Ruiz may be able to upset the WBA ruler as he attempts to make his first retention, the fight we all want to see may be put back even if Haye does beat “The Quiet Man.”
This possibility is not lost on Ring magazine, IBF and WBO ruler Wladimir Klitschko, who also spoke to Star Sport.
“I hope Haye has a quick fight after Ruiz and gets free of options,” Wladimir said. “Then it might be possible to get together in December.”
As fans know, getting to see the fights that matter, the fights that are the most exciting ones, is not always easy; and this latest situation, with Haye and Klitschko both having to wait before getting it on in what will be a very big fight, is further proof of this. Bottom line: would anyone outside of Valuev’s team really want to see a second fight between he and “The Hayemaker?” I seriously doubt it.
Not only was the first fight a largely dull affair that failed to match the hype, it was also almost certainly a one-off in terms of being a match-up that was able to capture the imagination of the paying public. Maybe Haye could sell a second fight by promising to score the KO he said he’d score first time around, and maybe his alibi for not scoring what would have been a really eye-catching stoppage in November – the hand he broke in the 2nd-round – would be one that people would buy.
We’ve seen pointless rematches in boxing before and, being as he has that rematch clause, Valuev and his team may well see to it that we have to sit through another one this year. If – and I repeat – if Haye can get past Ruiz first.