by James Slater – Top British promoter Frank Warren, a man who has never been too keen on David Haye, has once again come out firing at the current WBA heavyweight champ. Speaking today, Warren – who is still over the moon at how his 130-pound warrior, Ricky Burns, managed to take Roman Martinez’s WBO belt in that great fight on Saturday – blasted Haye for avoiding the Klitschko brothers, for being far too inactive and for “taking the easy option in fighting Audley Harrison.”
As fans know, Haye is scheduled to officially announce his November 13th defense against Harrison at a planned press conference in London tomorrow, and Warren is critical of the match – especially when considering all the big talk Haye came out with regards to taking on and taking out both Wladimir and his big brother Vitali. Haye was supposed to have fought “Dr Steel Hammer” last June, in case you need reminding..
“Haye has taken the easy option by fighting [Audley] Harrison for the big pay day and it’s not what he said he was going to do,” Warren said. “Without a doubt he is avoiding the Klitschkos. He said he would fight them both. It’s no good saying you will do these things and then don’t because you’re looking to cash in. I look at Haye and I ask, why does he only fight twice a year?”
Many fans will no doubt agree with all Warren has had to say. No-one aside from a few British fans really want to see Haye defend against “A-Force,” and even Haye himself and his manager and trainer Adam Booth said a short while ago that they were less than interested in the fight. Yet now the fight is only hours away from being announced (barring one huge, we-never-saw-it-coming surprise, anyway – where Haye actually announces a different opponent!) – and it will be available only on pay-per-view here in the U.K, at that!
Warren isn’t the only one who has been disappointed by Haye – a fighter who is damned exciting when he does get in the ring (most of the time anyway). Adding, no doubt, to Warren’s annoyance, is the fact that Haye has once again said he plans to stick with his retirement-before-age-31 plan. Leaving him precious little time with which to come to terms for the big Klitschko fight, Haye may only box a couple more times! What a waste that would be; with all that chasing of Wladimir counting for nought.
As for the fight Haye is almost certain to take next, against the southpaw who captured an Olympic gold medal ten years ago, Warren feels Harrison could have a chance of pulling it off.
“If he gets hit on the chin then Haye will be knocked out and Harrison has that chance,” Warren said. “Haye is streets above Harrison, but he has a huge weakness – if he gets hit on the whiskers he’ll go!”
Imagine if this is what actually happened on Nov. 13th, and Harrison, pushing the age of 40, scored the big KO upset.How on earth would Haye, the man who promised he’d “save” the heavyweight division, be remembered then? Chances are, Frank Warren would be quite pleased if big Audley did pull it off in Manchester!