By James Slater: Although David Haye has the unenviable task of facing “one of the Klitschkos” this summer, we still do not know which brother it will be. As fans know, Ring magazine, IBO,IBF and WBO king Wladimir – the brother Haye is most up for challenging – has to fully recover from the abdominal injury that twice ruined a fight between “Dr. Steel Hammer” and the unfortunate Derek “Del Boy” Chisora.
If the 34-year-old is, for any reason, unable to be 100-percent fit and ready in time to take the guaranteed money-spinner of a clash, big brother Vitali will step in instead. Certainly, with the lack of effort needed on his part this past Saturday against Odlanier Solis, the WBC boss will be more than ready to fight again by either of the two dates (June 25th, July 2nd) that have been pencilled in for the unification bout.
Wladimir and Vitali reportedly came to an agreement, deciding that it would be Wladimir who would fight Haye, but there are some concerns over whether or not the younger sibling will be physically able to fight in the summer. It will be surprising indeed if this is the case, as Wladimir beamed on Saturday night as he spoke about how it will be he who fights Haye. Clearly looking forward to the grudge-match, Wladimir did not look like a man suffering from any lingering injury.
However, Haye’s manager Adam Booth has told the Guardian newspaper that negotiations for the mega-fight remain ongoing and that along with the exact date and venue, the name of Haye’s opponent still has to be ironed out.
“The third week of April we will make an announcement,” Booth said. “By the first week of May, Wladimir will have to tell us if he is fit to fight. This fight is so big I am now 100-percent convinced no-one is pulling out. It couldn’t get any bigger.”
So, it sure sounds as though Booth thinks it will be Wladimir for his man. Basically, though, due to how long the fans have been made to wait for a Klitschko-Haye fight, they won’t mind which brother it is who winds up facing the WBA champ. But which brother would Haye have the better chance against?
For his part, Haye has said he will give Wladimir a severe beating and then fight Vitali – in what would be an even bigger fight – after that. Speaking on Sky Sports on Saturday after Vitali had scored that easy-looking 1st-round win over Solis, experts Barry McGuigan and Johnny Nelson spoke of how Haye has a genuine chance against Wladimir because of the younger brother’s less reliable chin. McGuigan pointed to the fact that Wladimir has been down eleven times in all in his pro career, and that as fast a puncher as he is, Haye has a real shot at stopping him as a result.
Barry and Johnny said how a Haye challenge of the iron-chinned, mentally tough Vitali would be a whole different proposition, however. Has Haye chosen the “weaker” brother, as Wladimir and Vitali joked in mid-ring after the blow-out fight on Saturday? Most fans, as well as most experts, think Wladimir will beat Haye in what could be a hugely dramatic fight. If Haye does end up facing Vitali instead, the odds against him will increase even further.
Let’s see if Wladimir meets Booth’s first week of May deadline and announces he is indeed ready to rumble.