By John F. McKenna (McJack)
If everything goes as planned WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko (43-2, 40 KO’s) will have the opportunity to silence former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) once and for all. “The Hayemaker” was soundly trounced by Vitali’s younger brother Wladimir, who holds the WBA/IBF/WBO and IBO heavyweight title belts. Between the two of them the Klitschko brothers own all of the heavyweight title belts.
It is no secret however that Vitali was not entirely happy that Wladimir did not knock out the brash trash talking Brit. “Dr. Ironfist” has stated on several occasions that while he is happy his brother defeated Haye, he should have knocked him out. Ever since Wladimir’s victory last July over Haye, Vitali has let it be known that he wants to fight David so that he can “send him to the floor” as he puts it.
Haye has been a thorn in the side of the Klitschko brothers ever since he started clamoring for a heavyweight title shot three years ago. The elder Klitschko feels that Haye is a loud mouth and talked his way into a title fight. To make matters worse Vitali believes that “The Hayemaker” disrespected his family with some of the antics he used to promote the fight with Wladimir. The final straw was when Haye showed up at a press conference to hype the fight wearing a T shirt which depicted the severed heads of the Klitschko brothers. The incident infuriated Vitali and he wants to set things right.
Vitali’s game plan is to impressively dispose of challenger Dereck Chisora on February 28 and then fight Haye. Klitschko believes that Haye, even after his one sided loss to Wladimir would still be a huge draw in an outdoor stadium such as England’s Wembley Stadium.
Klitschko is so eager to fight Haye that he is not only willing to fight him on his home turf, he has announced in advance that he is willing to make concessions to a fighter he really does not feel is deserving of those concessions. In other words Vitali wants Haye very badly.
Haye, who announced his retirement just two and a half months ago on reaching his 31st birthday, may feel that fighting Vitali is worth the risk. But looking soberly past the amount of money Haye will make, Vitali is a monster in the ring and not the kind of fighter you would want to have mad at you. He has never been knocked down and has never been behind in a fight. More amazingly since his return to the ring from injuries in 2008 Vitali has not lost a round in over 70 rounds of fighting. In addition his KO percentage is the highest of any heavyweight champion in history.
David Haye is in the unenviable position of attempting to redeem his loss toWladimir against one of the toughest heavyweight champions in history and runs the sincere risk of being further humitliated.
