Nothing to do with personality , more to do with being beaten twice by the worst heavyweight champion of all time and being put to sleep by the only prime heavyweight he fought in less than a minute. I would have him as the worst heavy , but Valuev is just terrible.
David haye was the unified cruiserweight champion. He then stepped up to haevyweight and had- as heavyweight champion a higher KO% than Vitali.
If regarding Haye as a Cruiserweight it has to be a yes, if regarding him as a heavyweight there's no chance. If you like him you judge him on both, which purely on his achievements at cruiser, if you don't like him you only think about his heavyweight fights which is either bias or stupid.
It depends entirely on how much value you place on the cruiserweight division. A unified champion in one of the traditional divisions would get into the IBHOF as a matter of formality.
Considering that: a) Cruiser is historically boxing's weakest division and b) His "domination" consists of a single title defence ...I don't think he deserves much HOF credit for what he did at the weight Haye is a genuine talent, but it's ridiculous to suggest that his resume as it stands is HOF worthy. He hasn't beaten a single great fighter, and he doesn't have consistency or longevity to override that.
Has all the ability but doesn't fight enough, the guy is ATG for mouth and BS. I'm not that impressed by the CW career. No great names on there in truth, a kindergarten for guys who can't cut it at HW.
Two good wins at CW, over Mormeck and Macarinelli, NO major defenses, constitute an ATG at CW now? And his HW resume isn't all that much better. Valuev and Ruiz, the only 'somewhat' decent wins at HW? HOF? Are you serious? Did some of you guys just start watching boxing, or are you completely used to the sad level talent 200 and above in boxing now a days? That said, he can improve upon it, but he needs to get busy at it. If he retired AGAIN today, then he should only get in with a purchased ticket.
Yes In the 30+year history of the Cruiserweight division only 2 champions have been able to win a HW title ; Holyfield & Haye who also unified the division. The jump from cruiser to heavy is the toughest step up in boxing, giving up massive amounts of height & weight is extremely difficult. Haye has not only been succesful but has taken his power up with him which is even more impressive. He is very inactive & may never fight again, but he deserves a place in the HOF.
No because he lost to Wlad Klitschko. There is no excuse to lose to someone with a very weak chin like Wlad. Any HOF fighter would KO wlad the egg.
Politics, NUMEROUS belts per division, regular Champ, SUPER Champ, Interim Chamo, Diamond Champ....have all but watered that thing down. Rather then look at his waist, look at who he faced.