Haye be Careful

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/boxing/s/1405564_joe_gallagher_column

David Haye had better be careful.

By the time he finally gets in the ring with a Klitschko, will anyone care anymore?

The will-they-won’t-they saga is already getting boring – and if they’re not prepared to stop the talking and put some gloves on then they’d be doing everyone a favour if they packed their bags and got out of the sport.

How can it do the reputation of boxing any good to see its best fighters continue to avoid each other?

We were told the heavyweight showdowns the world wants to see would finally become a reality in 2011.

They had to. Britain’s own WBA champ, Haye, is retiring before the end of the year.

But we’re not even out of January and it already looks like the chance to prove once and for all who is “the baddest man on the planet” will go by the wayside.

For all the hype after his farce with Audley Harrison at the MEN Arena last November, Haye will not be fighting IBO, IBF and WBO champion, Wladimir Klitschko.

Instead the Ukrainian will take on another Brit in Dereck Chisora.

Now we hear Haye might take on WBC king, Vitali – the older, and in many people’s opinion, better of the brothers.

But is it really worth allowing ourselves to get excited by the prospect of that clash, given how many times we’ve been left disappointed by this sorry saga?

The sport has been good to Haye and the Klitschkos. Now it’s time to give something back. Give the public what they want to see and give the sport a good name.

It should no longer be about money, but about proving yourself the best. It’s not as if these guys are on their last dime. They are very rich men and they will only get richer by fighting each other.

Hagler, Hearns, Leonard, Duran, they all fought each other in a golden age of the sport and their legacies are intact.

Will the same be said of Haye if he doesn’t have that defining fight at heavyweight?

He was a truly great cruiserweight and no one can take that away from him.

He stepped up to become heavyweight champion of the world, just like his idol, Evander Holyfield. But unlike Holyfield, Haye has not proved himself a great heavyweight.

Holyfield fought Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe. He had his wars, while Haye’s last defence was one of the greatest non-fights of all time against Harrison.

Does he really want that to be his legacy?

It’s time TV companies started playing hardball with anyone else who’s ducking the big fights.

We had to sit through Haye-Harrison – now tell him that it’s a Klitschko or nothing.

I don’t know the full story behind the problems over the fight, but I do know if you want it badly enough, you can make it happen.

If Haye really wants to prove he’s the heavyweight king before he retires then simply tell his promoter, Adam Booth, to make it happen.

Forget the talk, the negotiating over petty details, get round a table, take a pen and sign the contract.

If not, get out of the way and let someone else have a chance.

Ricky Hatton might have to live with the fact that he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao, but at least he knows he took on the best.

He knows where he stands in the sport. He was a great champion, who couldn’t make the next step up against two of the greatest boxers of all time – and there is absolutely no disgrace in that.

For Chisora, it won’t be about the cash, it’ll be about trying to become world champion and building his own legacy.

The smart money says he’ll come up short against Wladimir – but at least he’ll have given it a shot

 

???? :huh

 

Ok this was about big fights not happening and i have had my say on Mayweather and Pacman , now with David and wladimir it dissapoints me as i am a mssive boxing fan and want to see the best fights .
If Wladimir wont fight then Vitali be better fight any way with his performance against Lewis .
Point i was saying was a year ago UFC was taking over the world and boxing still survived but if fighters like the above mentioned dont fight each other then tv bosses hve to say well there is no more big show money from us then thats it especially when they have earnt the money that Floyd Manny David and both Klitchkos have made .
Hagler Hearns leonard Duran all fought each other because one the public wanted it and they themselves wanted to see who was the best .

Wladimir has had opportunities to fight for WBA title before but never has ? to fans it looks like fighters taking money without fighting the best and we dont want boxing fans turning there backs on the sport Which when it does deliver there is nothing to touch it but when it does not its as ugly as it is Beautiful .

 

Sorry warren editorial ?