There's a lot of hate going around for Haye at the moment, but, looking at the facts, I think it's far too quick and undeserved. The first thing people should acknowledge before labelling Haye a "ducker" is that they are still negotiating with Klitschko. If Haye doesn't accept a good offer, maybe you can say he has ducked him but, as of now, there is no reason to suggest Haye is a coward. He was genuinely interested in fighting Wlad and has no fear of losing. I've watched most of his career and I know what he is like as a competitor and he won't run from Wlad or Vitali. People said he was going to go the slow route when he turned pro, but he wanted to prove people wrong. After being stopped, people thought be would avoid punchers, which he didn't. He's gone to France and Germany against good opponents, in areas where it's hard to get a close decision, showing that his desire to win is bigger than his fear of losing. I understand Wlad calling him a "*****" but it's just hype. I think Wlad knows how much Haye wants it as well. But right now, there's no reason to accuse Haye of anything. He's accepted a terrible, unprecedented offer, but if he didn't want the fight, he wouldn't have. Obviously he pulled out, rightly or wrongly, and they've since gone other ways. The other point you have to remember, is several informed people, are saying that Wlad/Povetkin is a done deal. If this is the case, whilst Haye's camp are still negotiating, there can be no backlash towards Haye. I'm sure some fans will flippantly say "Oh, well Haye was doing to duck him anyway". Just think about how much criticism Haye would get if he announced a Harrison fight, whilst he was under negotiation. It would lead to more "ducking" comments, so you have to be fair. Honestly, I have no doubts the fight will happen. I just think people need to calm down a bit, before slandering Haye left, right and centre, when the coin is still in the air.
That's also strange because Haye was banned from talking to the press, yet Klitschko wasn't. His manager said 50/50 was offered and now that's been refuted. I don't believe Klitschko's manager at all and I think it's suspicious that only one side has been allowed to talk to the press. The fact that one side has been given this freedom, is indicative that Haye is happy to negotiate. He's made one concession already.
I think it's a terrible fight but the public will buy it, which is what Sky want. Crucially, it may be the fight to launch Haye in America, which is why Harrison has been mentioned at all. There's a chance HBO will buy this and that's Harrison's purpose. Bad fight but boxing is a business.
2008 March - Haye unifys the titles at Cruiserwieght. Vacates stating he will move up to Heavyweight and clean out the division and KO the boring Wladamir Klitscko. April - Haye confronts Wladamir Klitscko demanding a fight with him despite 1 round of Heavyweight expirience. Klitscko tells him he has to earn his chance, and he must complete is mandatory commitments. July - Wladamir beats WBO mandatory Tony Thompson. Says he wants Haye after his next mandatory October - Vitali returns to beat Sam Peter for WBC title November - David Haye makes his fulltime Heavyweight debut, beating Monte Barret. K2 attend and see the 02 arena half full. Haye says he wants either brother. December - Wladamdir beats Hasim Rahman after mandatory Povetkin withdraws through injury. David Haye attends the fight after posing in a magazine with a depacitated head of Wladamir in his hand. 2009 January - Haye promises British fans that a fight with either brother will happen in June at Stamford Bridge. Wladamir states he wants to fight in March, but wants Haye so accepts the June date. February - The fight in the UK falls through. Negotiations begin for a fight in Germany for a fight with Wladamir. Hayes team say the terms offered by K2 are poor. March - Haye signs to fight Wladamir in June despite the poor terms offered. Haye shows up to the press confrence 60,000 tickets are sold for the fight in 2 days. HBO backs the fight. April - Vitali beats mandatory Juan Carlos Gomez May - Haye pulls out of fight with Wladamir due to injury. Weeks later Setanta (who were paying Haye) go out of business. HBO pulls out of the fight. June - Wladamir beats Ruslan Chagaev for the the lineal title infront of at least 55,000. Wladamir is injured in the fight and will be out for the rest of 2009 July - Negotiations begin for Haye vs Vitali. He is ready to agree to the same deal offered previously to fight Wladamir August - Haye pulls out of negotiations to fight Vitali and signs to fight WBA champion Nikolai Valuev in Germany. Does not inform HBO or Goldenboy. The majority of his pay is from British TV (Sky PPV) and there is an option for a rematch and he must face John Ruiz in his 1st defence September - Vitali beats the next highest contender Chris Arreola in the US November - Haye beats Valuev in Germany for the WBA title. Says he will win his mandatory and then knock out either Klitscko brother. Haye vs Valuev does massive PPV numbers making Haye an instant multi millionaire and the biggest star in UK boxing. December - Vitali beats Kevin Johnson in routine defence. Haye declares the fight as boring and agains states he wants either bother. 2010 March 20th- Wladamir beats mandatory Eddie Chambers. Says he wants to fight David Haye April 4th - Haye beats Ruiz, tells everyone he wants to fight the Klitsckos now his mandatory is out of the way. April 8th - Haye dismisses Harrison as a potential challanger for his belt, says he only wants the Klitsckos. April 10th - Harrison gets lucky agaisnt Sprott, tells everyone he will defend agaisnt Dimitrenko to earn his shot at a champion. April 14th - Adam Booth dismisses Harrison as a potential challanger, says he wants the Klitsckos. Says its unlikley Valuev will take up the option of a re-match and Sauerland will go for the most viable option. April 21st - Reports emerage that HBO has verbally commited to a Wlad vs Haye unification April 22nd - The IBF declare a 30 day deadline for a Haye vs Wlad fight to be arranged. April 24th - Steve Kim reports that Sky Sports are pushing for a Haye vs Harrison fight. May 1st - Wladamir releases a video officioally calling out David Haye May 5th - Adam Booth responds to video joking that the the Brothers should fight each other for the right to face Haye. Says he will only accept a 50-50 offer May 13th - Mike Costello tells BBC that a fight between Haye and a Klitscko is looking unlikley May 22nd - Deadline for Haye negotiation with the IBF is over. Wlad must arrange a fight with Povetkin within 30 days or confirm a fight with Haye, if not he is stripped of his title. May 27th - Adam Booth tells BBC that they are negotiating with Klitsckos, Harrision and other parties. He says Wladamirs mandatory is a K2 problem not theres. Barry Hearn confirms his team will speak to Adam Booth about a fight with Audley in the coming weeks. May 29th - Vitali beats Albet Sosnowski and tells everyone he also wants to fight Haye June 4th - Dan Rafael quotes K2 advisor stating "Haye has been offered 50-50 with no options" to fight Wladamir and that there has been no response. Hayes camp have yet to deny this offer was made June 7th - Audley Harrison vacates his European title to free himself up for a fight with David Haye or a Klitscko June 8th - Adam Booth says Audley would be a terrible fight for boxing but admits theres a possibilty of a fight. Says they are still negotiating with Audley and the Klitsckos June 9th - Wladamir Klitscko vs Alexander Povetkin is rumoured to be scheduled for September June 10th - Richard Shcaefer says they are waiting to hear from Sauerland about a them taking up the Valuev option. June 11th - K2 say they would never fight Audley Harrision, again stating there desire to fight haye June 15th - Povetkins trainer says the Klitsckos are still negotiating with David Haye. June 16th - Reports in the British press state Harrison is ready to fight Haye on November 13th for £1million on November 13th, which fits to Skys plan for a major PPV with Mayweather vs Pacquiao. June 17th - Steve Bunce says Adam Booth has told him there was no 50-50 and Audley Harrisions promoter denys that they are close to a deal with Haye
HBO will not buy this fght, sorry. Harrison has never appeared on HBO and neither has Haye. He's gonna need a quality opponent to get seen in the States. Either Klitschko and maybe even Adamek would do it. Not Harrison...please.
yea, it wouldnt surprise me to be frank! However i still think as a long time haye fan he HAS to come out and say something soon. I realise hes just become a father however even just one response to Wlads cheezy video would have been suffice enough to show his future intentions! As it stands hes become a joke among most fans/writers and with his lack of activity in the ring and desire to retire at 31, unless he takes on a klitschko soon his legacy will always be tainted! Vitali is there for the taking!!