"Haye did have a back injury and was only getting ~£400k against Wlad"

Yup, I see your point. They were scheduled to fight on June 20, but Haye couldn't due to an injury. Fine. Happens all the time by the way. Happened to Floyd Mayweather actually; around the same sort of time. Although, I didn't see JMM refuse to reschedule. He said "Fine. Let's fight when you get better Floyd. I'll still kick your ass." That's the difference.

 

Don't get me wrong, I don't blame Haye for pulling out, he was either injured or not getting paid and either one is a valid reason not to fight but, with him having pulled out, Wlad took a perfectly reasonable course of action by fighting someone else on that date.

The difference with JMM-Mayweather is that the fight is by far the biggest realistically out there for Marquez in the next few months whereas Wlad vs "any heavyweight contender" will do very well in Germany.

Even if that wasn't the case who's to say that Wlad has to make the same decision as JMM in similar circumstances? Wlads decision was one of several reasonable ones open to him, as champ and the guy that was ready to fight on the original date that was his call to make.

 

The Klits have basically become Don King x2!!! The Klits are trying to make out that Haye is a nobody but are too stupid to admit that they don't generate this level of interest nor fight in and sell out stadiums. Haye did that.

Wlad called Steward to choose the ring size. Haye was only getting Setanta money. Wlad had home advantage. Haye had to have sign for 3 fights and potentially lose his belts. It is clear the Klits take the ****. Vitali did the same and Haye made a good business decision.

Beating Valuev gets him a belt and lets people know he can beat a giant.

 

Yah thats the spirit.

 

It seems pretty clear to me that the Klits were trying to put David Haye over a barrel at negotiations, despite it being obvious to everyone that HE sold that fight and made it such a draw. Does anyone believe that Wlad v Chagaev alone could have sold out a stadium?

Haye has obviously decided to go get himself some more bargaining chips by grabbing that other belt the Klits place so much credence on.

Haye will be in a much stronger position when talking a unification title fight next year. I think it's a smart move, if an old Holyfield can beat that freakshow Valuev then Haye will make it an easy nights work.

 

Haye knows he is in way over his head. But to be fair, he's made the most out of his win over the glass-jawed journeymen Maccarinelli. The whole promotion fooled a lot of people
honestly.....how strong is Haye's resume?

 

Haye was over a barrel during negotiations, he wanted a title shot after Barrett and cleary didn't fancy fighting and working his way up the division. The Klits knew this and milked it, I agree that trying to other the other belt is a good move for Haye as it give him a stronger position next time a Klit fight comes up.