Haye is at a Crossroads

Even for those that do not appreciate David Haye's meteoric rise in the Heavyweight ranks, he remains a popular topic of conversation. Unfortunately, (for him) Haye has painted himself into the proverbial corner. The next fight he makes may just be the most important one in his life because it will decide his legitimacy at heavyweight. As I see it, he has two choices: he can either fight a Klitschko or rest and wait to fight his mandatory (Chagaev or Meehan). Of course, these choices will lead him to two very different points. If he does go on and beat a Klitschko on HBO, he may just become an international boxing superstar, the first in the heavies since Lennox Lewis. On the other hand, if he decides to wait and defend his title agains the usual suspects, people will lose interest and he will be nothing more than a popular UK champion with a belt. Really, there's a reason why Khan beat him to HBO. They want to see him against a Klitschko...nothing else will do. But what do you think? Can Haye become a superstar by fighting around the K brothers?

 

It depends on your point of view. According to most Klitschko fans, they want David Haye because he present at least a modest challenge. It is quite clear that Haye used them to make a name for himself at heavyweight. But what he and his management team have failed to consider is the fact that most of the hype around Haye was directly related to the assumption that he would take on a Klitschko. If he doesn't do that, and soon, he'll be little more than a popular UK fighter. Also, it's debateable whether or not HBO will broadcast Adamek vs. Haye. From what I've read, they're not to high on Haye after he famously faked a back injury and pulled out of their fight on a few weeks notice.

 

What Haye and his mangement team do not understand is that much of the hype that has propelled him to this point was based on the assumption that he would fight a Klitschko, and soon. The longer he waits, the more fans he will inevitably lose.

 

I agree with you. What I should have said is that he is a fork in the road. As I see it, he has two choice: one of which could make him a superstar now, while the other one will do nothing for him...In fact, if he waits to fight another WBA retread, it will be a step back.