"I'll be back at the end of the year" - says Haye and explains his decision as he has to prepare his body for the HW division. I have 2 complaints about that: inactivity is the last thing we want from a HW, and preparing the body sound like he wants to put on some serious muscle weight. Very wrong. 1.) Haye himself admitted that he's always in the gym and since in the HW there's no weight limit, there's no weight drain, no killing the body, and if he makes an easy night with a quick KO, he can jump back as soon as possible without any effect to his condition. That's EXACTLY I'm hoping for, jump right back, take on a Rahman-like once big name or a solid B-level fighter and make a statement and keep busy... The worst option here is to wait on the big opportunity... there are a lot of mandatories for these champs: V. Klitschko, Gomez-Virchis winner for Peter, Thompson, Povetkin for Wladimir, Valuev for Chagaev - no title opportunity in 12 months IMO. Especially not for Haye, as these champs will make mandatories and then take a voluntary defense agains a not too dangerous opponent... Haye has to make them fight him, and the best way to do that is beating names... not just one... US fights and SHO/HBO would be nice as well... So jump back into the ring as soon as mid-summer, take on a B level or a old name fighter and a bigger name at the end of the year! That's not a too busy schedule! 2) Prepare the body... that means putting on muscle to the usually 230 pounds weight of his? He gotta be kidding. Even if he's getting in great shape, 220 is just perfect, not one pound more needed, he's tall and strong anyway and you can never compete with Klitschko's or Valuev's physical advatage... Keeping the quick movement and speed, therefore producing punching power from speedy, accurate shots instead of bombs with a lot of weight behind it is the smart thinking... When an elite fighter puts on a lot of muscle years after his body reached it's natural limit usually means the fighter uses some (not necessarily illegal) substances... It's like running marathons and sparring dozens of rounds... you'll lose weight, that nature. But gaining weight even in the middle of preparation always means somethings' fishy... Haye doesn't need that sh*t... He was 217 in the Bonin fight and he admitted that he even lost a few pounds in the last days so it appears to me that if he trains normal and doesn't have to lose weight, just keeping everything under control, 225 is his natural fight weight... He shouldn't spend months in the gym preparing the body whatever that means... 225 is just perfect... The 'savior of HWs' or anything what the fans want is not necessariliy some super talent or a super brawler, but a VERY ACTIVE fighter. We shouldn't complain about Wladimir if he'd fight every 4 months and that's not a big thing to as he doesn't get hit at all. He fights 2 times a year. That's bad. Haye: back in 8 months, picking some easy fight or waiting for the opportunity, fighting 2 times a year will not make him a big HW thing, getting the title at most and retire after a few more fights, that the most he can get. Back in 4 months, taking on some former names and then better opposition, keeping active and fighting often like the old HWs - that's what really makes someone special... So, what do you think guys? Should he put on muscle? Should he stay outside of the ring till the end of the year? Or should he jump back? At what weight? Whom should he fight first?
I'm guessing its as much a mental break as anything, and you can't rush building up muscle... even muscle you already have had without juicing. He was 217 for Bonin and that was between fights at 200 that he drained for. I'm guessing his best weight would be about 225 maybe 230 tops. Any more than that and he'll be slowed a bit by it without gaining much power. My prediction now is he'll fight at heavy towards the end of the year and come in weighing low 220's after going up to 230ish then shedding a bit in training camp. Next year he'll be coming in at 225-230 where he should stay.
That put me off slightly when he said that. Why does he need to take a year off? Inactivity hurts you. If anything he needs to be back in the ring at least by summer.He doesnt need a year to gain 25lbs.Within a few weeks Haye will be back up at his normal walking around weight. Im presuming he wants the time off to chill and party after living the life of an ascetic for the last few months. Thats probably the hardest his ever trained in his life.Its common knowledge Haye hates roadwork and doesnt like to train. I hope he doesnt end up like John Conteh.
Laziness ruined the HW hopes of the best CW post-Holyfield, pre-Haye as well: his handlers just couldn't force Juan Carlos Gomez to work hard in the gym. 7 years since he vacated, and Gomez' still looking for an eliminator... What a waste of true talent... I hope Haye will get some good advice from Lewis to keep working hard - since he want's to achieve what Lennox did... A lay-off is very deserved, but he shouldn't take a too long break...
I say something else. Go straight after a belt at heavy. He's a lower weight champ moving up. They can get him a shot straight away. There aslo no reason for him to bulk up. He's already a heavyweight, he just won't have to make weight now. Bulking up won't do him any good; he needs speed.
Haye's taken breaks of six months or more a couple of times in his career, including before his biggest fight previous to the Macca win against Mormeck. I don't think he's ever let himself get at all out of shape. "at the end of the year", if that is exactly what he said, could be a little vague. Depending what kind of person you are that could mean December specifically or just the latter quarter of the year. So perhaps he's thinking between October-December.
Thats a good point, Gomez was every bit a good as Haye, except without the power, and he could've cleaned up the heavyweight division if he'd stayed focused. What I fear is Haye starts living it up, partying like he used to pre-Thompson and neglects his physical conditioning. If he hates roadwork then this would make it even worse. He comes back into the gym weighing 240lbs+ and with **** all stamina and never regains the momentum he once had. Haye at 6ft3 220lbs is big enough to compete with the Heavyweights. If he gets too musclebound, starts weighing in at 240lbs+ and it'll ruin his speed, which is his main weapon at Heavyweight, and wont improve his power too much.
I really hope he'll stay focused and in shape even between fights... everyone hates roadwork and so far for the big challange, Haye could go through it... but not every fight will be as big as his last two but every fight will be at least as dangerous... STAY FOCUSED, let the party life go until you hang up the gloves!
He needs to be carefull putting on weight, he is right to take a break. You cant put on 30 pounds all at once. I would say return in 6 months, fight an old guy like Rahman or a younger gatekeeper, maybe Guinn.
A long break is not really necessary Haye is at peak level right now, no point in waiting, as it stands right now Haye would be a very competitive force at HW.....the more he waits the more opportunities will pass him by though I picked the first option he should have abit longer rest than usual around like 4 or 5 months.
It would make more sense if he had been in a grueling long thriller,but he hasnt. He barely broke sweat. He should keep his momentum and fight a good HW,whilst his standing and confidence are so high.
