If it happens, great...but Haye still needs to fight. It amazes me that his fans don't get pissed. He's gone from a pretty active cruiserweight to a parttime heavyweight. It one reason that I could never be a fan. I like him when he actually fights. But all the BS and delays before his fights just drives me nuts. Also, he isn't improving because he isn't fighting.
You mean alot of offense. Watch Wlad pre 2004, his offensive output was sick. Onlike today, a right hand always came after the jab. Today he is a better fighter, less chance of an oppenent cracking his egg chin or making him panic in the past. Though it comes at a price, fans generally get bored with the majority of his fights these days. The Chambers fight was almost another snoozefest until Wlad unleased the cannon of a right hand, you can thank Manny for that.
Im a fan of his mouth and fighting style. The division lacks talent, just as much as it lacks personality. The division is going through a depression of it's own. Wlad is not an exciting fighter, and his personality is just as boring. His thumbs up after every win or his lame interviews with Kellerman at his kness, just don't do it for me. I'm not the only one, HBO seems to think so as well.
Personality was a nice little bonus in Ali's days when fighters had bouts every 2 months. If Haye doesn't fight, I couldn't care less if he has a colorful personality.
Thats what sells fights my friend, just ask Tyson and Foreman. Though they both had different personalities, they each found a way to garner fans attention. Tyson attracted the youth and black people, Foreman attracted the older generation that wanted to believe that a middle aged overweight fighter could still become champ. Haye can attract the ladies, and probably the youth. Though like you said, it doesn't matter much if he aint fighting.
In 2008 Sauerland allegedly had Russian backers of Povetkin financing part of their bid. Considering the financial turmoil of the global recession these allegedly "rich investors" probably disappeared. From what we know the only two partners at K2 - at least the ones owning the vast majority of the interest - are Wlad and VItali themselves. Bidding less for the fight ensures that more of the money (which comes out of K2 coffers in the first place) remains in the hands of the brothers and doesn't goto Povetkin (via his 25% share). Common sense really. The "expenses that eat up all the profits" exist no matter what bid K2 puts it as the expenses are fixed. It's called fixed expenses for a reason (general administration, office overhead, accounting, etc.)
Wlad is his own promoter so he wears several hats. He needs/wants to please the fans more than most to keep them coming back and even grow the base. Steward is aware of this too. I actually think it was kind of scary that Manny obviously knew there was a beast in Wlad to be released at the end of that fight. :yep What's really scary is that didn't look like much of a punch, but you can see in the slow-mo that it wasn't a matter of Chambers having a glass chin. You can just watch the quiver/quake as it develops and travels from the punch zone.
Emanuel knows full well what Wlad is capable of. I'm a big fan of Wladimir, but he's not beyond criticism. I thought Steward was on point. Sometimes Wlad needs to bring back the old Wlad. Just sayin.'
Actually, that is pretty much what I was saying, or trying to. It is just hard to do something different in a fight if what you are doing is working well.
if Wlad beats Haye, everyone will describe Wlad's opponent as nothing more than a big mouth. It's only deluded UK fans who see it as a fight for legacy which Wlad needs.
So much talk about this fight, that when it actually happens i suppose ppl will be very dissapointed. Cuz its really hard to Imagine other scenario, than a onesided not so exciting beatdown in favour of wlad.