Haye is going to retirement in 11 months, so far he was a ring champion at CW and holds WBA belt at HW, that pretty decent achievements but probably not enough to fit within top 10 HW in the last decade. He slightly beat Valuev and retired shot Ruiz, his level of competition is average and his so far income is not very impressive. So I don't really understand his motives: 1) why is he retiring in a few months having possibility to cash out a lot of millions being WBA champion? Is he so content with his so far earnings and his boxing achievements? 2) knowing he is retiring and having in perspective a very lucrative fight with Wlad he is just walking out from DONE DEAL fight behaving like a wounded primadonna. Why? Is that because his pride: that Wlad is not treating him exceptionally and exclusively by choosing to fight Chisora in the first place as a tune up? The other option is he really is scared that he may be seriously knocked out in the ring ... and he used the first possible excuse to walk out. Moreover accusing Wlad to be the one who is responsible Haye may now retire safely with the backup story that its really not his fault he never faced Klitchkos .... so in this case it seems Haye is really content with his achievements and his earnings and easy retirement is what he really wants.
The divsion sucks ass, other than the Klitschko's who is he suppose to fight to make all this money your talking about? Haye probably realizes he has other options, other than hanging around getting hit in the head for the next 5 or so years. Unless it's a fight in germany against the Klits, there is no money at heavyweight. God knows america has already given up on the division. Thats why you dont see the Klits on HBO or fighting in the US anymore.
Wlad-Adamek will probably bring the same amount of money as Wlad - Haye and the fight is going to be in Poland, Adamek brings also HBO and the American boxing fans. ... other options to earn a few million bucks ... which options are they? Boxing is hard sport, and it doesn't pay until you are at the top, while you are at the top you just cash out millions until you can, I cant remember any other boxer who held belt and just retired voluntarily in the prime at the age 31 without any serious reason.
Haye can't be anywhere near the top 10 of the decade, his only wins between 00-09 were Barrett and Valuev (and that Bonin guy). I think we'll see him fight in 2012 if he hasn't lost by then and still hasn't fought either of the brothers. If he retires without a Klitschko win he will fade into obscurity very quickly, and we all know how much he loves his celebrity lifestyle. America hasn't given up on the division, they are just second best to European heavyweights and have been for years now. American fans might not be interested any more, but thats because all of their fighters have lost to Europeans and they aren't used to it in a traditionally American dominated division
The polish are highly supprotive of their fighters. Sticking behind a mentally weak and unstable Golota all these years says something. Im sure Haye could get into acting or even a reality show, he has the looks and personality for it. I seen him on the Graham Norten show just recently, and he was very personable guy. My girlfriend thought he was good looking guy. As far as going out at your best, SRR went out in his prime at a young age, but decided to come back later. How about Rocky Marciano? In any event, thats Haye's decision. Other than the Klits, he's not going to make a ton of money. The Klits on the other hand can and have fought nobodies and has been's and always sell out in Germany. They will watch the Klits fight anyone, Haye doesn't have that luxury.
Most American fans on here have. I rarely ever see a heavyweight bout on HBO anymore, other than Arreola who brings with him a huge latino following. Which was the last time Vitali was on HBO, was when he fought him. It also doesn't help division is in shambles, dominated by two lackluster performers in the Klits. Why do you think HBO pulled the plug on them and now there reduced to their fights being on internet viewing only?
Haye is a paper Champ at Heavyweight. Wlad is the real WBA Champ because he beats Chagaev. If Haye wants to retire, it is Haye´s problem, not Wlad´s.
The retirement has been planned for years for that date, its not just cropped up. Haye agreed to the fight till Wlad decided to **** it up over a meaningless fight with Chisora, then he tied himself up for the rest of the year to avoid Haye till he has retired. Big brother Vitali will end up fighting Haye at somepoint in the year as they(Wlad,Vitali, the whole camp) have wanted all along, they don;t want Wlad anywhere near a ring with Haye.
American fans have no one left to pin their hopes on. The best US heavies have already lost to the Klitschkos, and Chambers and Arreola both lost to Povetkin and Adamek. Also US boxing fans don't seem to support foreign fighters in the way we might support an American. We get behind our fighters, but we will also support the best US fighters at the same time. Its not really surprising HBO pulled the plug on Wladimir. He kind of shot himself in the foot as far as US fans go by not stepping it up during some of his recent fights, but to be fair no one has forced him to- and he has fought top 5 fighters consistently for a few years now. Its a shame Vitali has been unlucky with opponents since his comeback though. In a perfect world (for Vitali) he could have already fought and beaten Haye and Adamek in the last couple of years, but Haye, Adamek and Povetkin have all been playing the waiting game for a while now, and Valuev isn't doing much. It must be frustrating for Vtali
As far as oppenent wise, I cant complain much. The Klits have beat up the best fighters out there, as **** as division truly is now. Though Wlad's most recent opponent is horrible. I would rather see Wlad fight Arreola, Solis, even Tua would be a better opponent imo. I hope Haye does fight Wlad, if not both mens legacy's will be questioned.
He said he has had his face punched for 20 years and has had enough,thats his own words.Haye was good at cruiserweight and he looked like a prospect moving up until he said that **** about packing it in at 31.Frank Bruno has done a lot more than him and he never backed out of fights with a bad back(if he ever had even that) from shadow boxing.Haye is a big dissapointment including the Audley double act.
Diplomatic, but not really correct. Wlad's legacy is already fairly established, and he can have another 5 years to continue to establishing it further. Haye has no legacy, and his only chance to have one is to fight one of the Klitschkos by this October. The clock is ticking. The choice is his, and entirely his.